In a society that seems to promote and reward external beauty, physical attractiveness and heterosexuality above all else, it’s inevitable that some people, and particularly young people, will feel the pressure to keep up with or maintain appearances and some will suffer from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and body confidence issues.
So we’ve curated this list of songs that focus on body positivity, self-confidence and self-love to remind you to look in the mirror and remember that you’re perfect just as you are. For real.
And if you’re ever struck with insecurities or body image blues, just play these songs with the volume turned up loud, sing along and repeat the positive affirmations over and over again. Because YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, even if the world, or that negative little voice inside your head, tells you otherwise.
1. “Video” by India Arie
“When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it’s suppose to be
And I know my creator didn’t make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I’m loving what I see
I’m not the average girl from your video
And I ain’t built like a supermodel
But I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be
India.Arie”
2. “Unpretty” by TLC
“You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up
That M.A.C. can make, but if
You can’t look inside you
Find out who am I too
Be in the position that make me feel
So damn unpretty”
3. “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”
She said, “‘Cause He made you perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up, girl, and you’ll go far
Listen to me when I say”
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way (born this way)”
4. “Roar” by Katy Perry
“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar”
5. “Who You Are” by Jessie J
“I stare at my reflection in the mirror
Why am I doing this to myself?
Losing my mind on a tiny error
I nearly left the real me on the shelf
No, no, no, no, no
Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing
It’s okay not to be okay
Sometimes it’s hard, to follow your heart
Tears don’t mean you’re losing, everybody’s bruising
Just be true to who you are”
6. “Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
“She just wants to be beautiful
She goes unnoticed, she knows no limits
She craves attention, she praises an image
She prays to be sculpted by the sculptor
Oh, she don’t see the light that’s shining
Deeper than the eyes can find it
Maybe we have made her blind
So she tries to cover up her pain and cut her woes away
Cause covergirls don’t cry after their face is made
But there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark
You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are
And you don’t have to change a thing
The world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful”
7. “Rise Up” by Andra Day
“You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains”
8. “Crooked Smile” by J. Cole (feat. TLC)
“Love yourself, girl, or nobody will
Though you a woman I don’t know how you deal
With all the pressure to look impressive and go out in heels
I feel for you, killin’ yourself to find a man that’ll kill for you
You wake up, put makeup on
Stare in the mirror, but it’s clear that you can’t face what’s wrong
No need to fix what God already put his paintbrush on
Your roommate yelling, “Why you gotta take so long?!”
What it’s like to have a crooked smile”
9. “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
“Every day is so wonderful
Then suddenly it’s hard to breathe
Now and then I get insecure from all the pain
I’m so ashamed
I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down, oh no
So don’t you bring me down today”
10. “Secrets” by Mary Lambert
“I’ve got bipolar disorder
My shit’s not in order
I’m overweight, I’m always late
I’ve got too many things to say
I rock mom jeans, cat earrings
Extrapolate my feelings
My family is dysfunctional
But we have a good time killing each other
They tell us from the time we’re young
To hide the things that we don’t like about ourselves
Inside ourselves
I know I’m not the only one
Who spent so long attempting to be someone else
Well, I’m over it
I don’t care if the world knows what my secrets are
Secrets are”
11. “Try” by Colbie Caillat
“Put your make-up on
Get your nails done
Curl your hair
Run the extra mile
Keep it slim so they like you, do they like you?
Get your sexy on
Don’t be shy, girl
Take it off
This is what you want, to belong, so they like you
Do you like you?
You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing”
12. “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan
“I’m every woman, it’s all in me
Anything you want done, baby, I’ll do it naturally
I’m every woman, it’s all in me
I can read your thoughts right now, every one from A to Z
Whoah whoah whoah (whoah whoah)
Whoah whoah whoah”
13. “Perfect” by Pink
“Pretty, pretty please
Don’t you ever, ever feel
Like you’re less than, less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you’re nothing, you are perfect to me
You’re so mean
When you talk
About yourself, you were wrong
Change the voices in your head
Make them like you instead
So complicated, look how we all make it
Filled with so much hatred, such a tired game
It’s enough, I’ve done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons, I’ve seen you do the same, oh”
14. “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself” by Jess Glynne
“Let’s go back to simplicity
I feel like I’ve been missing me
Was not who I’m supposed to be
I felt this darkness over me
We all get there eventually
I never knew where I belonged
But I was right and you were wrong
Been telling myself all along
Don’t be so hard on yourself, no
Learn to forgive, learn to let go
Everyone trips, everyone falls
So don’t be so hard on yourself, no
‘Cause I’m just tired of marching on my own
Kind of frail, I feel it in my bones
Oh, let my heart, my heart turn into stone
So don’t be so hard on yourself, no”
15. “I Keep” by Jill Scott
“I keep
Moving forward, pressing onward, striving further
I keep
Keep on laughing, keep on living, keep on loving, yeah
I keep
Keep on dreaming, keep on achieving, keep on believing
I keep
I keep smiling when I come through
And I cry when I need to”
16. “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
“Yeah, it’s pretty clear, I ain’t no size two
But I can shake it, shake it, like I’m supposed to do
Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase
And all the right junk in all the right places
I see the magazines working that Photoshop
We know that shit ain’t real, come on now, make it stop
If you got beauty beauty just raise ’em up
Cause every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top”
17. “Beautiful Flower” by India Arie
“This is a song for
Every girl who
Feels that she is not special
Cause she don’t look like a supermodel Coke bottle
The next time the radio tells you
To shake your money-maker
Shake your head and tell them
Tell them you’re a leader
Now we’re moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives
Cause you’re beautiful
Like a flower
More valuable
Than a diamond
You are powerful
Like a fire
You can heal the world
With your mind and
There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you”
18. “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)” by MIKA
“Big Girl you are beautiful
Walks into the room
Feels like a big balloon
I said, “Hey girl you are beautiful”
“Diet coke and a pizza please”
Diet coke! I’m on my knees
Screaming “Big girl you are beautiful!”
Recommending reading:
- Why I Hate Influencer Culture
- Why We Need More Intellectuals To Be Influencers and Noisemakers
- How Instagram Stifles Sustainability
- Family As ‘Brand’ – The Rise of the Digital Mumpreneur
- What Fashion Bloggers Can Teach Us About Consumerism
Title image credit: Lady Gaga
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