The Best Body Confidence Anthems in Music History

If you haven’t already heard, 20-year-old Meghan Trainor made a little song called “All About That Bass,” and it’s making us feel all kinds of good. Aside from its catchy doo-wop sound, the song is about self-acceptance (and unapologetic booty shaking). In an interview with Billboard, Trainor revealed that the song was partially inspired by her own experiences: “I’ve struggled with [body image] since I was very young. . .  So, if other girls can relate to the song, it makes me feel even better. It’s unreal that I’m kind of helping people.” Needless to say, we’re thrilled to see a little positivity being spread around in the music industry, especially when it comes to body confidence.

“All About That Bass” is not the first song of its kind, though. There are body confidence anthems across all genres and decades. I mean, we’re already here. . . why not count them down?

14. Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass” (Explicit)

I see the magazines workin‘ that Photoshop
We know that s*** ain’t real
C’mon now, make it stop
If you got beauty beauty, just raise ’em up
Cause every inch of you is perfect
From the bottom to the top

13. Lissie – “Shameless” (Explicit)

I stole your magazine
The one with the beauty queen on the front
I see her look at me,
I swear that it is mockingly
What the f***?
And you decide what I should like
But I don’t buy no hype
Like in the magazine
The one with the beauty queen on the front

I wanna run, run far away
I gotta get far away from you
I gotta keep my identity
And focus what I can do, oh!

12. Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu – “Q.U.E.E.N.”

They call us dirty ’cause we break all your rules down
And we just came to act a fool, is that all right (Girl, that’s alright)
They be like, “Ooh, let them eat cake.”
But we eat wings and throw them bones on the ground

Even if it makes others uncomfortable
I wanna love who I am
Even if it makes others uncomfortable
I will love who I am

11. Lily Allen – “Hard Out Here” (Explicit)

If you’re not a size six, then you’re not good-looking
Well, you better be rich, or be real good at cooking
You should probably lose some weight ’cause we can’t see your bones
You should probably fix your face or you’ll end up on your own

Don’t you want to have somebody who objectifies you?
Have you thought about your butt? Who’s gonna tear it in two?
We’ve never had it so good, uh-huh, we’re out of the woods
And if you can’t detect the sarcasm, you’ve misunderstood

10. Marina & The Diamonds – “Hollywood”

Soon as I touch down in old L.A.
He said, “Oh, my god, you look just like Shakira.
No, no, you’re Catherine Zeta”
Actually, my name’s Marina

Your mind is just like mine
All filled up with things benign.
You’re looking for the golden lie.

9. Robyn – “Konichiwa B****es” (Explicit)

One left, one right—that’s how I organize ’em
You know I fill my cups no need to supersize ’em
Right now you probably thinking “how she get in them jeans”
Well, I’m gifted all natural and burstin‘ the seams

8. Mary J. Blige – “Work That”

There’s so many-a girls
I hear you been running
From the beautiful queen
That you could be becoming
You can look at my palm
And see the storm coming
Read the book of my life
And see I’ve overcome it
Just because the length of your hair ain’t long
And they often criticize you for your skin tone
Wanna hold your head high
Cause you’re a pretty woman
Get your runway stride honed
And keep going
Girl live ya life

7. Dolly Parton – “Dumb Blonde”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_OvYkoyeE

Just because I’m blonde
Don’t think I’m dumb
Cause this dumb blonde ain’t nobody’s fool
When you left you thought I’d sit
An’ you thought I’d wait
An’ you thought I’d cry
You called me a dumb blonde
Ah, but somehow I lived through it
And you know if there’s one thing this blonde has learned
Blondes have more fun

6. Salt-N-Pepa – “Body Beautiful”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75_lj5Esotc

Lights, camera, action, satisfaction
Guaranteed, that’s what I need
I celebrate the body and enjoy good health
And I gets down with my bad self
It’s all good from the front to the back
Two snaps and a clap for a body like that
It’s a good damn thing I don’t care what you say
Somebody beautiful (I am body beautiful), hey, that’s me

5. En Vogue – “Free Your Mind”

I wear tight clothing, high-heeled shoes
It doesn’t mean that I’m a prostitute, no no
I like rap music, wear hip hop clothes
That doesn’t mean that I’m out sellin‘ dope no no
Oh my forgive me for having straight hair, no
It doesn’t mean there’s another blood in my heir yeah yeah

4. Eve – “Who’s That Girl?” (Explicit)

I can understand why you’re scared of Eve
Thought I did it one way, ain’t prepared for me
Huh, mad cause an image I don’t care to be
Realness, real s***, spit reality

3. TLC – “Unpretty“

You can buy your hair if it won’t grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make up
That M.A.C. can make
But if you can’t look inside you
Find out who am I to
Be in the position to make me feel
So damn unpretty
I’ll make you feel unpretty too

2. India.Arie – “Video”

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it’s suppose to be
And I know my creator didn’t make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes, I’m loving what I see

1. Christina Aguilera – “Beautiful”

Did you really think I’d leave this out?

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down… Oh no
So don’t you bring me down today