Body Positivity Exclusivity

Why the body positivity movement needs a body inclusivity movement

By Kathryn Richner

It’s no secret that the definition of beauty seems to be predefined in most modern societies. The body positivity movement comes as a god-send for those who feel that beauty, modeling, and Instagram popularity is restricted to people with the ideal body. It’s a social movement that challenges beauty standards and encourages positive body image. It’s sparked a rise in the popularity of models both in social media and mainstream fashion who strive to prove all bodies are beautiful. 

While more brands have started to adopt the idea of this movement, a slight increase in weight is the only thing that seems to differ their models from other brands. Models still conform to an extremely narrow ideal of beauty such as an hourglass shape, flat stomach, high cheekbones, and size 14 or smaller. Similarly, while Instagram has shown rising popularity among users who break beauty standards beyond weight, the most popular influencers still seem to fit conventional standards, featuring smooth, blemish-free skin, full lips, and perfect hair. 

It seems like the modeling world is only ready for one narrow change to its coveted recipe for a beautiful person. Is body positivity just for people who fit society's standards in every aspect except weight? While it’s a strong message, weight isn’t the only attribute of a body. Women and men are ashamed about countless aspects—whether it’s their height, hair, face shape, skin type and color, eye size, or lip fullness because mainstream media does not reflect their physical features. There’s a crucial need for representation that demonstrates that truly everyone is beautiful, no matter what they look like. Let’s stop body positivity exclusivity, and be confident in showing the world that every feature of your natural, unedited body is beautiful regardless.