Body Image Songs: The Ultimate Body Positive Playlist From an Intuitive Eating Dietitian and Body Image Coach

Looking for the perfect body image songs to add to your playlist? This guide will help you find empowering and uplifting music that celebrates self-acceptance,  a positive body image, and body neutrality. 

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended to be a tool and provide body image support and encouragement. However, it is not a substitute for professional help or medical advice. If you have or suspect you have an eating disorder or body dysmorphic disorder, I strongly encourage you to seek the guidance of a qualified professional. The information provided in this post should not be interpreted or used as medical advice. Always consult your physician or a healthcare professional on matters relating to your health and well-being. 

The Best Body Image Songs

Here is a list of some of the best body image songs to add to your body image playlist. 

Note: These are just some ideas. Some of these songs may not resonate with you, and that’s okay.  Take what is helpful and leave the rest. These songs are in no particular order.

Disclaimer: I have linked the YouTube videos for the songs. You may want to avoid the videos and just listen to the audio if you find the videos triggering

1. Diet Culture By Byre

There’s nothing wrong with my body

“Fat” is not a dirty word

If my body tells me something

I will make sure it is heard

If my body is a vessel

I will give it what it needs

I will not betray my body

No matter what they think of me

2. Victoria’s Secret by Jax

God, I wish somebody would’ve told me

When I was younger that all bodies aren’t the same…

I know Victoria’s secret

And, girl, you wouldn’t believe

She’s an old man who lives in Ohio

Making money off of girls like me”

Cashin’ in on body issues

Sellin’ skin and bones with big boobs

I know Victoria’s secret

She was made up by a dude (dude)

Jax – Victoria’s Secret [Official Lyric Video]

3. Unpretty by TLC

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 MAC 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

Yeah, I’ll make you feel unpretty too

TLC – Unpretty (Official Audio)

4. Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara

She don’t see her perfect, she don’t understand she’s worth it

Or that beauty goes deeper than the surface, oh, oh

So to all the girls that’s hurting, let me be your mirror

Help you see a little bit clearer the light that shines within

Alessia Cara – Scars To Your Beautiful (Official Video)

5. Video by India.Arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me

Every freckle on my face is where it’s supposed 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, yeah

India.Arie – Video (Closed-Captioned)

6. Beautiful by Christina Aguilera

You are beautiful no matter what they say

Words can’t bring you down, no, no

Cause you are beautiful in every single way

Yes words can’t bring you down. Oh, no

So don’t you bring me down today

Christina Aguilera – Beautiful (2022 Version)

7. Try by Colbie Caillat

Wait a second,

Why should you care, what they think of you

When you’re all alone, by yourself

Do you like you? Do you like you?

You don’t have to try so hard

You don’t have to give it all away

You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up

You don’t have to change a single thing

Colbie Caillat – Try (Official Video)

8. Most Girls by Hailee Steinfeld

Most girls are smart and strong and beautiful

Most girls, work hard, go far, we are unstoppable

Most girls, our fight to make every day

No two are the same

I wanna be like, I wanna be like most girls

Hailee Steinfeld – Most Girls (Official Video)

9. Firework by Katy Perry 

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

‘Cause baby, you’re a firework

Come on, show ’em what you’re worth

Make ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh”

As you shoot across the sky

Baby, you’re a firework

Come on, let your colors burst

Make ’em go, “Oh, oh, oh”

You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe

Katy Perry – Firework (Official Music Video)

10. Beautiful Flower by India Arie

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do

When you believe in you, who are beautiful

Yeah, you, who are brilliant

Yeah, you, who are powerful

Yeah, you, who are resilient

India Arie Beautiful Flower

11. Who Says by Selena Gomez

Who says you’re not star potential?

Who says you’re not presidential?

Who says you can’t be in movies?

Listen to me, listen to me

Who says you don’t pass the test?

Who says you can’t be the best?

Who said, who said?

Won’t you tell me who said that?

Yeah, who said?

