13 influencers who inspire body acceptance

3D illustration of social media
Read time: 89 min

Your body is an amazing feat of nature. Every second, it performs millions of processes without you even noticing. It works tirelessly to keep you safe from disease and injury. It allows you to experience inspiration and to feel love. Even so, we could all use a reminder now and then of just how phenomenal our own bodies are. 

Who encourages you to love your body? Maybe a family member, friend, or even someone you follow online? According to a recent CampusWell survey, over 35 percent of responders said they follow body positive social media accounts. 

Hashtags to search (and the problem with #BodyPositive)

The original goal of the body positive movement was to celebrate all types of bodies and to challenge mainstream definitions of beauty. Body positivity stemmed from the Fat Acceptance movement in the 1960s, an important time for both the women’s liberation and Black civil rights movements, when Black women spoke up against beauty standards that didn’t represent them.

Unfortunately, the body positivity movement has seen some backlash recently, and some evidence shows that many posts collected with the #BodyPositive hashtag showcase the same traditional beauty standards that the movement was designed to diverge from. 

Another problem with the movement? Not everyone wants to feel pressured to love their body ALL the time. For this reason, many people are now resonating more with terms like “body acceptance” or “body neutrality”—which focus more on the body’s function rather than its appearance.

Body acceptance hashtags to follow infographic | body positivity

Body acceptance hashtags to follow

  • #BodyNeutrality
  • #BodyAcceptance
  • #BodyCompassion
  • #EffYourBeautyStandards
  • #WeWearWhatWeWant
  • #CelebrateMySize
  • #DareToWear
  • #SelfWorth
  • #BodyJustice

In celebration of each and every body (yes, yours too!), we want to shout out some of our favorite influencers who share inspirational and motivational messages of body love. They’re examples of how to have less self-judgment and feel more confident and secure with ourselves.

Learn to appreciate your body with help from these influencers

Stephanie Yeboah (@nerdabouttown)

quotation marks icon | body positivity

“Every body is deserving of swimwear that makes them feel amazing, not just the socially acceptable ones.”

Alok Vaid-Menon (@alokvmenon)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“Beauty isn’t simply about what we look like, it’s about how we feel…a way of showing up in the world in our sacredness and abundance.”

Precious Lee (@preciousleexo)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“This vibrant cover makes me emotional and my heart feels like it’s going to pop with gratitude. It reminds me of little P aka ‘Miss Lee’…the little P that knew there was nothing in her heart she wanted to accomplish that she couldn’t, even though the representation was scarce. Today I honor my inner child and celebrate her.”

Zach Miko (@zachmiko)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“Confidence is a magic trick, but like the good kind that works.”

Simone Mariposa (@simonemariposa)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“Comparison is such a huge thief of joy. I’ve spent a lot of my life wishing I had certain things, that I looked differently, sometimes I wished I was someone else. But one of THE BIGGEST lessons I’m learning right now is that my top priority is to focus on myself and my path. I am a unique individual, and that is a gift.”

Shane Burcaw (@shaneburcaw)

quotation marks icon | body positivityI open up about the shame I used to feel because of the way my body looked. It has taken many years and lots of support, but today I can confidently say that I’m proud of my body.”

Michelle Chubb (@indigenous_baddie)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“I am still working on loving my new body and that’s okay, I will get there eventually 🥰 My body is sacred. My body is art.”

Raul Samuel (@raulsamuel_official)

quotation marks icon | body positivityNew trend—be comfortable and confident in your own skin. 🖤”

Sam Smith (@samsmith)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“I decided to claim my body and stop trying to change this chest and these hips and these curves that my mum and dad made and love so unconditionally. Some may take this as narcissistic and showing off but if you knew how much courage it took to do this and the body trauma I have experienced as a kid you wouldn’t think those things. Thank you for helping me celebrate my body…”

Winnie Harlow (@winnieharlow)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“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. ❤️”

Marquis Neal (@marquimode)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“I live with the idea that every photoshoot is secretly an America’s Next Top Model challenge and I won’t be getting sent home. 😜” 

Megan Jayne Crabbe (@meganjaynecrabbe)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“You could spend a lifetime zooming in on the textures and shapes your body makes and calling them flaws. Or you could accept that you’re a part of nature, perfectly made, and worthy simply because you are here, existing. #BodyAcceptance #SelfWorth”

Eliza Ault-Connell (@disabled_eliza)

quotation marks icon | body positivity“It’s all about the details 👄❤️ I LOVE matching my mobility aids to my outfit it is the best. Mobility aids are beautiful!”

