10 Body Positive Influencers to Follow in 2021

Hi loves, Aisha Nash here, and today I would like to introduce you to my favourite Body Positive influencers via Instagram… But first, a little bit about Body Positivity and where the term comes from. Strangely, it’s nothing to do with self-love. They are two different concepts entirely. Self-love is the concept of loving and accepting yourself as you are, which is a great goal to work towards, while Body Positivity is an entire movement created on the acceptance of all bodies, regardless of body type or looks. Body Positivity is a social movement, first coined in the 1960s, however some researchers have stated the movement came from much earlier, all the way in the Victorian era, with the Victorian Dress Reform Movement. This movement was all about putting an end to women having to edit their looks, by way of corsets, which led to negative health outcomes. There was an outcry throughout Europe for an acceptance of female body types as they were. In the 1960s, the first wave of The Body Positive Movement, was coined to describe protests that were occurring. These protests were about the acceptance of fat people. People starting writing about fat discrimination and weight stigma, and how it affected their lives in every way, from finding clothes that fit, to discrimination from medical professionals and being denied jobs due to their body type. This inspired the creation of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) in the USA. NAAFA wanted to highlight the differences between weight and health, and provide empowerment to people living in fat bodies that have faced discrimination because of it. Inspired by this work, the Health at Every Size model of treatment has been hypothesised and studied. The Health and Every Size model brings a focus on health improving behaviours that are specifically not weight loss related. The second wave of the Body Positive Movement occurred in the 1990s, and we are currently living in the third wave of the movement, which is has become much more accessible due to social media activists and large companies capitalising on this movement; even Mattel, the makers of Barbie, have released a Body Positive line of Barbie Dolls called Fashionistas. Keeping all of this in mind, I wanted to introduce you to my current favourite Body Positive influencers and activists. These people uphold the celebration of all bodies, and really embody the idea that Body Positivity is so much more than quippy self-love quotes and toxic positivity. Here goes, in no particular order: Jonelle Lewis I adore this woman, and I honestly think she should become a household name. Within the London Yoga scene, this woman advocated for BIPOC Yoga teachers at all the major Yoga studios, and now that she is LA based, she still spends her time highlighting issues around race, cultural appropriation and that Yoga really is for all bodies. Nyome Nicolas Williams Nyome is a model turned campaigner after photos of her were constantly censored by Instagram. She led a campaign (#IwanttoseeNyome) with the help of Gina Martin to hold Instagram accountable for their policies that unfairly censored people living in fat bodies. Thus far Nyome has created real change within social media, and has even been featured in Vogue magazine. Virgie Tovar Virgie is a fat activist. writer and wears many hats. She speaks about the realities of living in a fat body via her podcast ‘Rebel Eater’s Club’, and has also written two incredible books, one for adults and one for teenagers. Having read both of them, I truly wish I had her sage advice and wisdom on my side when I was a teenager growing up, feeling all sorts of different being a brown skinned individual that did not fit in. Artika Gunathasan Artika, known as Arti online is a powerhouse of an individual and has created an amazing community through both her use of instagram and patreon. She speaks openly and candidly about self love, body positivity, racism and everything in between. She also spends a lot of her time advocating for broader representation and accessibility within the fitness industry. Pixie Turner Pixie co-hosts a podcast called ‘In Bad Taste’ which is all about highlighting and correcting the pseudoscience that the so-called Wellness documentaries peddle. If that wasn’t enough, this nutritionist is a reformed “wellness wanker” and now is training to become a psychotherapist. I really recommend if you want to know more about how our habits have changed due to the advent of social media, to read her book ‘The Insta-food Diet’ – for those wondering, it’s not a diet book. Leila Sadeghee Leila is magic personified. I know that sounds like hyperbole, however she even calls herself a priestess, so I think it’s ok to call her magical. There are some Yoga teachers that from being around them, you want to be their friend, and then there are some that change your life by their very existence. Because in the way that they live and walk, they model a way of living you never even thought about. A way of being soft and strong at the same time. A way of existing in this modern world, yet living within the cycles of nature. Leila out of pure frustration put out a call to the world to create Yogis of Colour in London, and due to this action, so many beautiful circles of space have been created, so many faraway dreams have been cultivated into real businesses. Jade Elouise Jade is the woman that allowed me to reclaim the term Body Positive. For a long time this term has been misused by companies and wellness professionals, and to combat this Jade has run an amazing campaign called #reclaimingbopo. Jade is an artist, mental health advocate and life coach that has created an amazing community via Facebook filled with events and workshops around building a better relationship with our bodies. Dianne Bondy I love this woman. She is captivating, filled with charisma and has created a platform called Yogaforeveryone.tv in which she makes Yoga accessible and affordable for every body and everyone. As a Yoga teacher, this woman inspires me every day to make my offerings more accessible, and she is just the best person ever – give her a follow and I guarantee you’ll feel the same way I do. Molly J Forbes Molly is a writer, speaker and campaigner, and she campaigns loudly for changing how diets and weight loss products are advertised around children and young people. She hosts workshops for parents to educate on raising Body Happy kids, and has just announced her new book (which I’m quoted in and so excited for)! MaryBeth and team Marybeth founded Disabled Girls Who Lift, the podcast and platform that is highlighting the uncomfortable conversations and truths that we all need to be thinking about in regards to the fitness industry and how inaccessible it is for people with disabilities. Marybeth has found strength training to be an amazing source of joy, empowerment and wants the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy its benefits. If there are any awesome people you think I’ve missed off this list, please get in touch @theaishanash on Instagram. I’ve got through so many books during lockdown, I’m always grateful for more reading recommendations!

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