Selena Gomez & The Scene – Who Says

12. F*ckin’ Perfect by Pink

You’re so mean (you’re so mean)

When you talk (when you talk)

About yourself, you were wrong

Change the voices (change the voices)

In your head (in your head)

Make them like you instead

Pink – Fuckin’ Perfect (Full Song)

13. I Am Enough by Daphne Willis

I am enough just as I am

Feel right at home anywhere that I stand

Hold out my heart in the palm of my hand

And I live my life like nobody else can

I am, I am, I am enough

I am enough for the laughter, the life that I’m after

Enough for my wildest dreams

Daphne Willis – I Am Enough (Official Video)

14. Confident by Demi Lovato

So you say I’m complicated

That I must be out my mind

But you’ve had me underrated

Rated, rated

Uh, huh, huh

What’s wrong with being

What’s wrong with being

What’s wrong with being confident?

Demi Lovato – Confident (Official Video)

Empowering Songs Beyond Body Image 

While empowering body image songs will help some people or help at certain times, it can also keep your focus on your body, which can keep you dwelling. Sometimes, it may be more helpful to listen to empowering songs that don’t focus on body image or appearances at all. 

Empowering songs will look different for everyone, or different based on the situation you’re in, but in general, an empowering song is one about perseverance, acceptance, perspective, resilience, working through emotions, confidence, strength, character, etc. They can inspire, uplift,  or help you work through intense emotions. 

Here’s a list of empowering songs to get you started, but the best songs will feel personal to you. Take a listen and save the ones that work and leave the rest. 

1. “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore

And don’t tell me what to do

Don’t tell me what to say

And please, when I go out with you

Don’t put me on display ’cause

You don’t own me

Don’t try to change me in any way

You don’t own me

Don’t tie me down ’cause I’d never stay

2. Good As Hell by Lizzo 

I do my hair toss

Check my nails

Baby how you feelin’?

Feeling good as hell

Lizzo – Good As Hell (Video)

3. Born This Way by Lady Gaga

I’m beautiful in my way

‘Cause God makes no mistakes

I’m on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Don’t hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself, and you’re set

I’m on the right track, baby

I was born this way, yeah

Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Official Music Video)

4. Fight Song by Rachel Platten

This is my fight song (hey)

Take back my life song (hey)

Prove I’m alright song (hey, ha)

My power’s turned on (hey)

Starting right now, I’ll be strong (hey)

I’ll play my fight song (hey)

And I don’t really care if nobody else believes (ha)

‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me

Rachel Platten – Fight Song (Official Video)

5. Roar by Katy Perry

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter

Dancing through the fire

‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar

Louder, louder than a lion

‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar

Katy Perry – Roar

6. Here Comes The Sun By The Beatles

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo

Here comes the sun, and I say

It’s alright

Little darlin’, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter

Little darlin’, it feels like years since it’s been here

Here comes the sun, doo-doo-doo-doo

Here comes the sun, and I say

It’s alright

The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun (2019 Mix)

7. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift

I’m dancin’ on my own (dancin’ on my own)

I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)

And that’s what they don’t know, mm-mm

That’s what they don’t know, mm-mm

But I keep cruisin’

Can’t stop, won’t stop groovin’

It’s like I got this music in my mind

Sayin’ it’s gonna be alright

Taylor Swift – Shake It Off (Taylor’s Version) (Lyric Video)

8. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

No, not I, I will survive

Long as I know how to love

I know I’ll stay alive

I’ve got my life to live

And all my love to give and

I will survive

I, I, I will survive

Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive

9. The Greatest by Sia

Well, uh-oh, running out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes

But, oh oh, I got stamina

And oh yeah, running through the waves of love

But I, I got stamina

And oh yeah, I’m running and I’ve just enough

And uh-oh, I got stamina

Don’t give up, I won’t give up

Don’t give up, no no no

Sia – The Greatest (Official Video)

10. This Is Me by The Greatest Showman Cast

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out

I am brave, I am bruised

I am who I’m meant to be, this is me

Look out ’cause here I come

And I’m marching on to the beat I drum

I’m not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

The Greatest Showman Cast – This Is Me (Official Lyric Video)

