Body Positivity for Teens

Everybody and every body is important, valid, and worthy of respect

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K-Pop!

This upcoming book is all lined up to be a summer read! Releasing mid-June, Lyla Lee’s I’ll Be the One centers on a 16-year-old Skye Shin who is comfortable in her plus-size body. She decides to enter a K-Pop competition and to be able to perform on TV. When she gains traction, she’s swept into a wild world of fame as well as a connection with a fellow competitor. Like There’s Something About Sweetie, the cover also shows how much joy the book holds!

Photo credit: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53098416-i-ll-be-the-one

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50 Women and Men Who Promote Appreciation for Your Body

Meet the body positive women and men who celebrate self-love in all shapes, sizes, skin colors, body types, and beyond.

Body positivity doesn’t look one way, which is part of its beauty. This list is a start for looking at different online influencers who post photos of themselves on Instagram. The folx included come from different backgrounds and show a vast diversity of what a body can look like and what a body can do. There are people of different gender identities represented, there are models, athletes, and entrepreneurs, there are plus and straight-sized people. Included are instagram handles as well as websites for communities and TED talks. This is a robust primer to discover who is out there and what they are saying.

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Cozy Reading

Belly Up by Eva Darrows takes a lot of preconceived notions and turns them on their head. Main character Serendipity Rodriguez, who goes by Sara, finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and living with her grandmother and mother and keeping her baby. She falls for a Leaf, a fat and sweet boy at school. She explores her identity (she is Spanish and lives with her Swedish grandma) as well as exploring her sexuality. In sharp contrast to many teen pregnancy storylines, there is support on all sides and representation of all kinds. Great for fans of With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and Juno. 

Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Belly-Up-Eva-Darrows-ebook/dp/B07D8TNKH2

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An Anthology of Everything

The (Other) F Word: A Celebration of the Fat & Fierce is written and edited by so many stars in the body positive world. A recent nonfiction release, young adult authors Mason Deaver, Amy Spaulding, and, Isabel Quintero, as well as influencers, middle grade writers, and adult essayists have written a gigantic anthology featuring essays, prose, and poetry discuss all things fat from a fat perspective. The book is for teens but it’s a great place to start discussion with adults as well! If you’re not quite sure where to start, this is a great anchor for lots of perspectives from a variety of folks. It’s also a good place to look for new YA authors and search for their other work. 

Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Other-Word-Celebration-Fat-Fierce/dp/1419737503

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Graphic Novel Rep

Welcome to the world of Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. Our main character, Nimona lives in an anachronistic world where science and magic are constantly at war. She is also a fat character who’s body has nothing and everything to do with her journey between the dark of her master Lord Ballister Blackheart and the light of his enemy, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin. Set in a somewhat medieval castle, Nimona is a shapeshifter who’s rapid changes into different animals is amusing and sometimes troubling. As a human, she looks so different from Lord Ballister, but is just as powerful in her magic, if not in her political power.

Check out this fun comic that has been around since 2012, when Noelle Stevenson started it as a webcomic. 

Photo credits: https://www.amazon.com/Nimona-Noelle-Stevenson/dp/0062278223 and https://www.splicetoday.com/writing/nimona-won-t-be-contained-in-your-female-hero-tropes

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Joy and Athleticism

There’s something about the joy on the cover of teen romcom There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon! Sweetie Nair is the fastest sprinter in her school district in California and is happily fat. These two identities confuse many, including her traditional Indian parents. When Sweetie meets Ashish Patel, the two hit it off. Sweetie has Ashish reexamining who he finds attractive - he’s so struck by Sweetie’s confidence and openness about being fat. The two begin dating on a series of discovery of their shared Indian heritage, involving both going to the Hindu Temple and celebrating Holi together. 

Sweetie is perfect for fans of Menon’s other hilarious romcom When Dimple Met Rishi, anything by Becky Albertalli and anyone who loves a sweet romantic comedy.

Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Something-about-Sweetie-Sandhya/dp/1534416781

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While it’s important for everyone to feel body positive, documentary Miss Representation takes on the way the media shreds girls’ and women's’ body image. There are messages that we’re given from the internet, TV shows, print and video advertisement, all saying that women must look and act in particular ways. Many celebrities from Katie Couric to Margaret Cho to Rosario Dawson discuss the way the media has portrayed them and how their bodies are frequently the focus of their careers as opposed to their skills. Lots of high schools are also interviewed about how they feel about their bodies. 

If your local library has access to Kanopy, you can stream Miss Representation online, as well as on Netflix.

For more ideas and resources from director Joanna Siebel Newsom, you can check out her website The Representation Project.

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Plus Size Male Representation!

Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright: This Stonewall Book Award winning title is different from a lot of other young adult books focusing on body positivity: the main character in question is a teen boy. Carlos Duarte likes to help people feel beautiful. When he gets a job at one of the makeup counters in Macy’s, he feels like life is starting to work out. However, this world is very competitive and combined with the homophobia Carlos faces, there’s a lot with which our protagonist grapples.

