Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Sam Smith, Serena Williams and more body positive celebrities fighting against society’s suffocating beauty standards
The body positivity movement continues to gain more and more momentum on social media and is increasingly discussed on mainstream media channels. So it’s no wonder stars like Amy Schumer and Sam Smith are joining in to help oppose society’s unrealistic beauty standards and empower those with marginalised bodies not shown in the media.
Here are 10 stars encouraging us all to love ourselves just the way we are.
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Rihanna
Alicia Keys
The Girl on Fire hitmaker has not worn make-up for public appearances for years to educate people on her no make-up movement. Keys has embraced her natural beauty and shows it off in the hope of inspiring other people to do the same. On her album “Here”, she speaks about her new natural look and in the song Girl Can’t Be Herself, she explores how the body positivity movement is changing society.
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Amy Schumer
The comedian and actress documented her difficult journey through her first pregnancy on social media and ended her journey with some raw and natural photos of her post-partum body. In one photo, Schumer showed her body in a swimming costume with her young family on the beach. In the comments, Schumer told her followers: “I am loving my warm soft post-baby body. Grateful to be feeling so strong again!”
Sam Smith
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Serena Williams
The tennis champion posed for unretouched photos, which were published in Harper’s Bazaar alongside a personal essay. She explained that she wouldn't hide her voice or body any longer following her 24th Grand Slam when she was allegedly punished for being an “angry black woman”. She wrote: “I’ve been called every name in the book. I’ve been shamed because of my body shape … In short, it’s never been easy. But then I think of the next girl who is going to come along who looks like me, and I hope, ‘Maybe, just maybe, my voice will help her.’”
Emily Ratajkowski
The model-and-actress appeared in Harper’s Bazaar to discuss her choice to portray herself as super feminine and that every woman deserves respect, regardless of her appearance. The essay was also accompanied by a photo, which showed the model with her arm lifted up to show her body hair. Ratajkowski said: “For me, body hair is another opportunity for women to exercise their ability to choose – a choice based on how they want to feel and their associations with having or not having body hair.”
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Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow – who has the skin pigmentation condition called vitiligo – posed for the cover of the June 2019 issue of Vogue Arabia alongside another model with vitiligo, Shahad Salman. Harlow was originally viewed negatively because of her condition but she later became a successful model because of her unique body. The duo’s features marked an important moment in the spread of body positivity and diversity across the Middle East.
Sarah Hyland
The 29-year-old actress – who suffers from kidney dysplasia and endometriosis – is not ashamed of the effect her illnesses have had on her body. The conditions and subsequent treatments have severely damaged her skin, but the Modern Family star is grateful for her body. Hyland showed off her gratitude by posting a picture of her dimpled stomach on Instagram with the caption: “I saw this picture and HATED it but quickly readjusted my attitude and decided to celebrate it. Love yourself and be patient. We are all stronger than we think we are.”
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Channing Tatum
Hollywood heartthrob Channing Tatum plays the lead role in the film Magic Mike XXL, which you wouldn’t necessarily think would support the body positivity movement. However, the actor revealed the truth behind his killer physique and explained why men shouldn’t strive to try and look like he does in the movie, because it is not sustainable. He said to Reuters: “My Magic Mike body … lasts about five days, like when we’re shooting. You time it until that day and then you lose it immediately.”
Chris Pratt
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Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty lingerie line launched with models of all sizes, colours and sexualities, Alicia Keys embraced natural beauty through her No Make-up movement and Amy Schumer shared candid pregnancy snaps on social media