Lady Gaga ROCKED the 2017 Super Bowl Halftime Show. But for some reason, viewers decided to rant about her midriff.
Photo from TMZ.com
It’s concerning that tweeters called Gaga’s abdomen “distracting” or “unflattering.” Our bodies make different shapes when we move. Skin folds are quite common, especially when you are wearing a tight band across your hips to hold your pants up (or sequin booties in Gaga’s situation). What’s even worse is that many of the women standing up for Lady Gaga are calling her “curvy” and a “real woman.” First, we are all real women. Second, as a Personal Trainer who tests people’s body fat percentage all day long, I assure you that Lady Gaga falls into the athletic/fitness category & is below the “average” level of body fat.
To focus on the positive & acknowledge Lady Gaga as a positive role model for women, I present you with…
3 Body Image Lessons From Lady Gaga
1. Be proud of your body for all that it can do.
Lady Gaga responded to body shamers by saying “I’m proud of my body and you should be proud of yours too.” That body of hers allowed her to do flips floating in the air, slay at some very intense dance choreography, and much more. If you catch yourself feeling bad about the way your body looks, shift into a state of gratitude by realizing all that it allows you to DO. This article does a great job explaining how to address negative self talk.
2. You don’t need to look a certain way to be successful or happy.
Lady Gaga also responded to internet trolls with this quote, “I could give you a million reasons why you don’t need to cater to anyone or anything to succeed.” Often times, we postpone exciting life events because we’re waiting until conditions are “perfect.” For example, I won’t go to the beach unless I lose 10 pounds. Could you imagine if Lady Gaga did not grace us with her fierce presence because she felt like her body wasn’t “good enough” to perform? The world would be missing out. You cannot control how other people feel about your body, but you can control your perception of yourself. Not to mention, if you’re in the company of someone who doesn’t like your body & therefore doesn’t like you, find new people to associate with. This article explains why achieving a certain look is not the answer to success and happiness.
3. Stand up for something bigger than yourself.
As Tony Robbins has said, “suffering happens when you’re obsessing about yourself.” If we are obsessing about our body image to the point that it interferes with our capacity to give to others and share our talents, that is selfish. Lady Gaga stands for compassion, self love, & being unapologetically herself. She once said, “I want women and men to feel empowered by a deeper more psychotic part of themselves. The part they’re always desperately trying to hide. I want that to become something they cherish.”
SHARE BELOW: What is the most impactful positive body image quote or lesson you’ve encountered?
