13 Celebrities Who Changed The Way We Look At Body Image

Celebrities are some of the most beautiful people on earth. From pop stars to actors to models, we've all admired them and their flawless features at some point or another. But it's important to remember the photoshopping, selfie apps, endless hours training on strict nutrition plans… it's hard not to focus on that perfect image and constantly compare. It has come to a point where even the celebrities themselves are calling out unrealistic photos, extreme photoshop mistakes, and advocating for a better understanding of body image and being body positive. They're sharing no makeup selfies, not worrying about their weight, celebrating being healthy and beautiful at all sizes, with no body shaming on either end of the spectrum. Here are 13 celebrities (of a thankfully ever growing list), who have changed the way we look a body image for the better.

13 Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer has described her lifelong issues with body image, and the scrutiny of being on stage, but is working to overcome them herself, and for other women. Her goal is just to make everybody laugh and feel better, and it seems, to get women to accept themselves. She posed almost nude for Annie Leibovitz for the unretouched Pirelli calendar, saying she never felt more beautiful, and that it actually looked like her, and has recently come out against magazines for labelling her as plus size. She doesn't think there's anything wrong with the label itself, except that she isn't, and saying she is distorts reality of what a size 6 or plus size actually looks like.

12 Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks has been open about her own issues with body image, and perceptions the media has of her. She's talked about the decision she made early in her career to not keep pursuing the waif-like figure of a runway model and embrace her curves (which certainly worked out for her - she became a Sports Illustrated cover girl and Victoria's Secret Angel), and has addressed these issues on her talk show, telling the media to “Kiss my fat ass!” after taking unflattering photos of her at the beach. She's shared several no makeup selfies, and also worked hard to expand the image of beauty on Top Model, including shorter, taller, curvier, and quirkier women, as well as men, transgender contestants, and those who might be considered to have some kind of defect or disability - and showing that your uniqueness and inner beauty is what's really important.

11 Lena Dunham

In Girls Lena Dunham's character has so many nude and partially-clothed scenes because Lena wanted to show that bodies do come in all shapes and sizes, and that we shouldn't cringe at seeing curvier bodies on screen. Lena has also said, “I think about my body as a tool to do the stuff I need to do, but not the be all and end all of my existence.” She's also talked about the challenges she thinks would come with a different body, and how the way she is means people talk to her for who she is.

10 Amy Poehler And Tina Fey

Comedy duo Amy Poehler and Tiny Fey both have a lot to say about body image. On Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, Amy responds to a question about body image by saying “We're all different. Every body is different. There's only, like, five perfectly symmetrical people in the world… but the rest of us are just a jangle of stuff, and the earlier you learn that you should focus on what you have and not obsess about what you don't have, the happier you will be. When you talk to yourself… try to picture talking to your daughter or younger sister. You would tell them they're beautiful. And you wouldn't be lying. Because she is. And so are you.” Tina Fey has a similar message in her book Bossypants when she describes the list of all the perfect features a woman is supposed to have to be beautiful, but it's all totally unattainable. Both women are great role models who focus on things other than their image - comedy, intelligence, being there for each other.

9 Rebel Wilson

Comedian and actress Rebel Wilson has said, “When it comes to body image, I don't really care what I look like that much, and I think women out there should just be happy with the way they look. They shouldn't really try to conform to any kind of stereotype. Just be happy and hopefully healthy.” She focuses on health, and having enough energy to write, produce, and act. She also wants to be a positive role model, saying that while there are many glamorous actresses, no one looks like that in the real world. The best thing she can do is to be herself.

8 Melissa McCarthy

Another comedic actress, Melissa McCarthy, star of Gilmore Girls and Bridesmaids, has made several comments about her weight (and haters), saying she feels sad for those who spend so much time hating and putting others down, while she enjoys her life with her husband and kids. She's also said she's happier at a larger size, when she doesn't feel the need to constantly focus on the number, and stress about why she isn't smaller.

7 Beyonce

You only have to hear some of Beyonce's lyrics to know what she thinks of adhering to certain beauty standards. In Pretty hurts: “Blonder hair, flat chest/ TV says bigger is better/ South Beach, sugar free/ Vogue says thinner is better,” and other lyrics saying “Perfection is the disease of the nation.” She's also said that confidence is the most alluring thing a woman can have, and that nothing is more beautiful than loving yourself.

6 Adele

Adele, who was criticized by many, including Karl Lagerfeld, for her weight, has said “I've never had a problem with the way I look. I'd rather go for lunch with my friends than go to a gym” and “I love food and hate exercise. I don't have time to work out… I don't want to be on the cover of Playboy or Vogue. I want to be on the cover of Rolling Stone or Q. I'm not a trendsetter, I'm a singer. I'd rather weigh a ton and make an amazing album.”

5 Laverne Cox

Laverne's confidence and advocacy as a trans person of color is inspiring across the board. She has embraced her uniqueness, and strives to help others to do so, trying to break down gender and beauty expectations, like not wearing tall heels if you are already over a certain height. She has set aside time to accept her body saying, “What I've been doing is looking in the mirror and listing all the things I have an issue with and then saying, 'This is beautiful.' I just go down the list and tell myself, 'You have to accept that this is you today.' I make time to do this.” Certainly a good lesson in self acceptance.

4 Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence certainly isn't afraid to let her true self show, from tumbles in gorgeous gowns, to witty banter, to calling out the media for the effect it has, saying, “… And the word fat! I just think it should be illegal to call somebody fat on TV. I mean, if we're regulating cigarettes and sex and cuss words because of the effect it has on our younger generation, why aren't we regulating things like calling people fat?” She's refused to lose weight for roles, and hates the word diet.

3 Chrissy Teigen

Sports Illustrated supermodel Chrissy Teigan, loves to cook and has shared her talents on Instagram and numerous tv shows, and has even written a cookbook. She has called brands and fans out for fat shaming, including Forever 21, who fired her on set for being too fat. And she is no stranger to sharing honest selfies, including one post from Instagram showing her bruises from clumsiness, as well as her stretch marks, showing that no matter what your size, stretch marks can be a fact of life for anyone!

2 Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato is finally feeling confident in herself after struggling for years with body image issues and health concerns, including suffering from Bulimia and subsequent issues with cutting, and finally getting help. She now hopes to use her new confidence to start a conversation about healthier views of body image and being able to discuss eating disorders, encouraging other girls to get help, and to respond to negativity, like comments on twitter and Instagram, with love and positivity.

1 Channing Tatum

Male celebrities are also coming out as body positive, and talking about their issues with body image and the media including Sam Smith, Channing Tatum, and Prince Fielder. Channing's said about his much envied body, and how unrealistic it is to maintain, "My Magic Mike body… lasts for about five days, like when we're shooting. You time it until that day and then you lose it immediately." Singer Sam Smith said in an awards acceptance speech how being yourself is more important that what you look like, and Texas Ranger Prince Fielder said after his ESPN shoot “Just because you're big doesn't mean you can't be an athlete… I work out to make sure I can do the job to the best of my ability… I'm not going up there trying to be a fitness model.”