Body Positive Celebrities in 2019

Lizzo, Demi Lovato and Ashley Graham are among those prompting us to practice a little more self-love

5 Times Celebrities Reminded Us to Be Body Positive in 2019

All Credits: PA

Body positivity isn’t a new trend – after all, the hashtag #bodypositive has been used over 11 million times on Instagram.

However, completely loving yourself is an uphill battle, especially because society is still conditioned to value thinness. That’s why it’s important for famous figures to remind us every so often that we all deserve the respect body positivity affords.

Here are some of the times celebrities have prompted us to practise a bit more self love this year…

1. Lizzo

This week singer Lizzo hit headlines for wearing a ‘controversial’ outfit to a Lakers basketball game. The singer was criticised for wearing a revealing dress showing off her bum in a thong, and in response Lizzo did an Instagram Live discussing how she won’t let criticism change how she dresses or acts.

Afterwards, she posted a particularly pertinent snippet of the video on her main Instagram page, saying: “I want you to know whatever you’re going through, if it doesn’t feel good, then it will feel good again and you have whatever it takes to feel good again. You are capable, you deserve to feel good as hell.”

She doesn’t directly address the issues over her outfit in the video, but it’s a timeless reminder to value yourself.

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YOU ARE BLESSED YOU DESERVE TO FEEL GOOD AS HELL HAVE A GREAT DAY

A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating) on Dec 9, 2019 at 2:25pm PST

2. Ashley Graham

Model Ashley Graham is no stranger to the body positivity movement, and this year she’s shown us this doesn’t have to change when you become pregnant.

She’s posted a few pictures on Instagram baring all and showing the stretch marks on her changing body, with one caption reminding us you’re not defined by your body: “Same same but a little different”.

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Ya girl had an 80hr work week, let the weekend celebrations begin!

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham) on Oct 25, 2019 at 4:06pm PDT

3. Demi Lovato

In September Demi Lovato shared an unedited bikini shot on Instagram, writing alongside it: “I’m just literally sooooo tired of being ashamed of my body”.

She sets an admirable standard for caring less about what other people think and adds: “I hope to inspire someone to appreciate their body today too.”

This wasn’t the only time Lovato took a stand for body positivity in 2019. She responded to a body shaming news story with a series of Instagram stories saying: “I am more than a headline about my body shape.”

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This is my biggest fear. A photo of me in a bikini unedited. And guess what, it’s CELLULIT!!!! I’m just literally sooooo tired of being ashamed of my body, editing it (yes the other bikini pics were edited - and I hate that I did that but it’s the truth) so that others think I’m THEIR idea of what beautiful is, but it’s just not me. This is what I got. I want this new chapter in my life to be about being authentic to who I am rather than trying to meet someone else’s standards. So here’s me, unashamed, unafraid and proud to own a body that has fought through so much and will continue to amaze me when I hopefully give birth one day. It’s such a great feeling to be back in tv/film while not stressing myself with a strenuous workout schedule before 14 hour days, or depriving myself from a real birthday cake rather than opting for watermelon & whip cream with candles because I was terrified of REAL cake and was miserable on some crazy diet shit. Anyway, here’s me, RAW, REAL! And I love me. And you should love you too! Now back to the studio.. I’m working on an anthem.. also. Just so everyone’s clear.. I’m not stoked on my appearance BUT I am appreciative of it and sometimes that’s the best I can do. I hope to inspire someone to appreciate their body today too. #nationalcelulliteday #celluLIT

A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on Sep 5, 2019 at 5:30pm PDT

4. Sam Smith

It’s been a big year for Sam Smith, who has become one of the most famous figures to come out as non-binary, now using the pronouns they/them.

The singer become even more of a body positivity icon with the help of one particular topless Instagram post. Smith posted: “In the past if I have ever done a photo shoot with so much as a t-shirt on, I have starved myself for weeks in advance and then picked and prodded at every picture and then normally taken the picture down.”

The picture is symbolic of Smith fighting back by “reclaim[ing] my body and stop trying to change this chest and these hips and these curves that my mum and dad made and love so unconditionally.”

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Trade

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmith) on Nov 30, 2019 at 10:31am PST

5. Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen isn’t one to mince her words on social media, and in March she gave a much-needed reminder that thinness doesn’t equal happiness.

She talked about “coming to terms with my new normal” after giving birth to her second child, saying the thinnest she’s ever been was when she had postpartum depression. With her signature wit – and a healthy dose of reality – Teigen added: “I’ll take these pounds over this feeling.”

the thinnest I've ever been was right after Luna. Postpartum depression. I'LL TAKE THESE POUNDS AND THIS FEELING!

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 30, 2019