Weight Stigma Awareness Week is from September 23-27, 2019. Weight stigma, sometimes known as weight bias, is when people are discriminated against because of their size. Sometimes the stigma is overt, such as being bullied by classmates. Sometimes it’s more subtle, such as the constant stream of before-and-after pictures we see on social media that celebrate smaller bodies. Sometimes weight stigma comes from outside sources, and sometimes it comes from our inner voice. Internalized weight bias can lead to feelings of self-doubt and shame.

One way to combat weight stigma is by following people of size on social media. Seeing people in a variety of bodies living publicly and unapologetically can help us unpack our internalized ideas of beauty and health. We can celebrate people of all sizes and abilities, and we should.

Here are 11 outstanding, inspiring, and delightful folks to follow on social media.

1. Lizzo

Lizzo is breaking new ground with her fearless take on self-acceptance and self-love. Her performances are iconic. She’s an incredible talent, encouraging everyone to love themselves. She embraces and celebrates her size, wears incredible, body-hugging clothing, and is the person I needed when I was growing up. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.

2. Your Fat Friend

Your Fat Friend is an anonymous essayist and fat activist. She’s written incredible pieces on pop culture, calling out fatphobia and explaining how fat people experience the world. Sometimes it’s painful to read what she writes, but it’s always eye-opening. Follow her on Twitter.

3. Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay is the author of Hunger, Bad Feminist, and the World of Wakanda. She’s brilliant, funny, and vulnerable. She calls it as she sees it. As she puts it in her Twitter bio, “If you clap, I clap back.” Follow her on Twitter for insightful commentary on just about everything.

4. Fat Girl Flow

Corissa Enneking is Fat Girl Flow. Her Instagram feed is full of pics of her living life in adorable clothing. She talks about the challenges of living in a larger body, plus-size fashion, weight stigma, and more. Follow her on Instagram or YouTube.

5. Comfy Fat

J Aprileo is Comfy Fat. They write and post about life in a larger body, accessibility, travel, life as a nonbinary person, and how it all intersects. Follow them on Instagram and check out their videos on YouTube.

View this post on Instagram

This photo gave me dysphoria yesterday. Today Im lookin at it feeling nothing negative at all. Bad body days happen, y’all. Its not our fault. Its not our body’s fault. Some days its just in the air. I try and remind myself of that when Im in bed crying about not liking my body. This too shall pass. It always does. . Remember one of those times recently that you felt hot as hell? Like confident, sexy, beautiful etc. Think of that moment when you’re not ok. Ask yourself, “whats so different about me now? In this moment? Is my body any different?” The answer is most likely no! Nothing is that different. We dont drastically change overnight. Its more likely that you saw some shit on tv that made you feel insecure and its bubbling up. Remember that. Its not you. Its really not. . #comfyfat #psblogger #queer #trans #nonbinarycuties #bodyliberation #bodyneutrality #fatandhappy

A post shared by J Aprileo (@comfyfattravels) on

6. Ragen Chastain

Regan Chastain is the author of Fat: The Owner’s Manual and holds the Guinness World Record for Heaviest Woman to Complete a Marathon. She’s a speaker and her blog danceswithfat is full of incredibly useful information. Follow her on Instagram for insights on moving your body, regardless of size, and on how to push back against weight stigma.

7. Jessamyn Stanley

Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga teacher and the author of Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get on the Mat, Love Your Body. Her Instagram posts are vulnerable, challenging, and encouraging. She breaks down barriers around yoga and encourages self-acceptance, even when it’s hard.

8. Virgie Tovar

Virgie Tovar is an author and activist. She wrote the influential book You Have the Right to Remain Fat and started the hashtag #LoseHateNotWeight. Her Instagram posts are full of joy, humor, and dismantling diet culture.

9. Historical Fat People

While this account isn’t a person, it dismantles the myth that fat is a new phenomenon. It offers pictures of people in larger bodies throughout history, living full lives, and having a good time. Follow Historical Fat People here.

10. Ryan Sheldon

Ryan Sheldon is a brawn model (the male equivalent of plus-sized). He also openly discusses his life with binge eating disorder. His Instagram posts talk about his challenges around body image, his life as a model, and supporting men with eating disorders. He’s also an official ambassador for the National Eating Disorder Association.

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I can’t tell you how many times in my past I would say “I’ll be so happy with my body if I loose X pounds”, “If I just looked a little different then I would be happy”, “If I wasn’t single then I would be fulfilled and happy”, “If I were smarter then I would be further along in my career”, or “If I had a better body then I would be in a loving, committed relationship”….. Instead of embracing our journeys we often put these arbitrary guidelines for standards that society has created and enforced, on ourselves just to be given permission to love and accept – OURSELVES. From my experience I used to be so hard on myself and never accept my so called “flaws” but when it came to a potential lover or friendship I would accept theirs. Think about this, do you have as high of standards for yourself as you do for someone else? Would love to hear your thoughts!! #selflove

A post shared by Ryan Sheldon (@bingeeaterconfessions) on

11. Melissa Blake

Melissa Blake is a writer who covers disabilities, pop culture, and relationships. She was born with Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome, which is a genetic bone and muscular disorder. She’s a brilliant writer, witty, open, and dreams of being the first disabled Bachelorette. Follow her on Twitter to see her thoughts and links to her writing.

Of course, this is just a small sample of all the fantastic people out there making a difference. Following some new folks is one more way to support Weight Stigma Awareness Week. Don’t forget to post on social media using the hashtags #WSAW2019 and #ComeAsYouAre. You can also download graphics to use on social media here. Weight stigma hurts everyone, regardless of size. Let’s work together to end the stigma and make life more accessible for everyone.

Melinda Sineriz is a freelance writer and fat acceptance advocate. Read more of her thoughts on Twitter or visit her website to learn more.