Dove soap had its “Real Beauty” campaign.
France banned unhealthily skinny models.
But why aren’t we seeing more plus-size actresses in movies?
Brooks Barnes wonders the same thing in a recent New York Times article. In a body-positive moment when Lena Dunham and Melissa McCarthy are gaining respect and changing the conversation about body weight, Hollywood could be doing more.
But if the Cannes Film Festival is any indication, things might be about to change. Danielle Macdonald, the plus-size star of the film Patti Cake$, was given an extraordinary reception at the storied festival on the French Riviera.
“Film festival crowds reacted to Ms. Macdonald’s acting with euphoria,” Barnes writes. “She got a rousing standing ovation at Cannes.”
About 71 percent of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is also a growing body-positive movement online, with notable advocates such as Adele, Nicki Minaj, Meghan Trainor, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
Is Hollywood finally ready to go body-positive?