Unfiltered and Unapologetic: A New Era of Body Confidence
Look at yourself in the mirror. Do you love what you see? Do you accept what you see — Your every curve and contour?
Body confidence can be different for everyone, but it essentially means accepting who you are and how you look and eventually loving what you see without the need to seek ‘perfection’. Society has long viewed the ‘perfect’ woman and man as having tall frames, sculpted physiques, and flawless facial features. Every country has its own ‘beauty standards’ which evolve with time.
Being obsessed with looking a certain way because of what others find attractive can lead to an unhealthy mindset, potentially giving rise to eating disorders, body dysmorphia, depression, isolation, and other mental health struggles. I am not saying wanting to look better is bad, but being obsessed with it can be detrimental. Wanting to undergo plastic surgery — a common trend these days — say, getting a nose job done because you want a higher nose bridge, is not necessarily bad. It can boost your self-esteem. However, patients with extreme body dysmorphia may never be truly satisfied, no matter how many surgeries they undergo.
Body Neutrality – Accepting Your Body even if you don’t necessarily love your body
You may love your body one day and can feel the opposite the other day. That’s where Body Neutrality comes in. According to The Washington Post, it simply means accepting the bodies as vessels that help us carry out bodily functions and not attach a positive or a negative connotation to our physicality. It differs from Body Positivity, which states that you are beautiful no matter what, advocating for unconditional self-love. But let’s be real — some days, it may not feel true. For that, I believe, Body Neutrality offers a more balanced approach to self-acceptance.
I recall what Jillian Ng, a volunteer with Calm Collective, wrote in a blog article, opening up about her journey towards accepting her body:
“Having a negative perception of your body image is not something you’re born with, but something learned.”
This statement says it all. Many of us struggle with body image and learn about this through social media. We look down on our bodies because they aren’t the way, as the people or celebrities we love. It may not fit the conventional ideal — too curvy for some, not enough for others. Your skin might have a deeper tone, while others chase that sun-kissed glow. You may feel too petite, while others feel too statuesque. What you have may be desired by others.
Breaking Free from Unrealistic Standards: Embracing All Shapes, All Sizes, All Colours
Beauty is an ever-evolving concept. In a constantly changing world, beauty defies every definition we once thought was unshakeable. We need to look beyond the mirror and embrace our true selves.
“Your body is not a problem to be fixed. It’s not a before picture waiting for its triumphant after. The body is your home, your oldest truest companion, and it deserves to be treated with care, not contempt.”
- Chad Lawson via Calm it Down podcast
Celebrities are leading in challenging and dismantling unrealistic beauty standards, advocating for a new era of authenticity and self-expression over perfection.
Here is a small thread of celebrities who have spoken about body image:
“Since websites and magazines love to share 'celeb flaws' - well I have them! My body has given me the greatest gift of my life: Luca, 5 years ago. I'm turning 30 in September and my body is healthy and gets me where I need to go. Ladies, let's be proud of what we've got and stop wasting precious time in the day wishing we were different, better, and unflawed.”
- Actor Hilary Duff shared via an Instagram post
“I know what it’s like to have an eating disorder and body dysmorphia—and also what it’s like to be a friend to someone who has that. I think it’s time to give people comfort. You have to eat. You have to stop thinking that a certain body shape is ideal, because it’s not.”
- Lana Condor, actress of Netflix film series ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved’, shared in an interview with Elle Canada
“My skin has changed so much in the past 6 years... it’s incredible. Evolution of Vitiligo is beautiful. Don’t be ashamed of what makes you different. My skin changes all the time, I relearn how to do my makeup all the time based on what suits it in that time. Skin is just skin. We shouldn’t judge based on it, condition or race. Like our minds and souls, my skin is ever evolving.”
- Winnie Harlow, a fashion model, shared via an Instagram post
“Something I wish I could tell my younger self is: Appreciate the face and the body that you have. May not look like everyone else, but you are who you are, and be proud of that.”
- Selena Gomez, an actress and singer who has been very open about her experience with body shaming, shared a video clip on Rare Beauty's Instagram
“It’s OK for me to have days where I wish I looked a little different, so long as I understand that I can also lead a complete, gorgeous and fulfilling life that coexists with those feelings.” “Instead, let’s practise emotional and mental fitness because not being judgmental of our bodies and the bodies around us is the real key to body neutrality, and to a happier life.”
- Jonathan Van Ness, a podcaster and hairstylist, talked about body neutrality during an interview with Marie Claire
Your worth does not lie in how you look. Be unapologetically You.
Embracing your body and being confident in your body takes time. Beauty and ugliness are all about perception. What you see is shaped by how you feel. The aim here is not to always feel elated when looking in the mirror but to forge a truce with your body, a vessel that carries you. You can strive for change while still appreciating your body.
As Chad Lawson once said in his Calm It Down podcast:
“You can accept it (body) as good enough as it is while still striving to keep it healthy and use it in ways that light you up. The goal is not to feel 100% confidence in your body 100% of the time. You can hold gratitude and disappointment; appreciation and a desire to change. Making peace is about welcoming the full spectrum.”
So, let me remind you — You are beautiful.
More resources:
Redefining beauty standards in the digital era | Sabrina Greer | TEDxOshawa: https://youtu.be/RZh4DDbq5p8?si=Pyt3SYgCm7M762hj