Body image is one of the more difficult issues all girls will face at some point in their lifetime. The portrayal in the media has women comparing their body to the so called “perfect” body from a young age. Some girls feel like they weigh too much, others not enough. It’s like that scene from Mean Girls where they all feel compelled to point out something negative appearance. It’s not easy to get rid of negative body image thoughts but some inspiration can be helpful. The women in this Sunday Spotlight are empowering icons who have spoken about body image and how important it is to be happy with yourself, rather than comparing yourself to others.
Tyra Banks addressed tabloid magazines and paparazzi for sharing a photo of her and claiming she had gained 40 pounds. Tyra took the situation back in her control when she went on her show, displayed the picture and stood next to it while wearing the same swimsuit she was wearing in the picture. There is a video of the segment where she calls out tabloids and shames them for portraying weight gain as shameful. “It’s after the holidays…..i’m going to gain and lose weight, just like everyone else” Tyra said. She addressed the harmful comments and made sure to encourage girls that it’s 100% ok to gain weight and you shouldn’t be shamed for it.
Mindy Kaling is another icon to look at for inspiration when it comes to body positivity. She has written two books over general life scenarios. In her first book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)” she addresses how she grew up as the “chubby Indian girl.” She relates to young girls because she understands what the girls who aren’t stick thin go through when going through one of the hardest times in life…puberty. Her experiences shared through her writing spread the idea that it’s okay if you’re not one of the super skinny girls. Her writing makes you feel like she’s right there with you and one of your friends, making sure you’re not alone in your struggles.
The final lady in this Sunday Spotlight is bad gal RiRi herself. Rihanna has been a very prominent advocate for self love and body positivity. She shrugs off gender expectations and redefines what it means to be “ladylike.” She received a lot of criticism for wearing the sheer Swarovski crystal dress which was pretty revealing, leaving little to the imagination. Press continued asking her questions and criticizing her for “objectifying herself.” She fought back by saying “Do my tits bother you? They’re covered in Swarovski crystals girl!” She basically called out the paparazzi for shaming her for being confident with her body and how she chose to show it. Rihanna can teach us all a very important lesson in life, it’s your body and you get to choose how much of it, or how little of it you want to show to the world.
Tyra, Mindy and Rihanna can all teach us valuable lessons on how to brush off the negativity and strive for acceptance of ourselves. While it’s not easy, inspiration from these women and many other body positivity advocates, can help us through this process. In the end it’s us and how we see ourselves but it’s important to remember that: you shouldn’t compare yourself to others, body changes are okay and embracing your sexuality is okay and normal!