“Finding the beauty in the uniqueness of yourself or others even if it doesn’t fit the cliché standard of beauty.”
—Elda C., first-year graduate student, National University, San Diego, California

“Being healthy and comfortable in my own skin.”
—Angela H., third-year student, Collin College, McKinney, Texas

“My body is perfect the way it is.”
—Lexy S., fourth-year student, Utah State University, Logan

“Accepting your body and knowing there is no standard to how you or anyone else should look.”
—Daniela C., third-year student, Community College of Aurora, Colorado

Respect your body by taking a break

Even if you’re scrolling through inspiring accounts, spending too much time on social media has been shown to negatively affect your mood and self-esteem. If you’re dealing with confidence issues, it might be a good time to disconnect and focus on spending time with loved ones or doing hobbies you enjoy. Read how to take a break from social media or recognize signs of orthorexia, and don’t be afraid to mute or unfollow accounts that aren’t making you feel good. 

CampusWell is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Instagram or any of the influencers linked above, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.

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Article sources

Ault-Connell, E. [@disabled_eliza]. (2022, October 28). It’s all about the details👄❤️ I LOVE matching my mobility aids to my outfit it is the best [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkQ2mFpINYP/

Burcaw, S. [@shaneburcaw]. (2021, January 23). In today’s video, I open up about the shame I used to feel because of the way my body looked [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKZQf6Frz1_/

CampusWell survey, November 2022.

Chubb, M. [@indigenous_baddie]. (2022, May 19). I am honoured to collaborate with @summersalt ❤️ tbh it was hard for me to model my new body, I [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdv7_9gLnOy/?hl=en

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 22). Body neutrality vs. body positivity. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-positivity-vs-body-neutrality/ 

Crabbe, M. J. [@meganjaynecrabbe]. (2022, October 7). On the little details we’ve been taught to call “flaws” 🧡 [Image descriptions in alt text] #BodyAcceptance #BodyConfidence #SelfWorth #HealingVibes [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjahmCTscRq/

Gelsinger, A. S. (2021). A critical analysis of the Body Positive Movement on Instagram: How does it really impact body image? Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.9741/2766-7227.1003 

Harlow, W. [@winnieharlow]. (2019, October 11). My skin has changed so much in the past 6 years.. it’s incredible. Evolution of Vitiligo is beautiful 😍 Don’t [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3e63FRFCcz/ 

Jiang, S., & Ngien, A. (2020). The effects of Instagram use, social comparison, and self-esteem on social anxiety: A survey study in Singapore. Social Media + Society, 6(2), 205630512091248. https://doi.org/10.1177/2056305120912488 

Lazuka, R. F., Wick, M. R., Keel, P. K., & Harriger, J. A. (2020). Are we there yet? Progress in depicting diverse images of beauty in Instagram’s body positivity movement. Body Image, 34, 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.001 

Lee, P. [@preciousleexo]. (2022, March 23). E L L E🤍APRIL 2022💥IMPACT ISSUE💥This vibrant cover makes me emotional and my heart feels like it’s [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CbdZU2pJRrP/

Mariposa, S. [@simonemariposa]. (2022, September 22). @fashionnovacurve| Comparison is such a huge thief of joy. I’ve spent a lot of my life wishing I had certain things [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUJAOsYPp8N/

Miko, Z. [@zachmiko]. (2022, November 3). Confidence is a magic trick, but like the good kind that works #model #bodypositivity #savagexfenty #plussize #bigboy #confidence [Video]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkgmtHHDMO3/

Neal, M. [@marquimode]. (2022, September 29). I live with the idea that every photoshoot is secretly an america’s next top model challenge and i won’t be [Video]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjGdHDapVoh/

Nijjar, T. (2021, November 26). The forgotten origins of the body positivity movement. Waterloo-Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition. http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.ca/blog/2021/11/26/the-forgotten-origins-of-the-body-positivity-movement 

Pegg Frates, E. (2022, April 14). Moving to wellness while practicing body neutrality. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/moving-to-wellness-while-practicing-body-neutrality-202204142727 

Samuel, R. [@raulsamuel_official]. (2022, September 15). New trend – be comfortable and confident in your own skin. 🖤 Loved shooting this with the amazing team @bestfashion_mag @menshealthmag [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cih_qzRqodc/

Smith, S. [@samsmith]. (2019, February 12). In the past if I have ever done a photo shoot with so much as a t-shirt on, I have [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Btypu_iAaVt/

Vaid-Menon, A. [@alokvmenon]. (2022, November 12). had a wonderful time this morning speaking at the @teenvogue summit in los angeles about inclusive beauty. we spoke about [Video]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck4QPjnAEvq/

Yeboah, S. [@nerdabouttown]. (2022, May 6). Being confident, carefree, happy and unapologetic in a bikini when you’re over a size 18 IS possible…despite the [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CdOZ5SWIRsc/