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If you’re not familiar, body positivity is all about accepting and loving your body as is.
Instagram @theashleygraham; Taylor Giavasis; Lucy Ridges / www.lucyridges.com
It’s the idea that all bodies are good bodies.
Every body is beautiful, regardless of a person’s size, shape, or color.
Sounds pretty simple, right?
Lucy Ridges / www.lucyridges.com
But body positivity isn’t always easy to practice.
And it requires embracing every facet of yourselfany so-called flawsand loving it all.
Thankfully, there’s a group of body positive activists and women leading the charge.
Heather Hazzan and Lily Cummings
Read their stories below, and brace yourself for some mega body posi vibes.
Body activist Kenzie Brenna started an incredible new Instagram trend this year: #CelluliteSaturday.
And she’s encouraging other women to love and embrace their cellulite, too.
Mission accomplished, Kenzie!
Read more about #CelluliteSaturday here.
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Plus-size blogger and model Simone Mariposa stripped down for her first nude photoshoot this yearand the photos are breathtaking.
Read more about Simone Mariposa’s empowering nude photoshoot here.
Read more about Jojo Oldham’s body talk dress here.
Simone Mariposa also made news this year when she created the viral Twitter hashtag #WeWearWhatWeWant.
“It’s not your job to make our wardrobes.
Showing skin isn’t exclusive to smaller girls.
It’s okay for a plus size woman to let her body breathe in her clothing.”
Read more about #WeWearWhatWeWant here.
“A little cellulite never hurt nobody,” she captioned a pic that showed her own cellulite.
“Stop judging yourself, embrace the things that society has called ‘ugly.'”
Read more about Ashley Graham’s body positive Instagram here.
Life coach Jess Pack shared an inspiring photo after a day of shopping left her feeling insecure.
“Terrible dressing room lighting made me feel lumpy and squishier than normal,” she wrote on Instagram.
Her solution: Put on her favorite outfit and pose for the camera.
It helped her realize that a shopping experience can’t take away her power.
“Those things do not define you unless you let them.
Be better than those demons.”
Read more about Jess Pack’s dressing room experience here.
Orange is the New BlackactressDanielle Brooksmade us feel more confident at the gym this year.
“Why just two minutes ago I was feeling great and now I’m not?”
she says in the vid.
And today’s Danielle is better than yesterday’s.
And that’s why I felt so good."
It’s a must-watch for anyone who’s felt insecure at the gym.
Read more about Danielle Brooks’ pep talk here.
Their first campaign: A photo shoot featuring stunning models of all shapes and sizes, completely unretouched.
That’s Howard and Desseaux’s goal.
Read more about the All Woman Project here.
“I hope this post inspires all girls to be comfortable with themselves and their bodies.”
Mission accomplished, Ash!
Read more about Ash Soto’s journey with her vitiligo here.
It’s all sorts of empowering.
Read more about BuzzFeed’s fashion show here.
She’s encouraging all women to love the skin they’re in.
Read more about Harley Dabbs here.
More than a thousand women joined in, sharing confident, beautiful photos.
It’s definitely a body-positive trend we can get behind.
Read more about mermaid thighs here.
ModelIskra Lawrenceseriously championed body positivity this year.
The empowering video went viral, natch.
Read more about Iskra Lawrence’s body positivity PSA here.
“Personally, I think I’m fine as I am.”
And so do we, Jonsdottir!
Read more about Arna Yr Jonsdottir here.
“Do I regret losing weight?
NEVER,” Graham wrote on Instagram.
“Not even a slightest thought.
It doesn’t hold me back like the weight used to.
This stomach has grown two beautiful boys.”
Self-love for the win.
Read more about Rachel Graham’s selfie here.
Model and momDenise Bidothas repeatedly seen brands airbrush her stretch marks, and it left her feeling insecure.
“I started thinking, ‘Maybe Id be beautiful if I didnt have these [stretch marks].”
But Lane Bryant thought otherwise.
Major props, Lane Bryant, and to Denise Bidot for being so damn confident.
Read more about Denise Bidot’s Lane Bryant ad here.
Here’s to a 2017 full of even more self-love!