This book shows the intersection of sexual orientation and body image and positivity from a little represented voice in young adult fiction. 

Photo Credit: https://www.amazon.com/Putting-Makeup-Fat-Boy-Wright/dp/1416940049

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10 Principles of Intuitive Eating | Intuitive Eating

10 Principles of Intuitve Eating

Intuitive Eating is a mind and body positive approach to eating in a way that keeps a healthy relationship with food. It’s run by two counselors who specialize in the way people approach food and hope to empower people to eat in a way that makes sense to their bodies. They firmly believe that guilt should have no part in eating and that listening to your body’s cues is the most healthy way to make sure your physical and mental health are supported. There are 10 Principles outlined on their website, and they focus on moving and eating in ways that excite and interest you. What tastes good to your taste buds? Do you prefer running or walking?  

This website has lots of places to look beyond the 10 Principles: articles, books, and even a community page for connecting with other people interested in this program.

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Beauty Queens, Deserted Islands, and Satire

If you enjoyed reading Lord of the Flies and watching Survivor and like reading satire, try this sarcastic, wild ride of a body positive read! Libba Bray wrote Beauty Queens in 2011, but nine years later, this book still deals with issues many teen girls face today. A plane filled with beauty queens on their way to their final competition crashes into a deserted island, leaving them to fend for themselves. There’s also a sinister corporation that has taken over the entirety of these girls lives, and there are hilarious commercials with ridiculous (and familiar) products throughout the story. The book discusses body image, identity, and what it means to be beautiful.

For more books about beauty queens check out Dumplin’.

Photo credit: https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Queens-Libba-Bray/dp/0439895987

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I Weigh Community

I Weigh is about radical inclusivity, so that no one feels alone. Our job is to amplify, advocate, and pass the mic.

Actress Jameela Jamil would love to be body neutral and not have to think about her body at all. Instead of weighing herself on a scale, she chooses to weigh herself by what she likes and feels. Originally an Instagram project, Jamil’s work on I Weigh has gone beyond the platform and is now an activist stage for allies of all identities, including body positive. There is also a podcast on Earwolf, where Jamil interviews different actors, singers, and artists who discuss empowerment.  

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Melissa Jefferson, better known as Lizzo, has risen to great fame in the past two years. She is unapologetic in embracing her body and has served as an inspiration to millions. She not only sings, but dances and plays the flute with a team of skilled back-up dancers and encourages her audiences to feel good. Her songs are layered with wordplay and power. “Water Me” is no different. 

Lizzo’s videos can be found on her YouTube page. 

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Every Body Yoga

Jessamyn Stanley became Instagram-famous after deciding she didn’t need to be a size 2 to do yoga. She has done yoga for nearly a decade and has been teaching since 2013. She works from home, takes her own photos, and is an advocate for health at any size: it’s not necessary to lose weight to be healthy. Jessamyn Stanley firmly believes it’s more important to feel good than look good.

Every Body Yoga is a memoir and a guide for literally everybody and every body type. Stanley gives her advice and answers questions you may have based on her own experience. She is a great role model and the book is helpful for feeling good and getting active on your own terms

Photo credit and more information: http://jessamynstanley.com/

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The World of Becky Albertalli

You may have heard of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, or it’s movie version, Love, Simon. The universe doesn’t end there! 

If you loved Simon Spier, meet Molly Peskin-Suso in The Upside of Unrequited. She could not be any different from her twin sister, Cassie. Molly is fat, shy, and has had 26 unrequited crushes on boys. Cassie, an always supportive sister, is no stranger to dating and urges Molly to be more assertive. It just takes one summer for Molly to embrace her dating life and no longer be unrequited.

In Leah in the Offbeat, we meet “resident fat Slytherin” Leah Burke, best friend to Simon Spier and closeted bisexual drummer. Sure, her friends would be open to Leah’s sexual orientation, but she’s a little preoccupied by her college search and her friend groups breaking up. The world tilts further off its axis when she realizes her feelings for Abby, who is currently in a hetero relationship with one of her oldest friends, Nick. 

Though both protagonists are fat, this is not the center of their problems. For great fat representation from a self-identified fat woman, meet Molly and Leah.

Photo credits: https://www.amazon.com/Leah-Offbeat-Becky-Albertalli/dp/0062643800 and https://www.amazon.com/Upside-Unrequited-Becky-Albertalli/dp/0062348701

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Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy: There’s nothing quite like being your town’s resident fat girl when your mom runs the annual beauty pageant, Miss Teen Blue Bonnet. Willowdean (Will) Dickson really doesn’t care what you think of her body, thank you very much, but every year, when her mom spins into a whirlwind of diets, dress alterations, and meticulously organized schedules, life gets annoyingly extra. Add to the mix her new work crush, Bo, a rift with her best friend Ellen, and Will decides its time to shake things up and joins the pageant, in honor of her late Aunt Lucy and to show the world who she truly is.

Follow this delightful Texan treat with it’s companion Puddin’ and settle back with the Netflix movie starring Danielle McDonald as a fantastic Will! 

Picture credit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumplin%27