Adele recently sat down with Australia’s “60 Minutes” and discussed the issue of how sexism and body image in Hollywood has affected her.

“I’ve always been asked questions about my body and my weight and my size and my style and stuff like that,” she said. “And I totally understand. It’s a little bit annoying that men don’t get asked that question as much. But other than that it seemed to astound people that I was plus size and being successful, that was how I felt.”

Adele is unfazed with the media’s beauty obsession: “I don’t make music for eyes. I make music for ears.”

Adele spoke about body image with The Spectrum’s Jenny Eliscu for a SiriusXM Town Hall Q&A last week, saying:

“I do have body image problems, for sure, but I don’t let them rule my life at all. There’s only one of you, so why would you want to look like anyone else? Why would you want to have the same hair style as everyone else and have the same opinions as everybody else?”

The British singer is among a growing trend of successful women who defy the unrealistic beauty standards of Hollywood and giving tinsel-town a big middle finger – proving that talent can trump physical appearance. Here are some more musicians who embrace their curves.

Kelly Clarkson

“Whether I put on weight or take it off, someone’s got something to say, so what I’ve figured is this: As long as I’m healthy and happy, cool. I’m just me — take it or leave it. And personally, I think I’m looking good!” Clarkson told The Daily Mail in May 2012.

Clarkson is no stranger to “fat-shaming” ever since being crowned the reigning “American Idol” champion in the first season. She has since been open about her struggles with an eating disorder and how she’s overcome it.

Brittany Howard

Howard is the extremely talented lead singer and guitarist for indie rock band, Alabama Shakes. Her raspy voice is so unique and her passionate performances move everyone in the room. “I always felt out of place. I wasn’t a cool kid but I wasn’t a nerd either. I had trouble finding my place. But when I found the music, I had a place of my own,” she told Paste Magazine. Howard is too busy being real to care about what others think of her physical appearance.

Beth Ditto

The outspoken frontwoman for the indie, feminist rock band Gossip has been an inspiration for many years. The plus-size musician has walked the runway for Marc Jacobs’ NYFW show and has been featured nude on a magazine cover. Ditto’s singing style and presence has been compared to talented artists like Etta James, Janis Joplin and Tina Turner. And when Ditto’s collaboration with fashion retailer Evans launched, the collection was sold out in record time.

Demi Lovato

Back in 2010, Lovato went into treatment for an eating disorder and has since rebounded back to a healthy lifestyle – becoming an advocate for a positive body image

“This picture makes me feel so many mixed emotions.. I remember the day I wore the dress in the very first picture. I remember asking for spanx to flatten my stomach because I use to feel so heavy and ‘fat,'” Lovato wrote. “Now looking at this picture, you can clearly see my hip bones. It makes me sad because I wasted so many years ashamed of my body when I could’ve been living the happy and healthy life I live today.”

“It TRULY just goes to show you that your perceptions can lie to you,” she continued. “OR they can make you learn to enjoy life. Fortunately looking at the picture of myself in the red dress yesterday, I not only feel so grateful for the love and support I’ve had from fans, friends and family, but… I also feel.. beautiful. I’m so excited to live my life the way I deserve to and to the complete fullest. Thank you guys once again.. I’m so thankful for my Lovatics. I love you… And never forget that staying strong is worth it.”

“Most models are thinner than 98 percent of Americans,” she tweeted in 2012. “Instead of trying to change our bodies, how about we try to change our culture?”

 


Who’s your favorite plus-size musician?


 

 

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Zara Zhi
Zara Zhi
Zara is a freelance writer and filmmaker who has worked for numerous magazines and news sites. When not coming up with puns or writing screenplays, she enjoys having blind children read to her and donating plasma TVs. Follow her on Twitter: @zarazhi