There are so many things in the world that we may admire or even get inspired by, but there’s one main thing we may want to fall in love with before we start noticing the beauty of other things. It’s our own reflection in the mirror. Among all the numerous recipes for conjuring up self-love within ourselves, psychologists advise us to never compare ourselves to others and stop caring about other people’s opinions. Actress and producer Lena Dunham knows a lot about cultivating love for her own body despite all the criticism she faced, and she happily shares her journey with us all.
Lena Dunham doesn’t accept the term “body positivity,” and here’s why.
Actress and writer Lena Dunham has recently added another string to her bow and collaborated with the brand 11 Honoré to create a plus-size clothing collection. But the very term “plus size” frustrates Lena, and so is the term “body positivity.” In one of her Instagram posts, she explains that she feels more “body tolerant” than “body positive.”
In her interview, Dunham said, “The thing that’s complicated about the body-positive movement is it can be for the privileged few who have a body that looks the way people want to feel positive. We want curvy bodies that look like Kim Kardashian has been up-sized slightly. We want big beautiful butts and big beautiful breasts and no cellulite and faces that look like you could smack them onto thin women.”
Dunham has a very special relationship with her own body.
Dunhams path to self-love started with a decade-long journey with endometriosis. Since she started her own fight against it, she has been candidly sharing how it influenced both her emotional health and her relationship with her own body image. In her Instagram post, she emotionally described how she fluctuated between loving her body and the opposite.
She wrote, “Ya know when you’re home alone, and you realize you’d be happier in a hot lil’ onesie than your ketchup and cat food stained pajamas? And it’s not about a boy or a photo shoot or a weight loss before-and-after, it’s just for the feeling of glee you get from dressing your one and only corporeal form in pleasing fabrics, the unique pleasure of admiring the twists and turns of the body that loves the heck out of you even when you don’t love it.”
Dunham is powerfully addressing all people who come to her page with criticism.
In 2021, Dunham tied the knot with musician Luis Felber. It was such a darling event for her that she wore 3 wedding dresses to marry her love and shared the photos on her Instagram. However, she started getting some “gnarly” comments in her feed from people who commented on her body and appearance. The actress didn’t hesitate for a minute to address them with a powerful message.
She wrote, “One narrative I take issue with, largely because it’s a story I don’t want other women, other people, to get lodged in their heads, is that I should somehow be criticized because my body has changed since I was last on television. […] But lastly, when will we learn to stop equating thinness with health/happiness?”
Dunham’s powerful message can be echoed in the hearts of many.
For all people who have ever hesitated about embracing their body image, Dunham has some simple yet wise advice. She says, “Of course weight loss can be the result of positive change in habits, but guess what? So can weight gain. The pics I’m being compared to are from when I was with an undiagnosed illness. In the last 4 years, I’ve begun my life as someone who aspires toward health and not just achievement.
These changes have allowed me to be the kind of sister/friend/daughter that I want to be and yes — meet my husband (who, by the way, doesn’t recognize me in those old photos because he sees how dimmed my light was). I say this for any other person whose appearance has been changed with time, illness, or circumstance — it’s okay to live in your present body without treating it as transitional. I am, and I’m really enjoying it. Love you all.”
Do you find Lena Dunham’s example inspiring? What do you love the most about your appearance?
Preview photo credit Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images, lenadunham / Instagram
Plus-Sized Model Claps Back at Trolls: “Look Away”
Plus-sized influencer Abby Bible isn’t letting cyberbullies get to her. Abby brushes off the criticism directed at her audacious bikini images, in which she flaunts her size 22 figure. She thinks plus-size bodies are gorgeous and have wonderful bikini bodies.
In a society where women are frequently under pressure to meet unattainable beauty standards, role models like Abby Bible are essential in advancing body positivity and self-love. At six feet one inch, 25-year-old influencer Abby defies the “toxic” standards of society. She disavows the notion that being petite, delicate, adorable, and soft-spoken equates to femininity.
Abby hasn’t had an easy time coming to terms with who she is. She endured cruel remarks about her size and battled with her weight since she was a little girl. In an attempt to find happiness, she even went as far as losing 100 pounds at one time. But she quickly discovered that accepting oneself—regardless of one’s physical appearance—is the key to finding true happiness.
Abby is now on a mission to spread the word that plus-size bodies may be just as attractive as any other. She answers a troll who claims that “fat people shouldn’t wear string bikinis” in a recent TikTok video. With assurance, Abby labels the video, saying, “Look away if you don’t like it.” Her carefree demeanor and jovial glance convey a strong message: she doesn’t give a damn what people think.
Even though Abby has a lot of followers who thank and admire her for her confidence, there are still internet trolls who make fun of her. Some criticize her decision to accept her body and claim she lacks self-respect. However, Abby is unfazed by these disparaging remarks.
It’s crucial to remember that having a larger frame can have negative health effects. Because of her weight, Abby is more prone to certain illnesses, such joint and cardiac trouble. Some who are worried contend that body positivity advocacy shouldn’t downplay these grave health hazards.
But Abby is more concerned with her contentment and acceptance of herself. She wants everyone to know that being smaller doesn’t make someone superior to her. She will always be content with herself and is pleased to be an unapologetic obese girl.
In the end, Abby’s tale serves as a reminder that contentment ought to come first. We should encourage Abby in her quest for self-love as long as she is content and takes good care of her health. How do you feel about Abby’s narrative? Let us know what you think, and let’s carry on the discussion!
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