Jameela Jamill Has Started A Weight Trend Encouraging Women To Value Themselves Beyond The Scales

She's started a body positive Instagram account...

Jameela Jamill Has Started A Weight Trend Encouraging Women To Value Themselves Beyond The Scales

by Georgia Aspinall |
Updated on

Everywhere you go the topic of weight will follow you. You can be sat at home on a Thursday night and a TV show will come on about overweight people attempting to ‘shed the pounds’. You can be in work on a Friday and hear your co-workers discussing how much weight they’ve put on or lost this week. You can be scrolling through Instagram and you’ll undoubtedly see an advert for a ‘weight-loss’ shake.

The idea that our weight is so important, that it’s something we should base our value on, surrounds us every single day. However, one actor is taking it upon herself to combat that, the ever-inspiring and hilarious Jameela Jamill.

Launching her body-positive Instagram account, @I_Weigh, Jameela posts images of women who have captioned what they truly value about themselves and their lives, dubbing their weight not amounting to a number on a scale but to all the things they love about themselves. Encouraging women to look ‘beyond their flesh and bones’ captions range from ‘I weigh: great friends’ to I weigh: ‘a job I love’ and ‘I weigh: someone that will change women’s rights’.

The movement began last month when Jameela posted a picture of the Kardashian’s to her Instagram story, where each sister had a caption next to them with the number of kilograms they supposedly weigh. Themillionlady account posted it with the caption ’Does Kim look 56? Which weight are you?!’. Jameela, sharing the image, posted ‘Who gives a FUCK what weight you are’, ‘what is this toxic bullshit?’ followed by ‘this is how women are taught to value themselves. In Kg. Grim.’ She then posted her own selfie, with the caption ‘I weigh: lovely relationship, great friends, I laugh every day, I love my job, I make an honest living, I’m financially independent, I speak out for women’s rights, I like my bingo wings, I like myself in spite of EVERYTHING I’ve been taught by the media to hate myself about.’

On her motivation to start the Instagram account to combat this toxic narrative online, Jameela told The Independent:

‘I wanted a mini online museum of women who were valuing themselves properly,

‘By how they feel about themselves and the people they are, and the lives they live and change and save. Rather than by our media’s absurd standards women are expected to uphold.

‘Standards that are airbrushed, surgically enhanced and starved and relentlessly trained for by those perpetuating this dangerous stereotype.’

The account adds to the growing number of realistic Instagram accounts, fighting back against the filtered images of societally ideal bodies we see on our feeds every day. If you want to contribute to the account, you’re in luck, Jameela is asking women to keep the images coming.

You can follow the account here.

Click through to see more inspirational Instagram accounts you should be following...

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Inspirational Instagram Accounts You Should Follow

Women in comics1 of 24

Women In Comics

Illustrating inspirational images and depicting women in comic form, this account will brighten up your timeline with some home truths in the form of pretty pictures.

Adwoa Aboah2 of 24

Adwoa Aboah

This insanely beautiful model founded GURLS TALK, an online community where women from all backgrounds can share their personal experiences in a safe space.

Alicia Garza3 of 24

Alicia Garza

Alicia is an editor and activist who co-created #BlackLivesMatter. Her feed is a mixture of relatable memes, unfiltered selfies and educational posts to keep you woke.

Amandla Stenberg4 of 24

Amandla Stenberg

You might recognise this actor from The Hunger Games, when she played the character only character we cried endless tears for, Rue. Now, while still acting, she's a full-fledged activist posting about everything gender, feminism and black culture.

Amani5 of 24

MuslimGirl/Amani

Amani created the fast-growing activism account @MuslimGirl, another one you should definitely follow. She has spoken across the world about Muslim women and posts everything from badass selfies to stats you need to know.

Amber Amour6 of 24

Amber Amour

Amber created @CreatingConsentCulture which aims to educate people on rape culture and support rape and sexual assault survivors. She's also outspoken about racism and sex work, her feed will be endless many dinner party talking points.

Amber Rose7 of 24

Amber Rose

You may only know Amber Rose as Kanye's ex, but think again. Amber is a sex positivity icon, with her own pocast 'Loveline with Amber Rose' up until 2018 that aimed to promote healthy sexual relationships and self-love. If you can get past the fact she advertised flat tummy tea once (fgs Amber), you'll love her feminism-filled feed.

