In 2015 the body positivity movement gained a lot of momentum. Not just more women but people of all identities are taking part in this movement as they begin to start accepting and loving their body. Body positivity challenges preconceived notions about how one should look, and because of that, it’s become increasingly important to the people involved.

Activists in the 1960s created the fat acceptance movement which was created to combat anti-fat bias in societies. The movement gained traction in the 1990s and early 2000s, and as many feminists started supporting the cause, their message spread out of New York City. Now fat acceptance, or body positivity, is a common topic among feminists and activists alike. While there are formal organizations like the eponymous Body Positive Movement, positivity movements on social media sites such as Twitter have had the most influence. With the ability to spread information and ideas quickly, social media has spread loving your body to a global audience. Body positivity celebrates anyone whose body is outside the “norm,” and while it was once a radical idea that people who were fat were beautiful, loving one’s body has become a way to improve one’s life.

Body positivity has become very important as it gives a breath of fresh air to people who have been stuck in a cycle of loathing their bodies. To them, this movement is a way for them to finally accept themselves and realize that they do not have to all be like one another. The movement doesn’t restrict itself to body size and has expanded to helping people with racism and the effects it has on someone’s body image. As the body-acceptance stance becomes stronger, so do the people who identify with it.

With the increase in body positivity, the number of celebrities who have spoken out about it has also increased. Their vocal support further legitimatizes the cause as they inspire fans to begin loving themselves. Women like Beyoncé, Adele, Halsey and Gabourey Sidibe have encouraged women to embrace themselves regardless of others. Beyoncé’s songs like Flawless emphasize loving oneself, and Gabourey Sidibe promotes self-love in many of her interactions in the media. Apart from a surge in music that centers on female empowerment, these women have spoken about the issue in interviews, social media accounts and have incorporated it into the characters they portray.

The body-acceptance movement continues to rise as an important cause for many people. It allows for anyone to be considered valid and learn how to love themselves for who they are. With body positivity, who you are is the norm.