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10 Body-Positive Celebrities Who Are Shutting Down Body Shamers

From Amy Schumer to Ronda Rousey, these bad b*tches are all about self-love
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Historically, there are a few key, off-limit behaviors women everywhere are taught from birth. "Lady no-nos," if you will. We're not supposed to talk about tampons in mixed company or enjoy casual sex -- and we're definitely not supposed to express confidence in our bodies.

The media tells us that our bodies are meant to be looked at -- "beautiful," according to an often-impossible standard, determined by other people. (We're looking at you, Nicole Arbour). The stakes are even higher for women in the spotlight.

"In my 17 years as a fashion model, I never once heard the term 'positive body image,'" says model turned health advocate and entrepreneur Lizanne Falsetto. "The media landscape of the '90s celebrated the waif-y supermodel above all. Thankfully, not everything about the '90s is back."

In recent years, Hollywood has started embracing a new class of female role models -- one that encourages "a wellness approach to health" and places women's value not in their thigh gap, but in their talent, wit and general badassery.

True, the average BMI in Hollywood is still well below the national mean; but thanks to these brilliant, social media-savvy celebs, there's hope of that changing. Finally, some of our movie and TV stars have the curves and self-love that we can realistically aspire to.

So who exactly are these body-beautiful divas? Here, Hollywood's top 10 role models to look to for all your body-positive inspiration.

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Amy Schumer
From Amy Schumer's wildly successful Comedy Central series to her blockbuster move "Trainwreck" to her new memoir, it's clear that audiences are hungry for the actress' culturally conscious -- and often controversial -- humor. (See her "Girl, You Don't Need Makeup" and "Milk Milk Lemonade" sketches. You won't regret it).

One of Schumer's major sticking points is her resolute lack of apology for her comedy, her sexual expression and her body. "I'm not going to apologize for who I am, and I'm going to actually love the skin that I'm in," Schumer said at the 2015 Glamour Women of the Year Awards. "I'm not gonna be striving for some other version of myself."

Photograph courtesy of Elle.com

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Mindy Kaling
While gung-ho self-acceptance is the ultimate goal (you know, the kind that lets you leave the house in no makeup and sweats and not think twice), actress and show creator Mindy Kaling of "The Mindy Project" shows us that it's normal to have insecurities.

"There's a whole list of things I would probably change about myself," she told Vogue. "For example, I'm always trying to lose 15 pounds. But I never need to be skinny. I don't want to be skinny. I'm constantly in a state of self-improvement, but I don't beat myself up over it."

The genius of Kaling's attitude is that "it offers us a model of a woman who likes to look good, and wouldn't mind losing a little weight, but doesn't base her self-worth on it," Elissa Strauss wrote in The Week. It gives us an example of someone who may not think she's always #flawless, but can still wear cute shoes and kick ass professionally.

Photograph courtesy of Boston Magazine

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Rebel Wilson
On the other end of the spectrum lives comedy scene-stealer Rebel Wilson, who is completely willing to look ridiculous and own it. Recently, she has started making an effort to help other women build the same confidence.

This year, Wilson collaborated with trendy plus-size retailer Torrid to create a capsule collection, launching in November 2016, intended to give women of all sizes every reason to feel as fly as she does.

Photograph courtesy of The Australian Women's Weekly

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Demi Lovato
Since emerging from treatment for an eating disorder in 2011, Demi Lovato has become one of the most public examples of recovery and self-acceptance. She told People Magazine that her struggle with body image coincided with a "time in the tabloids when very, very skinny girls were on the cover of every magazine, and that's what I was looking up to.... I don't want that for young girls to idolize."

Now, Lovato uses her platform to spread awareness and support for young eating disorder sufferers. She also uses social media to promote images of her strong, healthy lifestyle. Be sure to check out her #NoMakeupMonday and fierce fitspiration posts on Instagram @ddlovato.

Photograph courtesy of Cosmopolitan.com

BY AMANDA MONTELL | SEP 1, 2016 | SHARES
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