There are so many things in the world that we may admire or even get inspired by, but there’s one main thing we may want to fall in love with before we start noticing the beauty of other things. It’s our own reflection in the mirror. Among all the numerous recipes for conjuring up self-love within ourselves, psychologists advise us to never compare ourselves to others and stop caring about other people’s opinions. Actress and producer Lena Dunham knows a lot about cultivating love for her own body despite all the criticism she faced, and she happily shares her journey with us all.
Lena Dunham doesn’t accept the term “body positivity,” and here’s why.
Actress and writer Lena Dunham has recently added another string to her bow and collaborated with the brand 11 Honoré to create a plus-size clothing collection. But the very term “plus size” frustrates Lena, and so is the term “body positivity.” In one of her Instagram posts, she explains that she feels more “body tolerant” than “body positive.”
In her interview, Dunham said, “The thing that’s complicated about the body-positive movement is it can be for the privileged few who have a body that looks the way people want to feel positive. We want curvy bodies that look like Kim Kardashian has been up-sized slightly. We want big beautiful butts and big beautiful breasts and no cellulite and faces that look like you could smack them onto thin women.”
Dunham has a very special relationship with her own body.
Dunhams path to self-love started with a decade-long journey with endometriosis. Since she started her own fight against it, she has been candidly sharing how it influenced both her emotional health and her relationship with her own body image. In her Instagram post, she emotionally described how she fluctuated between loving her body and the opposite.
She wrote, “Ya know when you’re home alone, and you realize you’d be happier in a hot lil’ onesie than your ketchup and cat food stained pajamas? And it’s not about a boy or a photo shoot or a weight loss before-and-after, it’s just for the feeling of glee you get from dressing your one and only corporeal form in pleasing fabrics, the unique pleasure of admiring the twists and turns of the body that loves the heck out of you even when you don’t love it.”
Dunham is powerfully addressing all people who come to her page with criticism.
In 2021, Dunham tied the knot with musician Luis Felber. It was such a darling event for her that she wore 3 wedding dresses to marry her love and shared the photos on her Instagram. However, she started getting some “gnarly” comments in her feed from people who commented on her body and appearance. The actress didn’t hesitate for a minute to address them with a powerful message.
She wrote, “One narrative I take issue with, largely because it’s a story I don’t want other women, other people, to get lodged in their heads, is that I should somehow be criticized because my body has changed since I was last on television. […] But lastly, when will we learn to stop equating thinness with health/happiness?”
Dunham’s powerful message can be echoed in the hearts of many.
For all people who have ever hesitated about embracing their body image, Dunham has some simple yet wise advice. She says, “Of course weight loss can be the result of positive change in habits, but guess what? So can weight gain. The pics I’m being compared to are from when I was with an undiagnosed illness. In the last 4 years, I’ve begun my life as someone who aspires toward health and not just achievement.
These changes have allowed me to be the kind of sister/friend/daughter that I want to be and yes — meet my husband (who, by the way, doesn’t recognize me in those old photos because he sees how dimmed my light was). I say this for any other person whose appearance has been changed with time, illness, or circumstance — it’s okay to live in your present body without treating it as transitional. I am, and I’m really enjoying it. Love you all.”
Do you find Lena Dunham’s example inspiring? What do you love the most about your appearance?
Preview photo credit Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images, lenadunham / Instagram
Sissy Spacek at 74: Fans Can’t Stop Praising Her Incredible Looks
Sissy Spacek is best known for her role as the scary telekinetic teenager in Carrie (1976), where her big moment at prom has her covered in pig’s blood.
At that time, she was a beautiful 27-year-old off-screen, and she was so convincing in her scary role that fans still say, “she terrifies me to this day.”
While her character might bring up feelings of fear, fans are now praising the 74-year-old actress for aging naturally and not looking “weird from plastic surgery.”
keep reading to see what fans are saying about this talented Hollywood star!
Sissy Spacek was born Mary Elizabeth and grew up in a small town in Texas. She chased around her two older brothers, who called her “Sissy.”
Now, at 74, she is known all over the world and is likely best remembered for her Oscar-nominated role in Carrie, based on Stephen King’s story.
While filming Carrie, Spacek shared that she fully embraced her character by not brushing her teeth or her hair.
“I wanted to feel really bad about myself,” Spacek explained. “There’s nothing like not washing your face or brushing your teeth in the morning. I put Vaseline in my hair, and that made me feel really low. And that helped me get into character,” she told CBS.
In one of the scariest scenes ever, Carrie, who everyone thinks is dead, makes one last appearance at the end. Her bloody arm reaches out from her grave, grabbing the hand of a former classmate.
Speaking with NPR about her career, Spacek – whose cousin was the late Rip Torn – said she loved the fear factor of that scene: “I would go to theaters just to see the last five minutes of the film and watch everyone jump out of their seats.” She continued, “The film ends about eight times, as (director Brian De Palma) said. People get relaxed, the music is really nice and calming, and then suddenly that scene happens, and people just go wild.”
After several praised performances in other films, Spacek, who originally wanted to be a singer, was cast in her Oscar-winning role as Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter, where she sang songs made famous by the country star. Spacek also received a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance.
Happy birthday, Sissy Spacek! The Oscar-winning actress turns 66 today. https://t.co/5T0dDF5jCK #Carrie #hbd pic.twitter.com/AdiKJo88ot
— IMDb (@IMDb) December 26, 2015
The star of The Help has played many roles, from a telekinetic teen to a killer’s love interest, a homewrecker, a single mom, and about 200 other characters, winning numerous awards, including three Golden Globes, over her more than 50 years of acting.
Throughout those 50 years, fans have watched her grow from a messy high schooler to a beautiful, mature woman.
In 2022, Schuyler was asked to take on her mother’s famous role in a new Carrie remake, but she said no, explaining that it “just didn’t feel like the right thing for so many reasons.”
“I feel like Carrie is such an epic film as it is. So, the idea of trying to do anything else to recreate it just didn’t feel necessary,” she said.
Beautiful mama Sissy’
In an Instagram post shared on March 12, 2024, Schuyler wrote, “It’s hard to sum up how special this was for me.” She talked about her excitement from “cheering on” her dad and being at the Academy Awards with her mom and sister.
Fans showed their joy at seeing the whole family together: “Wow. What a special moment in time. There’s nothing better than celebrating your people!”
One fan shared, “How extremely special!! You all look amazing! This is beautiful…all of you. Inside out.” Another fan wrote, “Absolutely stunning! The all-around best!”
Other fans praised Spacek and admired her beauty. One said, “And your beautiful mama Sissy, my favorite actress, iconic and legendary and one of the BEST ever.” Another added, “Sissy, you still look fabulous.”
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