When one form of beauty has been the acceptable size for decades, not conforming to these standards is often accompanied by a lot of backlashes. Even worse when you’re in the public eye. Well, more than a handful of women have had their fair share of internet trolling but despite it all, these celebrities show us why being curvy is awesome.
Talk of the likes of Oprah, Demi Lavato, Amy Schumer, Melisa McCarthy, and dozens more are a real-life testament that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, size notwithstanding.
Sharing both their accomplishments and struggles along the way, you’re up for some close-up inspiration tales. One thing is evident though, the world outside can be a cold place but even so, that should never deter you from your course. These women are a vivid reminder that size is just but a number.
First on our list:
1. Oprah Gail Winfrey
The name Oprah is no stranger to the airwaves. Most popularly loved for her cable channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network, she has continued to grace our screens with the best of journalistic talent. The icon’s net worth, as of date, stands at a staggering 2.6 billion USD, placing her as one of the richest women in the world.
In her quest to uplift and challenge women, Oprah shares her own struggles with unresolved body image issues and the lessons learned. One of her most public encounters with body-shaming stereotypes was during her 1985 interview with Joan Rivers, who probed on Winfrey’s weight gain and dared her to lose 15 pounds.
Years on she shares,
“I think of all the years I’ve wasted hating myself fat, wanting myself thin. Feeling guilty about every croissant, then giving up carbs, then fasting, then dieting, then worrying when I wasn’t dieting, then eating everything I wanted until the next diet. All that energy I could have spent loving what is.”
Today, the multitalented 67-year-old continues to impact the world as a successful television producer, actress, author, and world philanthropist.
2. Demi Lovato
Demi has been in the limelight for churning out several hit singles. Sorry not Sorry, No Promises, Heart Attack, Give You a Heart Break, Confident, are just a few of those that made it to the top of Billboard charts amassing millions of views across the globe.
Fans love her for her authenticity but more so for taking a stand when it comes to body size matters. To this end, Demi has made it her mission to show women and young girls that you can weigh whatever figure on the scale and still be at the top of your game.
Having battled with an eating disorder for nearly a decade, she took to Instagram not long ago with a summer swimsuit shoot, but nothing like you’ve seen before. Demi posted unretouched photos of her body, no filters, no toning, but instead, she dressed her stretch mark in actual glitter.
“I wanted to celebrate my stretch marks instead of being ashamed of them. I started wearing actual glitter paint on my stretch marks to celebrate my body and all of its features (whether society views them as good OR bad).”
Talk about body confidence! Demi adds, “No thigh gap for me, and yet I still love myself.”
3. Amy Schumer
When you hear the name Amy, you think of a comedy film. Well, this comedic brand likes to joke about anything but her weight when she’s not on the mic. Popularly known for her role in the Train wreck film, Schumer has been pushing her way up the movie industry with her undeniable talent. And you may already be familiar with the much-loved Amy Schumer Show on Netflix that has fans raving.
One of the milestones in her career was when she was under consideration to star in a Barbie Film. This was soon met with some harsh critic from a few who didn’t think she looked the part. Amy took the high road by responding with much gratitude to her haters for making it evident that she was a great choice.
She went ahead to say,
“When I look in the mirror I know who I am. I’m a great friend, sister, daughter, and girlfriend. I’m a badass comic headlining arenas all over the world and making TV and movies and writing books where I lay it all out there and I’m fearless like you can be,”
4. Melissa McCarthy
Another well-furnished name in the American comedy business. Melissa’s star began to flame with her role in Gilmore Girls, which was a massive hit. Not long after she made it to cast in major films such as The Heat, Bridesmaids, Mike & Molly, and Spy.
At present, the mother of two prides herself in bagging 2 Emmy Awards, and having been nominated for countless more including, BAFTA award, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Despite Hollywood being obsessed with Amy’s body for all the wrong reasons, she has never been one to shy away from confronting trolls. Not even when Reed started a conversation around her size to overshadow her impressive accomplishments.
She made it clear that,
“With women, there’s this constant weird cultural thing where we’re always supposed to be comparing ourselves with one another. Who wore it best? Whose butt’s better? Instead, how about if everyone wins? How intensely boring would it be if we were all the same
McCarthy is aware of how early body issues start and is bent on raising her daughters not to fall prey to society’s beauty standards.
“There’s an epidemic in our country of girls and women feeling bad about themselves based on what 5% of the human race looks like.”It starts very young. My message is that as long as everybody’s healthy, enjoy and embrace whatever body type you have.”
The actress went on to drop some weight later but not as a response to the pressure to fit in. Bet you agree that Melissa envelopes beauty, sexuality charm, and humor all into one enviable package.
