May 1, 2024 | Sarah Ng

Inspiring Body-Positive Quotes Made By Celebrities


Body Positivity In The Celebrity World

In a world of unrealistic beauty standards, it can be tough to love our bodies. Here are some uplifting quotes made by some of our favorite celebrities.

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Kate Winslet

"Nobody is perfect. I just don’t believe in perfection. But I do believe in saying, 'This is who I am and look at me not being perfect!' I’m proud of that."

Actress Kate Winslet at the film premiere of Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Christina Hendricks

"I guess my mom raised me right. She was very celebratory of her body. I never heard her once say, 'I feel fat.' Back when I was modeling, the first time I went to Italy I was having cappuccinos every day, and I gained 15 pounds. And I felt gorgeous! I would take my clothes off in front of the mirror and be like, Oh, I look like a woman. And I felt beautiful, and I never tried to lose it, 'cause I loved it."

Christina Hendricks At Paleyfest 2014Dominick D, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Serena Williams

"Since I don’t look like every other girl, it takes a while to be okay with that. To be different. But different is good."

American tennis player Serena Williams during a Press conference in Doha.Doha Stadium Plus Qatar, Flickr

Jonah Hill

“I’m 37 and finally love and accept myself. This isn’t a 'good for me' post. And it’s definitely not a 'feel bad for me post.' It’s for the kids who don’t take their shirt off at the pool. Have fun. You’re wonderful and awesome and perfect.”

Jonah Hill in suit looking at side.Josh Jensen, Flickr

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Alanis Morissette

“I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament.”

Alanis Morissette smiling - 2013Justin Higuchi, Flickr

Margaret Cho

“The body is such a commodity in our culture. People always comment on your weight. It's a very shameful thing to take more than your share or take up more space. But now I realize that you're entitled to that space. You can take up as much space as you want.”

Margaret Cho in red jacket is talking.City of West Hollywood, Flickr

Gloria Steinem

"Each individual woman’s body demands to be accepted on its own terms."

Gloria Steinem speaking with supporters - 2016Gage Skidmore, Flickr

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Drew Barrymore

"I never beat myself up or forced myself to look a certain way, and my goals have not been vanity-oriented, so I’ll be able to talk to my kids in a very real way about having to work with ourselves the way that we are. We’ve got to embrace it. We were all made a certain way.”

Drew Barrymore talking and looking at side.Andy Sternberg, Flickr

Tracee Ellis Ross

“With all the sharpness and harshness and violence and fear that has been around, perhaps the softness of my body is a blessing. It has been able to nurture me in a way that my mind could not."

Tracee Ellis Ross speaks at TED - 2018TED Conference, Flickr

Jameela Jamil

“I’ve never had a flat stomach. It just doesn’t happen, it’s just not going to happen, and it’s my little warm roll, and I like it, and I’m not a failure for not having a flat stomach."

Jameela Jamil at San Diego Comic Con on July 20, 2019aitchisons, CC-BY-SA-2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Gabourey Sidibe

"It doesn’t have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see."

Gabourey Sidibe smiling outside.Greg Hernandez, Flickr

Alicia Keys

“It’s beautiful to feel positive about your body, but it’s also fine that you don’t look like everybody else...or you have a different shape of this, or your legs are thicker, or your breasts are larger, or your breasts are smaller, or whatever the thing might be.” 

Alicia Keys @ FIFA's 2010 World Cup Kickoff ConcertWilliam Haun, Flickr

Meryl Streep

"Don’t waste so much time thinking about how much you weigh. There is no more mind-numbing, boring, idiotic, self-destructive diversion from the fun of living."

Meryl Streep at Opening Ceremony - 2016Dick Thomas Johnson, Flickr

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Ashley Graham

"Your words have so much power. Every day, if you tell yourself, ‘I love you,’ if you give yourself one word of validation, it will change your mind."

Ashley Graham Vma Backstage - 2012Ashley Graham, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Britney Griner

“I’m comfortable in my body and I don’t mind putting it on display... Honestly, I like how unique it is. My big arms, my bigger hands, these long legs—I love being different. If everybody was the same, it’d be a boring-ass world.” 

Brittney Griner in orange shirt is looking at side.Lorie Shaull, Flickr

Lizzo

"Someone’s always going to have a critique … All that matters is what I think of it. And I had to go so deep inside myself and look in the mirror. Looking in the mirror and accepting what’s in the mirror is very, very difficult. And right now, I love it every time I look in the mirror."

Lizzo at NXNE, 2017The Come Up Show, Flickr

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Jamie Lee Curtis

“I've been sucking my stomach in since I was 11... I very specifically decided to relinquish and release every muscle I had that I used to clench to hide the reality. That was my goal. I have never felt more free creatively and physically.”

Jamie Lee Curtis speaking with supporters - 2016Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Henry Miller

“Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense.” 

Henry Miller 1940 in suitCarl Van Vechten, Wikimedia Commons

Frances McDormand

“I wanted to do nudity. I felt like, all right, I’m 45, I’ve got cellulite, I’ve got stretch marks. I’m feeling really good about myself. Let’s stick it out there.”

Frances McDormand smiling at camera.Hilary Dotson, Flickr

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Melissa McCarthy

"My weight? It is what it is. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow. It’s about being content. And sometimes other priorities win."

Melissa McCarthy smiling and looking at front.Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, Flickr

Rihanna

“You just have to accept your body. You may not love it all the way, but you just have to be comfortable with it. You just want something else that someone else has, but that doesn't mean what you have isn't beautiful.” 

