With unrealistic societal expectations, body image is something we all struggle with. It’s hard not to compare our body type with someone else’s, especially if they’re seen on the cover of a magazine or in a prestigious fashion show.
In the past, there have been negative body image campaigns, including “fat-shaming” and “skinny-shaming.” These campaigns have greatly impacted the way individuals view and compare themselves in respect to societal standards.
However, companies like Aerie, Barbie, and Sports Illustrated have recently moved towards celebrating different body types. Aerie launched aerie REAL in mid-January, featuring non-photoshopped models. Using models like Emma Roberts, the brand encourages young girls to embrace their body type because “The REAL you is sexy.”
The iconic doll company Barbie™ released a new line of dolls with different body types to represent the variety of girls who purchase and play with the dolls. According to the Fashion Doll Guide , the faces of the dolls may have changed, but the body type of the doll has not changed in over 50 years. Because the company has decided to finally release a new line of dolls with varying body types, it is helping to influence the body positive movement by encouraging young girls to embrace their own body type.
Sports Illustrated, known for their bombshell cover girls, released three different cover girls this past week, one of which made the magazine’s history. Ashley Graham is the first plus-sized model to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Ashley has toured the country encouraging high school girls and people all over the country to embrace who they are and their body type.
While these companies are greatly influencing the body positive movement for plus-sized women, it is important to remember that all body types are beautiful. The body positivity movement sometimes fails to mention the negativity that comes with “skinny-shaming” and fails to encourage men to embrace their body types. Be confident in who you are because, as the aerie REAL campaign says, “The REAL you is sexy.”