Beverly Bond8 of 24

Beverly Bond

Author of 'Black Girls Rock', Beverly's posts will have you both inspired and enraged, filled with commentary on everyday injustices.

Bree Newsome9 of 24

Bree Newsome

You may recognise Bree as the activist who took down the confederate flag from a flagpole outside the South Carolina Capitol building. She's continuing her activism with inspiring art you need to see.

Cameron Russell10 of 24

Cameron Russell

An american model who called out the fashion industry for sexual harassment and assault, she started the #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse hashtag. Her instagram is full of inspiring stories and educational videos exposing different injustices within her industry and beyond.

Iskra Lawrence11 of 24

Iskra Lawrence

If your not already following Iskra, your living under an Instagram rock. The body positive model started her own business, everyBODY with Iskra, to give health and fitness advice beyond just getting super skinny. You need her body posi vibes in your life.

Jessamyn12 of 24

Jessamyn

Another super body positive account to follow, Jessamyn is a yoga teacher regularly posting about the emotional and physical benefits of body positivity and practicing yoga.

Joanna Thangiah13 of 24

Joanna Thangiah

Shun your timeline of filtered selfies and over exposed holiday destinations. It's time for some feminist, mental health aware art! This account is amazing for cute cartoons that say everything we're already feeling.

Judy Reyes14 of 24

Judy Reyes

You'll probably remember Judy as Carla from Scrubs, or one of the other thousand TV show she's been in throughout her insanely successful career. Unlike most Hollywood actors, her Insta is full of activism and news you need to know.

Logan Browning15 of 24

Logan Browning

Activist and actor, Logan Browning is the lead of Netflix hit Dear White People. Posting powerful content and links to charities you can donate to so you can turn your online activism into action- she's a force to be reckoned with.

Makers Women16 of 24

Makers Women

MAKERS is a storytelling platform for women, posting quotes to keep you inspired throughout the day. Stay up to date with gender injustice, while also feeling hopeful with the powerful words these amazing women have to say.

Nimisha Bhanot17 of 24

Nimisha Bhanot

Another artist you need to follow, Nimisha creates amazing prints (which you can buy) critiquing societal perceptions of South Asian women. She's based in Canada, but these prints can brighten up your timeline anywhere.

Muslim Girl18 of 24

Muslim Girl

Muslim Girl, where 'muslim women talk back' is an account ran by Amani. Advocating for issues facing muslim women, both accounts are an inspiration and necessity on your feed.

Project Consent19 of 24

Project Consent

There's no time like the present to be educating people on consent. This account does exactly that, and gives you the perfect explanations, comebacks and reminders to throw out at a dinner party if the issue comes up.

Rowan Blanchard20 of 24

Rowan Blanchard

Gone are the days of Disney stars going off the rails, this actor and activist is a beacon of positivity- especially online. Fighting gender and race injustice and beyond, she's one to watch.

rupi kaur21 of 24

Rupi Kaur

Rupi made headlines in 2015 when she posted pictures of her on Instagram with visible menstrual blood. Her posts were blocked by Instagram, causing backlash against the social media platform. She continues to break boundaries with her writing and poetry.

Sophie King22 of 24

Sophie King

This UK based embroidery artist is an up-and-coming star, embroidering feminist slogans onto everything from bras to roses. Bring her insta to life with her slogan t-shirts, or just stare at the pretty pictures, either way she's someone you should follow.

Vulva Gallery23 of 24

The Vulva Gallery

Our favourite of all the accounts, the vulva gallery promotes self-love in an area SO often ignored. With two-thirds of women avoiding smear tests, life-saving procedures, because of the look of their vagina, it's time we stopped all of the self-loathing around genitals. Providing a regular reminder that all vaginas are beautiful, if you only follow one account of this list, it should be this one.

Trash Is For Tossers24 of 24

Trash Is For Tossers

Lauren Singer lives an entirely waste-free life. Yes, you can actually do that. As #plasticfree takes over our news feed, it's time you had some daily advice on how exactly to reduce your waste. Save the planet!

This article originally appeared on The Debrief.

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