American singer and rapper Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, is much more than a powerhouse vocalist and trained flutist. Her name has become a catchword for body positivity, self-esteem, and female empowerment thanks to her bold approach to life. She has taken the world by storm, advocating for everyone to love themselves, normalizing and elevating marginalized groups around her.
Early in life, she developed a love for classical music and studied classical flute performance at the University of Houston. However, she dropped out of college for personal reasons before her junior year. It is in 2008 that she considered singing when she answered a Craigslist post for a rock band’s lead vocalist job. Then followed years of up and downs as a group and solo performer, until she truly broke into the music industry, earning many accolades to prove it.
Besides her now obvious music talent, she is also well known for championing body-positivity. Her songs are often about celebrating and loving yourself. “Everyone looks to an artist for something more than just the music, and that message of being comfortable in my own skin is number one for me,” she explained.
Throughout her life, she has never shied away from using her social-media platforms to advocate against body shaming and promote self-love. She was also one of the first to acknowledge her own battles with depression and anxiety.
Earlier this year, she partnered with the Dove Self Esteem Project. The project was unveiled back in 2004 and is designed to inform parents and mentors on how to tackle issues young teens are facing and “transform social media into a more positive and empowering place for the next generation.”
Since the beginning, from her empowering lyrics to her social media presence, Lizzo has been a change-maker, motivating her followers to hype up the beauty in every size, shape, and color.