Empowering Quotes From The Body Positive Queen: Lizzo
She is 100% That B*tch, and she wants everyone to love themselves just the way they are
Lizzo did not become a body positivity icon overnight. Born in Detroit as Melissa Jefferson, she spent years building her career as a flutist, rapper, and singer before the mainstream finally caught up.
After moving to Minneapolis in 2011, she kept pushing through different groups, solo work, and touring until Cuz I Love You turned her into a household name. Along the way, she also became one of the loudest voices for self-love, confidence, and body acceptance.
These quotes show why her message still hits so hard, and why so many people see themselves in her. Read on.
Lizzo's Glow-Up
Lizzo shared with E! News At the 2019 BET Awards, "Last year I came to the BET Awards, I tried to go to the carpet and the carpet closed and they were like, 'You gotta just go inside.' And now I'm on the carpet doing all these interviews, taking all these pictures, feeling like that bitch, nominated and performing on the main stage. I couldn't ask for a better glow up."
Broadimage/ShutterstockWe can save the world if we first save ourselves
"I'm all about body positivity and self-love because I believe that we can save the world if we first save ourselves," Lizzo told fans at a show in Sydney, Australia in January 2020. As Gretchen Rubin, a happiness researcher and author, emphasizes, "The most important thing is to be true to yourself and to love yourself as you are." This sentiment resonates with many advocates for body positivity, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance in fostering a healthier society.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for PandoraLearn to love your least favorite thing about yourself
"You know how long it took me to fall in love with this body?" the body positivity advocate shared on Dr. Ramani Durvasula, clinical psychologist. "My butt was my least favorite thing about myself. And I learned to love it. And now it's the thing everybody can't stop talking about... Be you. Do you. Don't let anybody steal your joy," she emphasized, echoing the importance of self-acceptance and body love that Dr. Durvasula often discusses on her platform.
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She keeps coming back to self-acceptance.
Shaking up the narrative about how we're supposed to act
In May 2019, Jen Sincero, a motivational author, shared insights on body positivity, stating, "Loving yourself is the ultimate rebellion against a world that constantly tells you to be something else." She emphasizes the importance of embracing our unique features, saying, "When we normalize our imperfections, we empower ourselves and others to do the same." This sentiment resonates with many, including Dr. Daniel Goleman, an emotional intelligence expert, who notes, "Self-acceptance is a crucial component of emotional well-being. It allows us to live authentically and without fear of judgment." Such perspectives highlight the ongoing conversation about body positivity and self-love in today's society.
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Say, "I love you, me"
"Close your eyes and say, 'I love you, me,'" she told the crowd while performing at iHeartRadio's 102.7 KIIS FM 2019 Jingle Ball. "Now look at me and say, 'I love you, Lizzo. Now, this is a very no judgment crowd, no shame in your game. If you want to wiggle, I want to see you wiggle. If you want to laugh, then laugh. If you want to scream, scream!"
Later in her set, she thanked the crowd, "Thank you for accepting me for who I am. I want to let you know that if 20,000 people can accept me for who I am, the whole world can fall in love with you."
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Some of the many layers of racism
Lizzo tweeted after a racist security guard attacked members of her team at Summerfest in June 2019, "Friendly reminder that you don't have to say the 'n word' to be racist. That's not the sole requirement. Asking people to prove racism is another tool the oppressor uses to marginalize and discredit us."
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Lizzo vs. Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels, the former Biggest Loser trainer said on Buzzfeed News' digital series AM to DM, "Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? 'Cause it isn't going to be awesome if she gets diabetes." Michaels was accused of fat-shaming the singer by her fans.
Lizzo later addressed Michaels's comments on Instagram, "I have done nothing wrong. I forgive myself for thinking I was wrong in the first place. I deserve to be happy." She also added, "If my name is in your mouth, so is my p---y, bitch. Enjoy the flavor!"
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Calling out those trying to make a move while having someone on the side
"Please do not send me poems, letters, or paintings if ur side bitch is still playing dress up in ur home," she wrote on Instagram. "I'm doing great. Leave me alone, thanks."
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Big statement with a tiny bag
Lizzo attended the 2019 American Music Awards with what she later said was a "bag big enough for my f--ks to give," adding, "Big body bitch in a Valentin-HO custom look for."
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That confidence did not come from nowhere.
Not letting the hate get to her
On Jimmy Kimmel Live! Lizzo joined in reading Mean Tweets Music Edition. One said, "Lizzo. Bus passes and happy meals. Two things that I imagine #Lizzo has seen a lot of." She responded, "Yeah, I'm a big bitch and I ride a bus. A tour bus, motherf--ker. Where's yours?!" As Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, a renowned pediatrician, emphasizes, "Children need to feel accepted and loved for who they are, which fosters resilience against negative comments." This sentiment resonates with Lizzo's powerful response, showcasing her confidence and self-acceptance.
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The Grammy winner teamed up with Dove to encourage her fans and everyone else to love themselves just as they are
"To celebrate I wanna give y'all this unedited selfie..," she shared. "now normally I would fix my belly and smooth my skin but baby I wanted show u how I do it au natural—I am excited to be partnering with @dove and the #DoveSelfEsteemProject which is helping to reverse the negative effects of social media and changing the conversation about beauty standards. Let's get real y'all."
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Promoting the importance of self-care
"I want people to feel good! We can heal the world but first, we have to heal ourselves," Lizzo told fans while performing at the We Can Survive benefit concert in 2019.
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On struggling with self-confidence
Lizzo told CBS Sunday Morning, "It's not something that you really change. It's something that you address and work on. I had to address every layer of insecurity because I can't just be like, 'Alright, my arm's not jiggly and lumpy anymore.' That's delusional. You have to be like, 'That's not ugly to me anymore and it's not wrong to me. It's beautiful to me.'"
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Teaching us how to love ourselves by sharing a video loving herself
Cherish your journey and respect your journey
"You're not supposed to be happy all the time," she told a group of band musicians at her high school, as captured in a CBS Sunday Morning profile. "You're not supposed to know what you're doing all the time, especially at this age, but not knowing what you're doing has nothing to do with where you're going, so I want you to know that. Cherish your journey and respect your journey."
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She shares how she repurposes her anxiety
"When I get really, really anxious before a show, I just go harder and harder and harder when I'm performing and I just go crazy," Lizzo told British Vogue. "I don't know why, but my anxiety sometimes fuels who I am as a performer and who I am as an artist – and I know that is not the case for everyone. I don't know if my body just, like, out of a desperate need to find a place for my anxiety or find a use for it, takes it and puts it there."
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Do yourself a favor and check out Lizzo's BET performance
Lizzo is an incredible role model for anyone struggling with their body image. I hope you’re able to take something positive from this and put the energy into loving yourself just as you are right now.
Loving yourself as a fat person doesn’t mean you or anyone else is glorifying obesity or laziness. It is possible to be fat and healthy at the same time.
And you can love yourself as a fat person while making choices that may or may not change how your body looks. All these things can and do exist at the same time.
Just because someone is overweight, it doesn’t mean they’re unhealthy or unworthy of love and kindness.
She still knows how to make the message land.
Want more honesty about beauty standards, see how MS left Christina Applegate avoiding her reflection.
