Body positivity is a social movement that challenges current beauty standards as an unfavorable societal construct and advocates for acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities. Instead of focusing on the human body’s physiological appearance, proponents emphasize the value of its functionality and health.
“According to the Office on Women’s Health, a healthy body image means feeling good about looking and comfortable in one’s body. Conversely, they report that having a negative body image can put one at a higher risk for mental health conditions, including eating disorders. In a study published in the December 2019 issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, body dissatisfaction is closely associated with depression, use of performance-enhancing drugs, hazardous or unhealthy behaviors, and disordered eating.
Body-Positive Influencers That Inspire Us
In a world of photoshopped magazine covers and unrealistic beauty standards, it’s nice to have some body-positive influencers to look for inspiration.
The body positivity movement aims to redefine beauty standards, encouraging people to accept and love their bodies as they are. Here are some of the inspiring body-positive influencers who are taking the movement to the next level.
1. Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is a supermodel who has been promoting positive body image since she rose to fame in 2015 when she became the first plus-size model to be featured on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover page.
She regularly posts inspiring messages on Instagram, encouraging her followers to love themselves no matter their shape or size.
Graham also works with organizations like Girls Who Code which helps young girls discover computer programming skills while teaching them valuable lessons about self-confidence along the way!
Ashley Graham is no stranger to the body positivity world; she had advocated for self-love before it became a trend on social media.
She was one of the first plus-size models to make it big in the fashion industry, and her tenacity and determination paved the way for many other models like her.
She has spoken openly about her struggles with poor body image and continues to use her platform to promote advance fat acceptance and inclusivity in the fashion industry.
Know the secret of Ashley Graham that helps build her body confidence back! The Spanx ambassador revealed her secret to self-love—a technique she uses every day when she looks in the mirror.
2. Jessamyn Stanley
Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga instructor who uses her Instagram account to promote self-love through yoga poses and affirmations.
Her message is simple yet powerful: “Yoga isn’t about what your body looks like or how flexible you are; it’s about being comfortable in your own skin and accepting yourself for who you are.” She encourages followers to practice yoga not just for physical health but also for mental health, too.
3. Tess Holliday
Tess Holliday is a plus-size model who has become one of the most prominent voices in the body positivity movement.
She recently launched her “Militant Babes” clothing line, which focuses on empowering women of all sizes through fashion that celebrates different body types.
Holliday also frequently speaks about the health of every size, fat representation in media, gender equality, eating disorder awareness, and more.
4. Sommer Ray
Sommer Ray is a fitness model whose posts focus heavily on positive messages about loving your body and working hard towards your goals without letting outside opinions discourage you from achieving them.
She often emphasizes that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, genders, etc., and that everyone should strive to be their best selves without comparing themselves to others or trying to fit into someone else’s beauty standards.
5. Iskra Lawrence
Iskra Lawrence is a British model who has become one of the most recognizable faces in the body positivity movement due to her efforts to challenge society’s narrow beauty standards.
Lawrence openly shares her battle with disordered eating on social media to empower other women struggling with similar issues.
Additionally, she founded the National Eating Disorders Association’s anti-diet campaign, which encourages people to embrace intuitive eating habits instead of restrictive diets or fad weight loss plans.
Iskra Lawrence is an English model and activist best known for her work with Aerie as a non-airbrushed lingerie model. She’s also the founder of the National Eating Disorders Association’s #EveryBODYisBeautiful movement and was the first ambassador for the organization’s This is Me campaign. She aims to help people learn to love their bodies just as they are.
6. Alexandra Elle
Alexandra Elle is an author, poet, and self-love advocate who regularly posts about mental health, self-care, and body acceptance on her Instagram account. Her work is inspiring because she openly discusses her struggles with eating disorders and depression while encouraging her followers to find self-compassion and love themselves as they are. Additionally, Elle has started several initiatives, such as #LoveYourLines (a campaign dedicated to celebrating stretch marks), which promotes positive conversations about body image online.
7. Jameela Jamil
The Good Place star Jameela Jamil has become an outspoken advocate for body positivity. She uses her platform to challenge traditional beauty standards and encourage others to embrace their unique features. She also regularly calls out companies such as Instagram for promoting unrealistic beauty ideals and airbrushing images to present an unrealistic standard of beauty. Jamil also co-founded the I Weigh Movement, which encourages people to focus on their accomplishments rather than their physical appearance.
What Is A Positive Body Influencer?
In the age of social media, influencers have become increasingly popular. But what exactly is a body-positive influencer? A body-positive influencer promotes self-love and acceptance by loving their own body, regardless of size or shape. These individuals strive to change the narrow standards of beauty that are often found in mainstream media.
Body-positive messages use social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to spread messages of self-love and acceptance.
Love yourself the way you are.
These influencers are often models, celebrities, or even everyday people who have chosen to use their platform to promote body positivity.
Through their posts and videos, these influencers can reach thousands of people with their message of self-love.
The Impact Of Body-Positive Influencers
Body-positive influencers have had a massive impact on society. By pushing back against traditional beauty standards and promoting acceptance of all shapes and sizes, these influencers have made it easier for people to feel confident in their skin.
They’ve also helped create an environment where individuals can share their stories without fear of judgment or criticism. In addition, these influencers have opened up the conversation surrounding topics such as mental health, disordered eating habits, and more — all while providing support for those who need it most.
Acceptance and Empowerment
A body-positive influencer focuses on acceptance and empowerment to redefine beauty standards.
They create content that celebrates all kinds of bodies, encouraging viewers to love themselves for who they are and embrace their unique features.
They prioritize self-love over dieting or exercising to achieve an unrealistic image of perfection.
Changing Representation
Body-positive influencers also strive to offer more diverse representation in mainstream media.
Creating a platform for people from all backgrounds and walks of life help bridge the gap between different communities while highlighting the beauty in everyone’s individual experiences.
Through this representation, they hope to encourage others to recognize their worthiness regardless of how they look or society may judge them.
In addition, these influencers also promote healthy habits such as eating nutritious foods and engaging in physical activities that make you feel good about yourself.
This helps break down harmful stereotypes that link physical appearance with worthiness or confidence, instead emphasizing the importance of holistic health.
The Rise in Popularity
The increasing popularity of body-positive influencers indicates a more significant shift in our culture towards accepting all types of bodies without judgment or shame.
There is now more visibility than ever before for people of all sizes, shapes, colors, and genders—and that visibility is essential in creating lasting change within society.
These influencers are also inspiring more brands to employ diverse models in their campaigns and create clothing lines that cater to different body types instead of just size fits all approach.
Conclusion
Body positive movement is essential in promoting self-love and acceptance among individuals everywhere—especially those struggling with negative self-image or low self-esteem due to societal beauty standards.
Through their empowering messages and diverse representation, these influencers help empower individuals from all walks of life to recognize their inherent value and accept themselves as they are—flaws and all!
Ultimately, embracing this mindset can create a more inclusive world where everyone can feel beautiful inside and out.