Pink powerfully addresses her body-shamers, is an awesome role model as always

A couple of days ago, Pink attended the 63rd annual BMI Pop Awards in an ethereal coral dress that was cinched at the waist and draped over her shoulders like an elegant superhero cape. Which was fitting, because when she won the President’s Award, she dedicated a little bit of that time in the spotlight not to talk about her outfit, or her award, but to making a difference in people’s lives. Mic in hand, she decided to tackle something that’s been bothering her: The recent criticism concerning her body.

Exactly two months ago Pink attended a cancer benefit wearing a black dress some people on the Internet found “ill-fitting.” Individuals took to Twitter and decided to point out the singer’s supposed weight gain –a very mean, uncool thing to do that says a lot about our unrealistic, rigid beauty standards. Instead of ignoring her body-shamers, Pink made an amazingly empowering statement, saying, “While I admit that the dress didn’t photograph as well as it did in my kitchen, I will also admit that I felt very pretty. In fact, I feel beautiful,” she said. She also pointed out that the reason why she attended the event was to support Dr. Maggie DiNome, who was presented with the Duke Award for her medical contributions to cure cancer. “Unfortunately, my weight seems much more important to some of you,” Pink said, dismayed by what some people chose to focus on.

Well, Pink took the time again at the BMI Awards to let her online bullies know that they have not won. Not by a long shot. She told viewers that she doesn’t “take well to bullying.” She also told Entertainment Tonight, “I never have. I’m not a person [who] will be bullied. I’m not a person [who] will stand by watching other people bullied.” As a mother, she revealed that she felt responsible for sticking up for herself in order to be a good role model for her 4-year-old daughter, Willow.

She told ET, “I’m raising a girl. I am a girl. I have feelings. People think I take no s–t and I’m tough, tougher than nails, but I’m a human being. I think people have gotten it wrong. They think their opinion matters and holds weight, and I don’t know where or why they’re giving themselves so much credit, you know? So I thought it was important for me to remind them that I don’t care. My life is full, I like food a lot, and I really like to cook, I like to live. I find joy in that, and we’re doing all right in the Hart household.”

That said, it’s still a total bummer that women, Pink included, still face constant body policing and shaming. The criticism Pink faced also serves as a sad reminder of how narrow and ridiculous our standards of beauty really are, and how damaging they can be. Pink is gorgeous! And more importantly, as she said, she FEELS gorgeous. So let her live!

We’re so happy and inspired that Pink took the time to address these haters and put them in their place. But hopefully we one day can live in a world where women (and men!) won’t need to defend ourselves and our bodies. We’re (hopefully) moving toward a world where people won’t need to justify their happiness, their lifestyle, and their self-esteem in order to rise above body-shamers and bullies. In the meantime, Pink is 100% right: The opinions of jerks can hurt, but they don’t hold weight. Our happiness is what really matters.

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