On May 6th, Adele posted a picture on Instagram to thank everyone for their birthday wishes. She also used this platform to thank the essential workers and first responders during this time, but that is the last thing the internet was talking about.
Fans across the world were shocked by Adele's incredible weight loss evidenced in this photo. Adele has always been known for her rejection of the conventional Hollywood aesthetic in women on the red carpet. She has always been an inspiration to fans for not being the typical size 0 models we are used to seeing in the media.
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I would never criticize Adele's weight loss. As long as she did it for herself and in a healthy manner, I am all for it. I do, however, have an issue with the glorification our society places on celebrity weight loss.
These are the people we look up to. The ones we aspire to be. The ones we support and follow.
As impressionable girls and young women, we see tweets and comments in response to Adele's weight loss and can't help but think that weight loss is what is revered and loved in our society.
I'm proud and supportive of any woman who chooses to better herself, whether that means eating a healthier diet or exercising more. If that results in losing weight or not, so be it.
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Adele is more than just what her body looks like, yet our society places such significance on this "transformation," encouraging other women to have a similar "transformation" — even if it means being unhealthy. This is how eating disorders and body dysmorphia begin.
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This is not the only problem, though. Women are literally criticizing Adele's weight loss as if by losing weight she is advocating for every woman in Hollywood being a size 0. Women literally cannot do anything without facing backlash.
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If you don't fit conventional beauty standards, you're labeled "fat" and "ugly." If you're thin, you're "anorexic" or "fake." We get enough shit from the media as it is, so we cannot stand for women taking other women down.
We have to put an end to this negative discourse that looms throughout social media and instead celebrate healthy living and body positivity.
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We should complement Adele on her achievement, but not make it the biggest news story of the month and place such a great value in losing weight.
