When “Love Story” became a chart-topper in 2008, a young Taylor Swift garnered many fans. One of them was 16-year-old Ningthibi Wahengbam, who enjoyed the singer’s fusion of country music with pop music. It wasn’t just the melody or genre picked by Swift that impressed Wahengbam. The teen was also inspired by the lyrics of her songs. One of them was Swift’s “Tied Together With a Smile” that featured on the artiste’s eponymous debut album. The lyrics of the song begin with, “Seems the only one who doesn’t see your beauty is the face in the mirror looking back at you. You walk around here thinking you are not pretty, but that is not true because I know you.” At the time, Wahengbam was struggling with her body image. “This song showed that I was not the only one having issues with body image. This song helped me to be more positive about myself,” says Wahengbam, now 32.

Taylor Swift has been influencing her fans, also lovingly called Swifties, in a big way. There is now also a study that proves the superstar has helped her admirers achieve a more positive outlook towards body image and disordered eating.

Study on Taylor Swift’s impact on fans’ body image

Taylor Swift is a role model for her fans, and her content positively impacted their disordered relationships to food and body, according to a July 2024 study published in the Social Science & Medicine journal. Researchers from University of Vermont analysed the top 200 TikTok and Reddit social media posts that contained over 8,000 comments related to the superstar, eating disorders and body image.

Swifties talked about the “Fearless” hitmaker being a positive role model for them and that her songs like “Tied Together With a Smile” and “You’re On Your Own Kid”, as well as her documentary “Miss Americana helped” them heal from abnormal eating behaviours and negative body image.

But researchers also found that some of her fans were upset when Swift used the word “fat” in her video for her song “Anti-Hero” in 2022.

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Importance of celebrities promoting healthy body image

Body image is a person’s impression, thoughts, and feelings regarding their physical appearance and how their body looks and functions. Personal experiences, cultural and societal norms, media depiction, and feedback from friends and family all have an impact on this mental picture, shares psychotherapist and life coach Dr Chandni Tugnait.

Here’s why it is important for celebs to promote body image:

1. Influence

Celebrities promoting healthy body image have particular importance owing to their enormous influence on society, particularly young people. Their platform enables them to reach millions of fans, influencing their views and behaviours about self-perception and worth.

2. Self-acceptance

When celebrities embrace and promote body acceptance, they question the unattainable beauty standards that are frequently perpetuated by the media and fashion sectors. This can lead to increased self-acceptance among fans, lowering the likelihood of negative body image issues, eating disorders, and mental health difficulties, says the expert.

3. Humanise issues

Celebrities who open up about their personal body image challenges, humanise the concerns, helping followers feel less alone and more understood. They help to create a more inclusive concept of beauty by highlighting all body types and encouraging self-love.

How do celebrities impact how fans feel about their own bodies?

Celebrities have a major influence on how fans perceive their own bodies, but can be positive and negative.

1. May cause unhappiness with their bodies

Celebrities can have a negative impact on their followers’ body image, especially if they look at photos of the stars or worship them, according to a 2021 research published in the Journal of Health Psychology. Celebrities’ physical appearances are typically glorified. Fans may develop unreasonable expectations for their own beauty after seeing these seemingly beautiful bodies in the media on a regular basis. This can cause unhappiness with their bodies and, in severe circumstances, contribute to body dysmorphia or eating problems, says Dr Tugnait. Celebrity endorsements and commercial advertisements can have an impact on fans’ body image, especially when it comes to weight loss, fitness, or beauty items. These can put pressure on people to have specific body types or traits.

2. May encourage self-love

Celebrities can also have a positive impact on people’s body image. When they openly express their own concerns, release unfiltered images, or promote body positivity, they can help to normalise different body shapes and encourage fans to believe in self-love. Celebrities who promote health above appearance can help to shift the focus away from aesthetic norms and toward total wellness.

How to build a positive body image?

Negative body image or dissatisfaction with your own body can lead to unhealthy habits, including drastic eating restrictions, as per a research published in StatPearls in 2023.

It can also result in low self-esteem and self-worth because people attribute their value to their physical appearance rather than their character or accomplishments. This can lead to social anxiety, depression, and isolation, as people avoid social interactions out of shame or embarrassment over their bodies, says Dr Tugnait.

So, try these tips to build a positive body image:

1. Create a “body gratitude” ritual

Start your day with a “body gratitude” ritual, thanking your body for its distinct functions or your abilities. This could be as basic as thanking your legs for getting you through yesterday’s obstacles or your hands for their proficiency in completing things.

2. Develop a personalised “body positive” mantra

Come up with a unique phrase that connects with you and repeat it whenever negative thoughts pop in your mind. You can say something like, “My body is my friend, and not my enemy.”

3. Try “mirror mindfulness”

When staring in the mirror, intentionally concentrate on non-apparent features, suggests the expert. Consider the colour of your eyes, the distinctness of your facial emotions, or the narrative behind a scar or imperfection while looking in the mirror.

4. Prioritise function over appearance

Appreciate your body for its capabilities rather than its appearance. Celebrate your strength, endurance, or capacity to see the world with your senses. This adjustment in attitude might inspire gratitude for your body’s skills.

5. Limit social media consumption

Be aware of the stuff you watch or read on digital platforms. Unfollow accounts that make you feel inadequate and instead look for influencers or celebrities who promote body positivity. Remember that many photographs are heavily altered and may not reflect reality.

6. Engage in physical activities that you enjoy

Find movement that makes you happy, whether it’s dancing, hiking, or yoga. Consider how these activities make you feel rather than how they may affect your appearance. This can help you have a better relationship with your body.

Swift may have a positive influence on her fans, especially when it comes to their body image. But you don’t have to be a Swiftie to have a positive body image. Limit social media consumption, do what you enjoy doing rather than thinking about weight loss and appearance to build a positive body image.