Rihanna looking at camera and holding her arm on her head.celebrityabc, Flickr

Michelle Obama

"Being a healthy woman isn’t about getting on a scale or measuring your waistline. We need to start focusing on what matters—on how we feel, and how we feel about ourselves."

Michelle Obama on stageGage Skidmore, Flickr

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Alyssa Milano

“It’s really an awakening—when you get pregnant and have a child—that the female body is the most amazing machine imaginable.” 

Alyssa Milano at Peta's 25th Anniversary Gala - 2006Johnny Bartoshevich, Flickr

Salma Hayak

"People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder."

Salma Hayek speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic ConGage Skidmore, Flickr

Selena Gomez

"I realize everybody wants what they don’t have. But at the end of the day, what you have inside is much more beautiful than what’s on the outside."

The famous actress Selena Gomez posing in front of the camera wearing blue dressDenis Makarenko, Shutterstock

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Sandra Bullock

"I’ve made peace with the fact that the things that I thought were weaknesses or flaws were just me. I like them."

Sandra Bullock speaking at the 2013 San Diego Comic ConGage Skidmore, Flickr

Kate Hudson

"I’m pretty comfortable with my body. I’m imperfect. The imperfections are there. People are going to see them, but I take the view you only live once."

Kate Hudson at her book signing - 2016https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg2600/, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Emma Stone

"I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself."

Emma Stone smiling at TIFF - 2010Pete Morawski, Flickr

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Bobbi Brown

"How I feel about myself is more important than how I look. Feeling confident, being comfortable in your skin—that’s what really makes you beautiful." 

Bobbi Brown at The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show - 2009The Heart Truth, Wikimedia Commons

Octavia Spencer

"Be happy in your own skin. If you are unhealthy, start by making small changes to become healthier. You are unique, beautiful, and worthy." 

Octavia Spencer smiling and looking at camera.ALA The American Library Association, Flickr

Jennifer Lopez

"You have to stand up and say, ‘There’s nothing wrong with me or my shape or who I am, you’re the one with the problem!'"

Jennifer Lopez at eventTom Hevezi , Getty Images

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Brooke Shields

“I’m so grateful that my body has taken care of me this long. It’s given me children, it’s healed from various accidents and surgeries, and I just feel, I think that we talk about that. I feel better in my 50s than I ever did prior.”

B&W photo of Brooke Shields smiling - 1990Thomas Hawk, Flickr

Kristin Bell

"I’m constantly reminding myself it’s not about my thighs: It’s about my commitment and my happiness level." 

Kristen Bell at the premiere of Baby Mama in New York City at the 2008David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0 ,Wikimedia Commons

Carrie Underwood

"I make a promise to myself to start appreciating what my body CAN do and stop focusing on what it can’t." 

Carrie Underwood Live in Times Square in May 2012.Dephisticate, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Meghan Markle

"We just need to be kinder to ourselves. If we treated ourselves the way we treated our best friend, can you imagine how much better off we would be?"

Meghan Markle close up portrait  - 2015UJA-Federation of New York, CC BY 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons

Oprah

"Say goodbye to your inner critic, and take this pledge to be kinder to yourself and others." 

Oprah Winfrey FactsVaguely Artistic, Flickr

Chrissy Metz

"Knowing that I feel good because I am being diligent about taking care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally creates self-esteem."

Chrissy Metz arrives to the ACLU SoCal's 2019Ga Fullner, Shutterstock

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Lady Gaga

"You define beauty yourself. Society doesn’t define your beauty."

Lady Gaga FactsLukas Maverick Greyson, Shutterstock

Demi Lovato

"All I have to say is 'I'm healthy.' In that statement, I express gratitude. I am grateful for my strength and things I can do with my body. I am saying I'm healthy and I accept the way my body is today without changing anything." 

Demi Lovato speaking and performing live at the Grammy Museum - 2017Justin Higuchi, Flickr

America Ferrara

"Take your time and your talent and figure out what you have to contribute to this world, and get over what the hell your butt looks like in those jeans!"

America Ferrera speaks at TED - 2019TED Conference, Flickr

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Lena Dunham

"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."

Lena Dunham at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Arrivals, Nokia Theater, Los Angeless_bukley, Shutterstock

Simone Biles

"You all can judge my body all you want, but at the end of the day it’s MY body. I love it and I’m comfortable in my own skin." 

Simone Biles getting a medal - 2018Ministério do Esporte, Flickr

Megan Trainor

“Any body type is beautiful. It’s all about loving what you got and rocking it.”

Meghan Trainor is smiling at camera - 2015Drew de F Fawkes, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Chrissy Teigen

"We’ve forgotten what a regular body looks like. There are people out there who are struggling, and I’m struggling, and it’s okay to come to terms with realizing it’s going to be a bit of a journey."

Chrissy Teigen on stage at BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS - 2015Walt Disney Television, Flickr

Gabrielle Union

"It has come with age — age and continuing to read and travel and realize that nobody, except for mean girls, gives a shit about a dimple in a thigh or what your upper arms look like. If you carry yourself with confidence, and you move through the world with your head held high and your shoulders thrown back, you don’t need to be a [size] double-zero. What people are attracted to is the fact that you’re attracted to yourself.” 

Gabrielle Union at The Recording Academy - 2010s_bukley, Shutterstock

Emma Watson

"Feeling beautiful has nothing to do with what you look like."

Emma Watson factsBrenda Rochelle, Flickr


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