Here we go again, time to scrutinize the alleged weight loss of yet another model. Recently Ashley Graham was criticized, based off of a single Instagram photo, for supposedly losing weight. Some of those who had claimed look up to Graham as a body posi role model were angered by what they though to be weight loss, as if by being a body love role model Ashley was obligated to remain the exact same weight for the rest of her life. Now it’s happening to Gigi Hadid, too.
This week Hollywood Take ran a story about Hadid’s apparent weight loss. After seeing recent photos of the model, some believed she appeared to have lost weight. Gigi has spoken out in the past about the pressure to be thin in the modeling industry. She has even admitted that she was asked to lose weight at times, but decided to stay true to her natural body. While some have recently speculated that Hadid has lost weight in an attempt to fit in in the fashion industry, she has denied any intentional weight loss. Gigi has defended herself by saying that with changes in exercise habits, and with stress from work, her body has naturally changed. The model has denied any intentional weight loss and says she eats the foods she wants to eat.
We love that Gigi makes a point of reminding us that bodies change naturally. It is none of our business whether she, or anyone else, has lost weight, or has changed her body on purpose. Weight changes happen, for models and for all of us. Oftentimes they are unintentional and simply happen with changes in our work or social schedules, or with changes in our daily physical activities. Other times, they are intentional, and that is ok, too.
A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on
Ashley Graham is known as a plus-size model and a body positive role model. Gigi Hadid is considered a straight-size model, but she is arguably known for being curvier than most straight-size models. Just because a woman is known as a curvy role model does not mean that she is under contract with the world to never lose a pound. We do not know whether either of these women have lost weight, and even if they have, their weight (and their health) is none of our business. These women are role models because of their brains, talent, kindness, positive attitudes, and body acceptance mentality. What we look up to is their message of loving your NATURAL body, whatever it may look like at any given moment. You are not living the body posi life if you are criticizing a woman for her apparent weight loss.