Eat the Rich! (But There's Nothing Left of Them)

Trigger warning: the following blog article contains discussion about eating disorders, weight gain/loss, and body positivity.

The body positivity movement, specifically the belief that we should not remark on people's bodies, was popularized in the early 2000s, as the public began to tire of the constant media attention on the bodies and appearances of celebrities, public figures, and subsequently the everyday citizen. The modern social belief, that is now active in full swing, took shape originally during the fat liberation and body acceptance movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

It became a mainstream interpersonal boundary in 2010 and into the 2020s, as people directly pushed back against intense body shaming that the media often accelerated. Between 2016 and 2019, social media platforms and brands embraced inclusive campaigns and diverse body types, changing the "norm" for the better. Campaigns, such as several done by Savage X Fenty, contributed to the shifting atmosphere through events such as televised runway shows that included an array of body sizes, physically disabled models, genders, and ethnicities. Events such as these challenged the narrow beauty standards of previous industry expectations, such as the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Although there was a decent period of time where the general public embraced and celebrated people of all sizes, skin colour, etc., there seems to have been another recent shift. The curvier silhouettes that took over the late 2010s appear to be giving way once again to a much thinner aesthetic; one that many have nicknamed the "Ozempic body." The widespread shift can be attributed to the mass adoption of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro.  Originally formulated to help manage type 2 Diabetes, they work by mimicking naturally occurring hormones that suppress appetite and slow gastric emptying, often resulting in rapid weight loss. Along with ad campaigns normalising these GLP-1s through TV, public figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Sharon Osbourne have admitted to using the medications, helping shift the conversation from secrecy to open acknowledgement. Magazines remark on how the "Ozempic body" bears striking similarities to the ultra-thin "heroin chic" look that was popularised during the 1990s. Maybe the important questions are these: what happens when rapid weight loss becomes aspirational? Are we witnessing the return of the same beauty standards that the body positivity movement sought to dismantle?

I have long believed that if someone feels confident and healthy in their body, it is not our place to comment on their appearance. We rarely know what another person is experiencing physically or mentally - and reducing someone to the way they look can be harmful. However, the recent public discussion surrounding pop star Ariana Grande has challenged me to think more critically about where the line exists between respecting personal boundaries and acknowledging broader cultural trends.

Grande first became a household name through her role as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon's Victorious and Sam & Cat before becoming one of the biggest pop stars of her generation. More recently, her role as Glinda in the film adaptation of Wicked has introduced her to an entirely new audience of young fans. Throughout the film's press tour, however, public attention shifted away from her work and toward her appearance. Social media became flooded with debates about her noticeable weight loss, with many people expressing concern while others argued that any discussion of her body was inappropriate. The conversation quickly became less about Ariana Grande herself and more about a much larger question: when does commenting on a public figure's appearance become concern, and when does it become harmful speculation?

This is where the body positivity movement collides with today's reality. On one hand, we have spent years encouraging people not to judge or publicly critique others' bodies. On the other, celebrities inevitably influence beauty standards, whether intentionally or not. Their images are photographed, shared, analysed, and replicated across social media, fashion, and popular culture. When an increasingly thin physique begins to re-emerge as the aspirational ideal, alongside the widespread visibility of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, it is unsurprising that people will begin asking difficult questions. The concern is not about one individual's body; it is about what that body comes to represent in a culture that has historically rewarded thinness above all else.

Young people, especially girls, have looked to celebrities for cues about beauty, what constitutes beauty, success, and self-worth. That is not Ariana Grande's fault, nor is it the responsibility of any one specific celebrity to carry the weight of an entire generation's body image. But it is worth acknowledging that public figures possess enormous cultural influence. Likewise, the public and the media share responsibility for the standards they actively choose to amplify. Maybe the biggest mistake is thinking these are mutually exclusive ideas. Two things can be true at once: we can respect an individual's privacy while still questioning the beauty standards that their image helps shape. Rather than analysing one artist's appearance, perhaps the more important conversation is why we continue allowing extreme body ideals to cycle in and out of fashion. If the body positivity movement taught us anything, it is that a person's value cannot be measured by the space they occupy.

Public figures, artists, and celebrities may not choose to become symbols of beauty standards, but that influence exists regardless. With millions of followers, magazine covers, and constant media attention, celebrities inevitably shape the way young people see themselves. While no one should be expected to sacrifice their own health or happiness to meet public expectations, it is equally important to recognise the responsibility that accompanies such immense influence. The images they share with their audience, the trends they embody, and the conversations they inspire have consequences that extend far beyond their own personal lives. Ultimately, the body positivity movement asked us to stop judging people's bodies. The challenge now lies in whether we decide that we still believe that when society begins rewarding the very beauty standards we once claimed to reject.

Works Cited:

Williams, Sarah. “GLP-1s 101: What the Science Says About Weight Loss, Side Effects, Safety.” Stanford Medicine, 29 June 2026, med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2026/06/glp1s-101-weight-loss-wegovy-ozempic-zepbound-side-effects-safe-use.html.

Hume, Ashley, and Tracy Wright. “Hollywood Stars Slim Down as Ozempic, Social Media Change Beauty Standards: Expert.” Fox News, 3 Mar. 2025, www.foxnews.com/entertainment/hollywood-stars-slim-down-ozempic-social-media-change-beauty-standards-expert.

Dailey, Hannah. “Ariana Grande’s Career Timeline: From ‘The Way’ to Eternal Sunshine.” Billboard, 10 Apr. 2024, www.billboard.com/photos/ariana-grande-career-timeline-8508344/.