When it comes to body confidence, plus-size models are some of the strongest role models out there. These women have helped to reshape societal standards of beauty and provide some much-needed representation of more inclusive body types in the media.
Their work in the fashion industry has been crucial in pushing for body diversity and plus-size inclusion in many leading clothing brands. Through their social media platforms, they provide a space for body-positive content and discussion.
Each of these women has had to overcome their own body confidence struggles to get to where they are today. We can learn so much from their self-love journeys and how they’ve learned to embrace their bodies.
Here are five body confidence tips from plus-size models:
Ashley Graham
Ashley Graham is a globally loved plus-size model, body activist, and social media personality. She’s best known for being the first plus-size model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated and has since become a leading body confidence advocate. Ashley encourages women of all shapes and sizes to love their bodies and appreciate them for everything they can do.
Her tip for embracing body confidence is to practice daily affirmations, and she firmly believes in their power to change your mindset.
“You’re in this adult body that feels left out, less than, not worthy — it’s gonna trickle into your relationships, your work, how you treat yourself, and that’s not ok. You have to make it a daily practice to get your mind out of that.” – Ashley Graham, refinery29.com.
She goes on to say that affirmations help you “reprogram yourself into understanding who you are today” and that they’re “something that you’re gonna have to choose as a daily practice.”
Try one of her favorites every time you look at yourself in the mirror: “I am bold, I am brilliant, I am beautiful.”
Iskra Lawrence
Iskra Lawrence is a body-positive activist and plus-size model who is known for her unretouched photos and body-acceptance messages. She encourages women to love their bodies no matter their size, shape, or ability.
You may recognize her from her Aerie campaigns, where she was brought on as the first #AerieReal model. She visited stores and pop-ups around the country, advocating for self-love and body acceptance alongside her completely unretouched bikini photos for the empowering campaign.
Her body confidence tip is that your size does not determine your self-worth.
“My self-worth was tied up with size for a very long time,” she says. “The scales kind of turned, and I was like, ‘OK, no. My self-worth should actually be about who I am and what I can bring, not just what it’s like in my size.” – Iskra Lawrence, usmagazine.com.
It is so much easier to love your body when you realize that your size does not define you as a person. You are so much more than a number on the scale!
Nyome Nicholas-Williams
Nyome Nicholas-Williams is a body-positive activist and plus-size model. She’s best known for fighting back against Instagram’s unfair nudity rules that seemed only to apply to plus-sized women.
Alongside photographer Alexandra Cameron, Nyome spearheaded a movement that pushed back against Instagram’s censorship policies. After having a photo taken down that was no more revealing than others that had been posted by women in straight size bodies, Nyome and Alexandra decided to take a stand.
Since then, Instagram has changed its policies and even apologized to Nyome. She is now using her platform to continue to fight for body inclusivity and acceptance.
Her body confidence tip is to never compare yourself to other women. Always remind yourself that “you are one of one. There is nobody quite like you, and that is your power, so own that fact.” Nyome Nicholas-Williams, edgeofember.com.
Don’t compare yourself to others; learn to love the things that make you unique. You are uniquely beautiful, and nobody can take that away from you!
Hunter McGrady
Hunter McGrady is a body image positivity activist and plus-size model. She’s been featured in the pages of Sports Illustrated five times and most recently appeared on the cover as a new mom.
She found her most recent shoot to be the most empowering one yet, as she celebrated and embraced her postpartum body for the world to see.
Hunter has been vocal about her struggles with body confidence and how she struggled with her appearance as an anxious teen. While she’s come a long way since her teenage years, she still has days when she struggles. “I wish there was a perfect formula for confidence, but it’s a lifelong journey,” she says.
Hunter’s body confidence tip is to wear what you want.
“Go outside of the norms, go outside of the box. Break those barriers and say, “Listen, I’m going to try this.” No one is looking at you or what you’re wearing at the beach or what you’re wearing out. So I think that it is important to step outside of the box and do things that you’ve always wanted to try.” – Hunter McGrady, parade.com.
Fashion has no rules! Be confident and experiment with your style. Wear whatever makes you feel good in your skin, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Barbie Ferreira
Barbie Ferreira is an actress, plus-size model, and body-positivity advocate. She’s best known for her role as Kat Hernandez on HBO’s hit show “Euphoria” and has been modeling since she was just 17 years old. Barbie is unapologetically herself and wants other women to feel the same way.
Barbie’s body confidence and self-love tip is to surround yourself with positivity.
“Make sure that you are surrounding yourself with people who you can relate to. Be sure that the things around you make you feel good, surround yourself with positivity, create a space of safety and acceptance, and own your light in that way. That’s a big step.” – Barbie Ferreira, popsugar.com.
If your time spent on social media or with certain people doesn’t make you feel good, then it might be time to unfollow those accounts and reassess your relationships.
It is so important to be around positive people who make you feel good about yourself! Be confident and surround yourself with positivity, and you’ll start to see the best in yourself too.
Your Body is Beautiful
These body confidence tips from these beloved plus-size models are just some of the many things you can do to help you feel better in your own skin. So next time you’re feeling down about your body, remember these tips and remind yourself that you’re beautiful just the way you are.
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