There is no such thing as a perfect body. Some people disagree with this. But that does not make it ok to spread negativity online.

There are still headlines of the “Most Handsome Man” or the “Most Gorgeous Women” or pictures of celebrities at the beach. It is ridiculous that the press are still doing this. While body toxicity happens more often to women, it still happens to men. Body positivity needs to be more inclusive on the Internet.

When I first researched body positivity, the focus was mainly bigger women. Everyone, regardless of size or gender needs to be reminded that it is ok to feel insecure about yourself, but it is never ok to take your own insecurities out on other people and spread hate on the Internet.

Tess Holliday is an inspiration for body positivity, and is a good example of being a target. She is a female plus-size model, blogger, and make-up artist. Just recently she called out the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror on Twitter for writing an article about her visit to Disneyland. The press only took pictures of her eating and being tired. Without saying it, they are making fun of a big-bodied person being tired and eating. When a skinny person is tired and eating, it’s not picture worthy. So then why is it for big-bodied people?

When I searched “Tess Holliday” on Twitter the amount of hate comments solely based on her weight is disgusting. Hate comment after hate comment appears under her name, and it’s incredibly sad. I don’t understand why people feel the need to write hurtful things.

Another role model for many people, and myself, is Lizzo. She is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and flutist. She’s incredibly talented and deserves all her accomplishments, but she constantly gets comments about her body. No matter how hard she works, how many awards she wins, or hits she makes, there are constant comments about her body.

She has received numerous fatphobic and racist comments on her new song “Rumors” with Cardi B. She spoke up about how hurtful it was to her. According to NBC News, she said, “What I won’t accept is y’all doing this to Black women over and over and over again, especially us Black girls. When we don’t fit into a box that you want to put us in, you just unleash hatred onto us.” It is devastating how hard she works and then seeing the hateful response she received.

Furthermore, I am disappointed how male body positivity is represented, because it really isn’t present in the community. Toxic masculinity has taught men that they should bottle their feelings and to be a “strong man.” They need to understand that body love is important, and being insecure is normal. it’s ok to feel insecure; bodies are beautiful no matter what shape, size, height and weight. Men need to know this message just as much as women. Hollywood and the Internet have portrayed the “Most Gorgeous Man” unrealistically, and it’s not fair.

Troy Solomon, a male plus-size model, now a musician, modeled for Torrid on Instagram, a women’s clothing brand. His modeling for Torrid sparked a big debate in their comment section about men wearing women’s clothes. People think clothing has gender when it definitely does not. Men can wear skirts and dresses, and women can wear suits. Clothing is a way we can express ourselves so it should not be limited. I love that he is speaking up about male body positivity. He wants to change the stigma about men having body image insecurities.

Additionally, body positivity is not inclusive to smaller bodies. People think it is ok to blatantly make fun of someone who is skinny or they think it’s a compliment. Just stop talking about other people’s bodies. In this society and on social media, skinny is the beauty type. Then again, there are many different preferences, but there will never be a perfect body. Skinny people need more recognition in the body positivity movement just as much as everyone else.

Fatphobia and skinny shaming is never ok. Body positivity is a movement to bring acceptance to all bodies. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and comfortable in their own skin. Loving your body should not exclude people. We all have bodies and we all have insecurities. Some people justify their hate by saying that they are worried about someone’s health and it’s stupid and I’m so sick of it. It’s none of your business. That discussion is between someone and their doctor. This isn’t a perfect world, nothing is going to be perfect, especially something like bodies when everyone’s is so unique and different. It’s an expectation people need to stop having. Everyone is so beautiful no matter what size you are.