We Love to Hear It! 16 Women Share What’s Helped Them Feel More Confident in Their Bodies
The problem with talking about body confidence is that there’s plenty of advice about how you’re supposed to get there. Exercise more. Stop comparing yourself online. Buy clothes that fit. Learn to love what you see in the mirror. The reality is that confidence can come from any combination of those things—or from something entirely different. The personal nature of body confidence means that what works for one woman may look completely different for another.
Alexandra Berggren, for example, credits getting older with becoming “so much more comfortable in my own skin,” plus staying active, keeping hydrated, and having a fresh spray tan. Model and stylist Hayley Langer found confidence through “learning that clothes should fit you, not you needing to fit into your clothes,” while curvy model Karina Herbst says shifting her attention from how her body looks to “what it does for me daily” changed everything.
Despite how often body confidence gets presented as something you either have or don’t (as if everyone wakes up one morning magically loving every inch of themselves), the women we spoke with described something much more personal. For some, it came through movement. For others, better-fitting clothes, getting older, letting go of comparison, or changing the way they speak to themselves. Ahead, 16 women share what’s helped them feel more confident in their bodies.
Alexandra Berggren
“Getting older has honestly been one of the biggest confidence boosters for me. I’ve become so much more comfortable in my own skin. Plus, I’m a Leo… What other choice do I have besides being confident? Staying active, keeping hydrated, and having a fresh spray tan always help me feel my best too!”
Molly O’Connor
“I recently started going back to the gym and changing my eating habits. I have also been moving more and wearing clothes that are comfortable as well as flattering. Nothing better than feeling comfortable and sexy.”
Hayley Langer
“Clothes that fit! Learning that clothes should fit you, not you needing to fit into your clothes. Tailoring has helped me feel so confident and allows my clothes to really fit my own body.”
Bri DeFrancesco
“For much of my teens, I was self-conscious about having a fuller bust because I never saw women in the media who looked like me. When it came to shopping for bras or swimwear, so many stores made me feel like I was “disproportionate” simply because they didn’t carry sizes that fit me.
Sharing my experiences online has completely changed my relationship with my body. Building a community where women can discover pieces that actually fit and help them feel confident has been incredibly rewarding. Realizing that so many of us have shared the same frustrations—and being able to remind others they’re not alone—means everything to me.
Another thing that’s made a huge difference is letting go of negative self-talk. The way we speak to ourselves is incredibly powerful. Our bodies carry us through so much, and they deserve kindness rather than criticism. I’ve found that when you start treating yourself with compassion instead of judgment, confidence follows naturally.”
Ella Hoak
“Something that has helped me feel more confident in my body is buying the right size for me. Whether that means an XS in a T-shirt or a Large in a bikini top. Women’s sizing runs so weird, it’s better to take nothing personal.”
Rebecca Camilleri
“What has helped me feel more confident in my body is focusing less on trying to look a certain way and more on feeling good in my body day to day. Prioritizing movement I enjoy, wearing clothes that are comfortable and make me feel like myself, and avoiding constant comparison online has made a big difference. I’ve learned that confidence comes much more from how I feel and treat myself than from chasing perfection.”
Jessica Albotra
“For me, I have become more confident in my body by embracing the changes that happen to it as I age instead of trying to resist it. I think right now, when there is so much access to body-altering procedures, I like to focus on nurturing and loving my body and reminding myself that my body does so much for me every day and it doesn’t define my self-worth.”
Mykee
“What has helped me be more confident in my body was really working towards my strengths. Not just putting on cute clothes and making cute outfits, but understanding my body’s proportions and shape and what works best at all times, even when I went through fails. Experimenting and creating an outfit formula, which I think every girl should have.
Mine is a good bodysuit, trousers or slacks, and a nice heel. I always feel good and put together in this combo no matter what occasion, event, or situation. Dress it up or down and you’re always ready to go. I promise. Extra tip: keep your skin clean, eyebrows shaped, basic nails, and a fragrance. It goes a long way, even to the store.”
Anna Gagliano
“Doing workouts that I genuinely enjoy rather than what is trending makes me confident in my body. It’s easier to be consistent when you look forward to your workout and feel good afterward. I love using oils and lotions that leave me with a beautiful, hydrated glow. A good spray tan is always a confidence booster as well!”
Karina Herbst
“Shifting my focus away from how my body looks to what it does for me daily changed everything for me. After having an injury to my knee and not being able to move properly for a while, I started appreciating it even more. Also, doing sports and wearing clothes that make me ‘feel bonita’ made a huge difference in how I carry myself.”
Nikki Chavez
“Honestly, focusing on what my body can do instead of what it looks like has completely changed my mindset. Pilates has played a huge role in that for me. It makes me feel strong, healthy, and confident. I’ve also learned to stop comparing myself to others online and instead appreciate that everybody is different. That shift has helped me feel so much more comfortable and confident in my own skin.”
Alexa Pontello
“Daily movement has been one of the biggest contributors to feeling more confident in my body. No matter how busy my schedule is, I always find a way to get some sort of movement in, whether that is a morning Pilates class, a walk around my neighborhood with my dog, or playing paddle tennis with friends. Beyond the physical benefits, movement is the ultimate mood booster that carries into everything else.”
Mariela Camacho
“What has helped me love my body the most is being mindful of taking care of myself, watching what I eat, exercising, but above all, accepting myself as I am. For a long time, I felt insecure about my body because of societal standards and prejudices against skinny and tall people. I was insecure for a long time about who I was and how I saw my body.
When I grew up and understood that I am perfect just the way I am, that I should love my body myself, that every imperfection is what makes me valuable, and that I should care for my body like a sacred temple, that’s what made me feel confident in myself. Beginning to accept my physique and my body is what helps me love it more and take care of it, raise my self-esteem, and improve how I see myself in the mirror.
Today, I love my body and feel so confident. I love my long legs, I love my slimness, I love my rolls, I love every stretch mark, I love every blemish, I love every imperfection of my body because it’s who I am. I have good health and I have the opportunity to have a healthy body.”
Lorena R. Banda
“There are many things that have helped me feel more confident about my body. However, I would say knowing that I’m enough no matter what is my number one reason. As someone who was born with a rare birth defect called gastroschisis, it’s been difficult to navigate my body image because we live in a world that often defines “beautiful” and “sexy” by narrow standards. Over the years, I learned that my uniqueness is a part of what makes me who I am. I choose to celebrate my body and appreciate everything she has carried me through. I love her.”
Alexandra Ribeiro
“Honestly, confidence is about being happy within yourself. The moment I start comparing myself to other people, I know it starts to hurt my self-esteem. I’ve struggled a lot with my confidence and my weight over the years.
I remember being about five years old, dancing to Britney Spears and just feeling completely free. Music has always allowed me to tap into a part of myself where I’m not overthinking. I’m just having fun.
Whenever I’m in a negative loop, I know I can put on a Luísa Sonza song or Anitta, and I’m good. The music instantly changes my mood. When I was bullied growing up, music was always there for me. It became a place where I could create my own world, dream bigger, and feel inspired. Especially dancing. It reminds me to celebrate my body instead of judging it. That’s when I feel the most confident and the most like myself.”
Beckie Rose
“Creating body-positive content has been one of the biggest things that has helped me with my body image. Sharing my ‘imperfections’ online has shown me just how normal they are, and it’s helped me become much more accepting of my body.
One of the most rewarding parts has been seeing how my content helps other people feel less alone and more confident in themselves too. If you’re struggling with your body image, I always recommend starting with body neutrality. You don’t have to force yourself to love every part of your body straight away; sometimes simply appreciating what your body does for you is a really powerful first step.”
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