Lizzo Unveils Physical Transformation, Discussing Weight Loss and Warning That Plus-Size Women Are Being “Erased” from the Body Positivity Movement

The singer of “Pink” and “Special,” Lizzo, recently sparked widespread discussion by sharing a candid Substack essay alongside a photo that clearly showcased her recent weight loss. While she received an outpouring of support for her progress, her essay revealed a complicated, mixed perspective on the current state of body acceptance and the prevailing Ozempic trend.

Personal Journey and Public Support

In her Substack essay, titled “Why is everybody losing weight and what do we do? Sincerely, a person who’s lost weight,” Lizzo revealed that her weight loss began in 2023 during a period of deep depression. She confirmed that she still weighs over 200 pounds but is committed to regular exercise and diet changes, which have helped reduce health risks.

She promoted the piece with a new photo showing a noticeable transformation, wearing a two-piece shorts set that revealed her midriff and thighs. Fans flooded the comments, praising her progress and reaffirming her enduring beauty, with one commenter writing, “You were beautiful then and beautiful now. Just keep moving forward ❤️.”

The Erasure of Plus-Size Communities

Despite her personal satisfaction with her health improvements, Lizzo raised a critical concern about the co-option and commercialization of body positivity.

She observed that the movement, which began as a liberating force for her around 2013, has shifted its focus. Today, she stated, it is business-driven and actively excludes the communities it was created to support, arguing that plus-size women are being “magically erased” from the conversation.

“It’s no longer for us anymore. It’s no longer for the size 16 and up community… I would look up the [hashtag] body positivity hashtag and I would see size 8, straight, white women dominating the category,” Lizzo wrote.

She noted that this “vanishing act” extends to the fashion and beauty industries, where extended sizes are disappearing and plus-size models are “no longer getting booked.” Lizzo firmly stated, “I am still a proud big girl. Objectively Big. Over 200 pounds. And I love myself as much as I’ve loved myself no matter what the scale says.”

Redefining Body Positivity and Calling for Nuance

Lizzo affirmed that body positivity is not about maintaining the same size, but rather “the radical act of daring to exist loudly and proudly in a society that told you you shouldn’t exist.”

She reflected on the relentless scrutiny she has faced as a public figure, noting that her activism often led to accusations of being “performative” or secretly internalizing fatphobia. She also spoke about actively working against the “mammy” stereotype by being hypersexual, yet still facing judgment based purely on her size.

Lizzo called for the movement to move beyond simplistic views and reintroduce nuance, especially in light of the “Ozempic boom.” She emphasized that while there is “nothing wrong with living in a bigger body,” if a woman chooses to change, “she should be allowed to change.”

Lizzo concluded by affirming her commitment to rebuilding the movement and continuing to advocate for plus-size women, despite the ongoing challenges.