Loving Our Bodies at Every Size
Serena and more inspire us to embrace the skin we’re in.
1 / 10
Serena Williams - Whether you’re just starting your personal healthy journey or you’ve been sticking to it for years, enjoying your body at every stage is the key to shining strong. Read on to see encouraging messages from Serena Williams, Jennifer Hudson and powerful women who inspire us to all to love the skin we’re in. By Britt Middleton Fresh off her sixth (yep, you read that right!) Wimbledon win over the weekend, the tennis Phenom faced an onslaught of online criticism over her muscular frame. In the end, she rises above it to embrace her every inch. "People my age started coming up to me, saying, ‘I love you because of the way you look.’ They could relate to me. That was really motivating. It's all about loving who you are and realizing that you're beautiful," she told Fitness magazine. (Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
2 / 10
Tracee Ellis Ross - In a blog post entitled “A Culture Confused By Fake Breast," the actress gives an ode to the shape and "drop" of natural breasts, no matter the size. Of loving her own “girls,” she said, “They are teardrop-shaped, which is to say they’re bottom heavy. They make me feel French and I think French women are sexy. The chest of a French woman is gorgeous. They call it la poitrine, and to me it’s one of the most elegant parts of a woman’s body.” (Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
3 / 10
Jada Pinkett Smith - Though the actress and mother of two is known for her toned frame, she’s perfectly happy with the 8-10 pounds she says she gained earlier this year. “I think I will keep it. I like being a lil…fuller,” she professed on her Facebook page. "Here's to loving our bodies by our own standards." Here, here! (Photo: FameFlynet, Inc)
4 / 10
Jennifer Hudson - Unveiling her stunning bikini body while on vacation in Mexico, the actress-singer admits that she’s still getting used to putting her fab figure on display. “It would take Mexico to get me to play on the beach!” she wrote on Instagram. “But I work hard, I deserve it right ! Plus, I earned it!” Love her attitude. (Photo: Jennifer Hudson via Instagram)
5 / 10
Amber Riley - The road to stardom wasn’t easy for the Glee star, who says she faced criticism over her curvy frame. The comments “hurt for a minute, but being told 'no' just made me work harder. I wasn't going to be held back by my size,” she shared with People magazine. "When I receive letters from girls that say, 'You give me confidence,' I think, 'Wow, this is amazing.' That's my goal: to let people know it's truly what's on the inside that counts." (Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Family Equality Council)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 10
Keke Palmer - The stunning actress says she overcame being bullied as a young girl, which is why she’s joined campaigns like Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty” to encourages women to accept themselves, flaws and all. “I think you have to love who you are, you have to accept who you are, and you have to own it, because if you believe it, then everybody else will,” she’s said about finding beauty in imperfection. (Photo: David Buchan/Getty Images)
7 / 10
Chanel Iman - “I’ve been skinny my whole life,” the catwalk stunner told Net-A-Porter’s The Edit about overcoming body bullies. “And now that I’m getting older I’m gaining weight." Admitting that she's gained 15-20 pounds over the past few years, she adds, "I love it because when you’re teased at school and everyone’s always asking, ‘Do you eat?’ it’s like being bullied.” (Photo: Chanel Iman via Instagram)
8 / 10
Tamera Mowry - After giving birth to son Aden in November 2012, the actress took her time getting back into her size 27 jeans. “I learned to love myself at every stage. But once I got back into those, I felt I was at my fighting weight. I’m like 'OK, bring on baby No. 2!'” the actress told In Touch Weekly. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
9 / 10
Jennifer Lopez - No doubt, the powerhouse singer has a body that makes headlines. But at age 44, she says she's happy to embrace change. "I've got an athletic body, I've worked out my whole life and I've been incredibly disciplined when I needed to be," she revealed to British Glamour. "Now I'm just a little bit more relaxed in that area. I feel like this is who I am." (Photo: Christopher Lee/Getty Images)