The Top 5 Most Inspiring Body Confidence Moments of 2016

After weeks of mince pies, mulled wine and roast dinners, feeling good about your body come New Year isn’t always easy.

But instead of doing your usual and making some half-baked resolutions about going to the gym five days a week and ditching carbs for good, this time take on a different challenge.

Forget changing your body – make 2017 all about embracing what you’ve already got.

After all, it’s been another cracker of a year for the body confidence revolution, so you’ll find plenty of inspiring voices to help you on your way.

Here are our five highlights to get you started.

#5: Anne Hathaway’s post-baby fashion

Earlier this summer, Anne Hathaway got real about the challenges of accepting your body after giving birth in an empowering Instagram post that instantly went viral.

After cutting a pair of jeans into new shorts, she wrote passionately about how there’s “no shame in gaining weight during pregnancy (or ever).”

Her heartfelt message about not being ashamed of your size or what your body’s gone through struck a chord with thousands of mums and women around the world.

#4: Iggy Azalea opens up about surgery

Cosmetic surgery has been the worst kept secret of Celebrity-Ville for decades. Despite being widespread, anyone rumoured to have gone under the knife is subjected to cruel judgement.

But this year, celebs like Iggy Azalea and Kylie Jenner have bravely spoken about their procedures.

And it’s done wonders for the confidence of the whole army of women around the world who’ve undergone a breast enlargement or had lip fillers – showing them there’s zero shame in surgery and taking control of your body.

#3: Winnie Harlow’s Lemonade cameo

If you hadn’t heard of Winnie Harlow before the start of the year, you almost certainly know her now.

An up-and-coming model, Harlow was catapulted to the attention of the world’s media after starring in Queen Bey’s Lemonade – itself a roaring anthem celebrating black womanhood.

By embracing her pigment condition, vitiligo, she’s breaking down barriers in the modelling world and showing us all the power of refusing to be defined by how others view you.

#2: Fu Yuanhui breaks Olympic taboos

Every athlete who competed in the Olympics deserves a spot on this list for showing the world just how much a strong body can accomplish, but Fu Yuanhui merits special mention for breaking sporting taboos with her frank honesty.

After losing out on a medal, she discussed how starting her period had affected her performance.

It was a revelation for the many women who struggle with period pain in silence – even superwomen like Olympic athletes have bad days too.

#1: Ashley Graham’s entire year

It’s impossible to pick one moment for Ashley Graham – the plus-size model has had one hell of a year.

From getting her own Barbie doll to making history as the first size 16 model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, she’s brought the body confidence revolution firmly into the limelight.

Her tireless promotion of body positivity and self-acceptance makes her a true icon of the body confidence revolution.

Tags: body confidence, Inspiration

Category: Entertainment