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The 7 greatest body image messages of 2016

If 2016 did one thing right, it's this

1. Denise Bidotโ€™s stretch marks

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US plus-size department store Lane Bryant made headlines when the below campaign image went viral last week. Why? Because model Denise Bidotโ€™s stretch marks are clearly visible in the unretouched shot. Bidot has revealed itโ€™s only the second time her stretch marks havenโ€™t been photoshopped out of images in her nine-year career.

2. Lorna Janeโ€™s curvy model

The activewear label caused a serious stir on social media in November when they posted an image of a curvy girl wearing their clothes. A far cry โ€“ and a refreshing change โ€“ from their usual roll call of tanned and toned size sixes, the image resonated with women worldwide.

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3. Ashley Grahamโ€™s barbie

2016 was plus-size model Ashley Grahamโ€™s year: after penning an essay that called out social media body shamers for Lenny Letter, she scored her first fashion magazine cover and her very own, realistically-shaped Barbie.

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4. Ronda Rouseyโ€™s beauty coup

Pantene bucked the trend of what a beauty brand ambassador should look like when they signed MMA Champion fighter Ronda Rousey for their latest campaign. โ€œIโ€™m fully aware that I might not be the first person people think of to collaborate with a beauty brand,โ€ Rousey said. โ€œIโ€™ve been called โ€˜Miss Manโ€™ and โ€˜savageโ€™ because of my physique, but to me, strength isnโ€™t only about having muscles.โ€

5. Victoriaโ€™s Secret stretch marks

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Theyโ€™re not exactly known for promoting positive body image, but Victoriaโ€™s Secret took a commendable step in the right direction when they shared unretouched photos of Angel Jasmine Tookes in the fabled fantasy bra โ€“ with her stretch marks showing.

Jasmine Tookes

6. Robyn Lawley challenges โ€˜plus sizeโ€™

The newly crowned Westfield beauty & wellness ambassador spoke out against plus size labeling in October, telling The Daily Telegraph that โ€œitโ€™s degradingโ€ that a size 14 is considered plus size. โ€œIf the national average is a size 14, then we shouldnโ€™t be segregating people of that size. I feel healthy and natural at that size,โ€ she said.

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7. Chrissy Teigenโ€™s post-baby body

Hollywoodโ€™s reigning queen of relatability scored bonus points when she snapchatted her stretch marks to the world, with the caption, โ€œLOL my thighs have tributaries.โ€ She followed the post by highlighting how Hollywood elite lose their baby weight, saying their secrecy placed unrealistic expectations on real women. โ€œAnyone in the public eye, we have all the help we could ever need to be able to shed everything,โ€ she said. โ€œWe have nutritionists, we have dieticians, we have trainers, we have our own schedules, we have nannies.โ€

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