Sometimes, a celebrity undergoes a weight-loss transformation, and if they’ve previously been a role model in the body-positivity movement, they are unfairly judged for it. People can get attached to a way a celebrity looks, especially when it’s a rare, relatable moment between us regular people and the elite (stars, they’re just like us!) that makes us feel more comfortable in our own skin.
For years, these stars spoke up about body confidence, rejecting Hollywood’s impossible standards and encouraging fans to love themselves as they are. But as their own appearances changed, the internet had plenty to say. But bodies aren’t public property; women in the spotlight who lose weight don’t owe an explanation, and losing weight doesn’t make them any less positive.
Barbie Ferreira
This Euphoria star famously said, “My body has never been the most interesting thing about me.” Once considered a body-positive model and actor who challenged the narrow beauty standard of Hollywood, she now has a visibly slimmer appearance that has sparked many a heated discussion online. Barbie herself is clearly unimpressed with the obsession surrounding weight-loss discussions.
Lizzo
Lizzo’s music and personality have always celebrated self-love at every size, making her a role model for plus-size women around the world. After sharing progress from a personal wellness journey, she faced criticism from people who treated her body positivity as though she needed to be curvy for it to be valid. She responded that she did what felt right for her body, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez has an autoimmune condition called lupus, and the medication causes her weight to fluctuate, and she’s spoken openly about being body-shamed. She has urged people to be more compassionate, and her story demonstrates that a changing body doesn’t automatically indicate the use of Ozempic, nor does it negate her earlier messages about self-acceptance.
Mindy Kaling
As a plus-sized South Asian woman, Mindy Kaling has pushed back against the idea that women in Hollywood need to fit a certain look in order to have style or be successful. Then she lost weight in recent years, shifting many online conversations towards her size. This showed the exact pressure she spent years navigating, and while she has acknowledged that audiences can get attached to a star looking a certain way, how she looks is her own decision.
Adele
Adele was always celebrated for embracing her appearance before she experienced dramatic weight loss after the pandemic, and when her appearance changed, the reactions spanned the gamut, from praise to disappointment. Adele frankly stated that she was body-positive when she weighed more and is still body-positive now.
Rebel Wilson
Rebel Wilson has often discussed the pressure women in and out of Hollywood deal with to fit a thin ideal, and in movies, she was often cast as the “bigger funny girl.” In 2020, her famous “Year of Health” transformation changed how casting directors and fans saw her and sparked a debate about how famous women’s bodies often become public property.
Gabourey Sidibe
After her critically acclaimed performance in Precious, actress Gabourey Sidibe spent years refusing to let critics define her by her size. Later, she underwent weight-loss surgery, which many believed was a betrayal. She explained that it was a personal health decision, and the move showed that body confidence and a changing body can both co-exist.
Oprah Winfrey
For decades, Oprah has spoken about the emotional weight of weight stigma and dieting. Then, she debuted a new physique, which she revealed was due to weight-loss medication—and that doesn’t mean her message changed. She framed the decision as a way to end personal shame rather than another reason to feel it.
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson went from being a smaller size to gaining a significant amount of weight, driven by health and thyroid issues. She then underwent a dramatic transformation, losing around 60 pounds, and has spoken about the pressure and judgment placed on the public scrutiny of being a famous woman in the spotlight, which she dealt with tenfold after disclosing that a prescription medication helped her lose weight.
Mo’Nique
No one loved her curves more than Mo’Nique, but after deciding to take better care of her health, she lost more than 80 pounds. In an IG video, she said, “And today, when I got on the scale, since I was 17 years old, I’ve been over 200 lbs. Today was the first time in my adult life that I’ve been under 200 lbs. So I wanted to let y’all know it’s possible; we can do it, and we can get there.” She still shares motivational videos from her health journey.