11. The Climb by Miley Cyrus

There’s always gonna be another mountain

I’m always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose

Ain’t about how fast I get there

Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side

It’s the climb

Miley Cyrus – The Climb

12. I Won’t Back Down By Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Well, I know what’s right

I got just one life

In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around

But I’ll stand my ground

And I won’t back down

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – I Won’t Back Down (Official Music Video)

13. Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song

You go ahead, let your hair down

Sapphire and faded jeans

I hope you get your dreams

Just go ahead, let your hair down

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow

Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On

14.  Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley

Get up, stand up

Stand up for your right

Get up, stand up

Don’t give up the fight

Get up, stand up

Stand up for your right

Get up, stand up

Don’t give up the fight

Get Up Stand Up (Official Fan Video ‘Legend 30th’) – Bob Marley

15. Flowers by Miley Cyrus

I can buy myself flowers

Write my name in the sand

Talk to myself for hours

Say things you don’t understand

I can take myself dancing

And I can hold my own hand

Yeah, I can love me better than you can

Miley Cyrus – Flowers (Official Video)

Can Music Actually Help With Positive Body Image?

Yes, listening to music can help with a positive body image. Of course body image is a lot more complex than just listening to music, but listening to music can provide a mood boost, a distraction, some inspiration or connection, or help process emotions. 

As for correlations with body image specifically, research suggests that listening to body positive music can boost self-esteem in women, while objectifying lyrics can have the opposite effect (1). 

Studies found that women who watched music videos with body positive messages reported higher self-esteem compared to those exposed to objectifying content. 

However, they also found that women with pre-existing low body esteem were negatively affected by any appearance-related music, suggesting that focusing on neutral topics might be beneficial for this group.

Tips for Making Your Own Body Image Songs Playlist 

1. Choose songs that resonate with you. This will be different for everyone, and maybe even different for the same person on a different day. You can use the songs above as inspiration. Listen to the song and the lyrics. Take note of how the song makes you feel. Make a playlist of the ones that resonate. 

2. Choose empowering songs. If you’re having a tough body image day, sometimes the best music doesn’t focus on body image or appearance at all. While positive body image messages can be uplifting, they may also keep your mind on your appearance. It may be more helpful to choose an empowering or uplifting song instead. 

3. Skip the video. Music videos feature artists who conform to conventional beauty standards, which can undermine the positive message of the lyrics. Instead, choose the lyric or audio videos or just listen to the song. 

4. Dance. Dancing to your playlist can help you feel more connected to your body, embrace joyful movement, and boost your mood by releasing endorphins.

5. Update your playlist regularly. Keep your playlist fresh by adding new songs that inspire and uplift you. This keeps the experience engaging and helps you discover new empowering music.

Final Thoughts 

This post was so fun for me to make! I hope these songs gave you some inspiration for your body image playlist. Did I miss any songs? Share in the comments below some of your favorite body image songs!

If you’re interested in learning more about body image or Intuitive Eating, be sure to check out some of these other blog posts: 

• 30+ Body Neutrality Journal Prompts
• Intuitive Eating Made Me Fat? The Truth About Intuitive Eating and Weight Gain
• Why Do I Feel Guilty After Eating? Surprising Reasons & Solutions
• 80+ Examples of Diet Culture[From Baltant to Sneaky]: Identifying The Insidious Impact of Diet Culture
• The Disadvantages and Dangers of Dieting [An Unbiased Guide]
• 80 Non-Physical Compliments That Have Nothing to Do with Appearance
• Intuitive Eating Before and After [What to Expect When You Start Intuitive Eating] 
• The 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating [A Complete Guide + Free PDF]

If you’re looking for personalized support,  I offer one-on-one body image and Intuitive Eating counseling services to help you find food freedom and body confidence. My one-on-one services are tailored to your specific needs and concerns. We work to develop a plan together that will help you achieve your goals and fit into your life. Whether you’re looking to break free from the diet cycle, overcome emotional or binge eating, or start treating your body with respect and kindness, I’m here to help!