Renee Zellweger
We recently rewatched the first Bridget Jones’s Diary with friends and were shocked. Despite all remembering Bridget as a curvy girl, Renee Zellweger actually looked stunning. Even though the film jokes, “My ass is as big as Brazil,” she had a really attractive figure—especially in that iconic Playboy bunny outfit. It’s wild we once believed and saw the lead as "fat"…
Tyra Banks
In 2007, headlines exploded claiming Tyra Banks, the former supermodel, had gotten "fat." Paparazzi snapped photos of her in a one-piece swimsuit at the beach, sparking talk that forced Tyra to address it on her talk show. Wearing the very swimsuit from the photos—looking fabulous—she told critics to “kiss her fat ass.” Talk about owning it!
Jennifer Lawrence
The Hunger Games brought Jennifer fame but also media bullying. In 2012, she revealed that by Hollywood standards she was considered “overweight.” During filming, she was told to lose weight or risk losing the role of Katniss. Looking back at Jennifer’s figure then, it’s shocking what society and the film industry labeled as "fat."
Anne Hathaway
The Devil Wears Prada is iconic and often quoted, but one line never sat right with me. When Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) says about Andy (Anne Hathaway), “Whatever, she’s smart, fat girl,” it’s meant to mock the fashion industry. Still, Anne’s body wouldn’t be considered fat in any universe.
Emma Bunton
Baby and Ginger—Emma and Geri—weren’t as skinny as Mel B, Mel C, or Victoria Beckham. Yet poor Baby Spice was labeled the “chubby spice girl.” Emma was pretty but not rail-thin or tall, which during the early ’90s “heroin chic” era was enough to get slammed.
Nicole Ritchie
Next to model-thin Paris Hilton, Nicole’s figure sparked countless mean articles calling her “chubby.” She was clearly not overweight, but during the Simple Life reality show, the media obsessed over her body. (No wonder she later struggled with eating disorders and starving herself…)
Kate Winslet
Kate became a global star in 1997 as Titanic’s lead, but joy was mixed with pain. More was written about her weight than her performance. Even director James Cameron teased her, nicknaming her “Kate Weighsalot,” a pun on her name meaning she weighed a lot. Kate later said she already had low confidence, and these cruel comments made it harder to accept her womanly body.
Britney Spears
In 2007, after a public breakdown, Britney performed “Gimme More” at the MTV Awards. While it was clear she wasn’t at her best, that only applied to her performance, not her figure. Still, the next day tabloids called her “fat” on stage. Britney was actually quite athletic, just not as slim as before having two kids.
America Ferrara
America Ferrara became famous as Betty in Ugly Betty, a hugely popular show. Yet America was neither ugly nor fat—she just didn’t fit the beauty standards of the time.
Jessica Simpson
The singer who rose to fame as a slim teen was only "guilty" of gaining a few pounds. That was enough for magazines to plaster headlines calling her an "elephant." The media freaked out over Jessica’s appearance as if she’d gained 25 pounds instead of just five. Criticizing her body sent a harmful message to every teenage girl.