5. Ashley Graham
The name Ashley Graham needs no introduction. Her reputation precedes her, especially in the fashion industry, for being amongst the few daring enough to bend the rules. As you can imagine modeling since time immemorial has been reserved for the leaner majority-sizes 2-4 to be precise.
This was until Ashley came on board and set a new wave for the plus-size community. At size 16, she featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and she has worked her way into major runway shows including New York Fashion Week. Not to mention partnering with the big fish in the fashion world.
She shares that during her late teens a brutal rejection almost led her to give up on her lifelong dream. But today, she looks back proud that she persisted amidst so many disappointments. A true testament to what resilience can bring.
In pursuit of further building her brand, Ashley launched her clothing line to cater to curvy women. Her desire stemmed from the scarcity of quality clothing for this niche so she extended her dresses, swimsuits, and lingerie collection up to a size 24.
Above all, Ashley is an avid preacher of body positivity always challenging the status quo.
“When society tells me I’m not up to par, “I kind of just give my middle finger to it, like, ‘Guess what? I’m really hot’
“It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are. You can be healthy. It’s not just about our size. It’s about our mind, our heart, our emotions. We get so wrapped up in this size conversation.”
Glad to see a big girl win, and we’re here for all of it!
6. Serena Williams
In the sports world, Serena has amassed quite a record for being a 23- time Grand Slam Champion and former world No. 1 in women’s singles tennis. Her accolades throughout the years span far and wide including Best Female Tennis Player ESPY Award, BET Sportswoman of the Year, Glamour Award for the Athlete, and plenty more.
Serena is married to Alexis Ohanian a reputable entrepreneur and investor with whom they have a daughter named Olympia. Selena is living proof. to women out there, that you could have the best of both worlds- a family and a career.
Her words,
“I was constantly told I was too muscular, or I wasn’t pretty enough to be a tennis player. I learned to ignore the negativity and look inwards to truly love myself… I love who I am… I love my body, my skin, my confidence and I fully embrace everything about me.”
7. Jennifer Lopez
J-LO has been serving looks since the ‘90s till the millennium turn. The singer cum dancer cum songwriter has been committed to staying in tip-top shape, and consequently, has a body most women dream of. Jlo is not one to shy away from her curves as we see in a lot of her music videos. She proudly flaunts her body in sexy outfits and vivacious dresses that show off her tiny waist in contrast to her full bust and hips.
In case you didn’t know, the singer is a mother to twins Max and Emme. Do the math and you’ll see she’s no youngster. At her age, she is impressively hot!
“I like my body. For most of my adult life, my body hasn’t gone up or down, it’s remained the same, give or take four pounds.” I have a butt, I have boobs, and I have a woman’s curves; there is no way I’d see them go to zero. I hate to look in a magazine and see a picture of a girl who looks so thin she looks unhappy and as if she just needs someone to give her a good meal.”
The timeless beauty persists in staying true to her real self and this way hopes to inspire more women into self-love.
8. Kim Kardashian
When it comes to ideal hourglass figures, Kim Kardashian ranks top of the list. The celebrity has been turning heads with her “unreal” curvy body for over a decade now. From bikini shoots to magazine covers, and red carpet events, there’s no place Kim doesn’t turn up the heat!
One of her most iconic looks of all time was during the 2019 Met Gala where she wore a gorgeous form-fitting number. Kim looked great in her skintight Mugler dress and nude makeup, the inspiration being a wet look. Posing for the camera like the babe she is, there was no disputing her full hips, petite upper body, and toned legs.
Four babies down the line and Kim looks the best she’s ever. She shows no signs of slowing down on her bikini shots and social media images. On the contrary, she launched an undergarments line SKIMS, promoting the brand with stylish selfies.
And for all those who have negative things to say about her body, here’s her take.
“I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. The body-shaming and slut-shaming it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.”
9. Nicki Minaj
To close up our list of famous women in the entertainment business, we take a trip down into the male-dominated world of rap. Making it here is no child’s play and it’s no wonder Nicki made headlines when she exploded onto the scene.
Known for her smooth skill and hot bars, the female rapper is revered as one of the best in the industry. But her outrageous body is what has thousands more talking. As far as this goes, Nicki is unbothered by the rumors surrounding her image and is all about positive vibes.
“I don’t mind the questions, I don’t mind the fascination,” she said. “But I’ve said this before, it doesn’t define me. So, I try my best not to focus my energy on it”
Conclusion
Seeing all that these powerful women have accomplished is substantial confirmation that size, weight has no bearing on success. Likewise, you could borrow a leaf from this wisdom. Free yourself from the shackles of comparison and there’s no telling just how far you can go!
