It's been said that pregnancy is an example of an "ordinary miracle," something that is so common that it is easy to forget how incredible it actually is. The pregnant person's body somehow knows exactly how to make a safe haven for a new life. Organs shift, skin stretches, ligaments loosen, and everything from the shape of our eyeballs to the size of our feet can change over the course of those magical nine months. It's no wonder that it can feel daunting to make peace with that changed body once our baby arrives.
There are a lot of ways to be a great mom, and there are just as many ways to figure out how to feel comfortable in one's skin after the dramatic changes brought on by pregnancy. The most important things are to approach the post-baby phase with self-love and kindness, and to reject feelings of shame or the pressure to "snap back" quickly.
One of the positive shifts in celebrity culture in recent years is that more celebrity moms are getting real about their own post-baby body experiences. For some, that means getting back into a pre-baby workout routine and trying to look like their pre-baby selves. For others, that means taking it slow and accepting that their bodies have changed — maybe forever.
Here, we highlight 15 stars who are totally inspirational because they are keeping it honest and refusing to shame themselves. We love that energy!
Gal Gadot
Aliphine Tuliamuk
Ok, so Aliphine Tuliamuk might not exactly be a household name, but she is a major force in the world of distance running. She competed in the Tokyo Olympics on the US marathon team, which is impressive enough of an accomplishment. The fact that she did that while still breastfeeding and only seven months after giving birth to her adorable daughter Zoe is amazing!
Halsey
Fresh off an appearance on Saturday Night Live, where she looked snatched and fabulous, Halsey posted an introspective post on their Instagram page, noting that it felt weird to get compliments because "the body behind all those compliments the other night was wearing a custom tailored outfit and lighted perfectly after much testing, so I could feel good and do my job." She went on to add, "I do not want to feed the illusion that you're meant to feel and look great immediately postpartum. That is not my narrative currently."
They further explained, "I will never have my pre-baby body back, no matter how it changes physically because I have now had a baby. And that has altered me forever — emotionally, spiritually, and physically. That change is permanent. And I don't want to go back." Radical transparency is super inspirational!
Robin Arzon
As Peloton users know, Robin Arzon is a major inspiration when it comes to staying active during pregnancy and making self-care a priority after baby comes. Not only did she keep leading Peloton rides her whole pregancy, she introduced pre- and postnatal classes to the app and bike for the first time, making fitness a whole lot more accessible for other women too. She also has posted pictures of herself pumping before teaching spin classes, and we love to see that reality normalized.
Maren Morris
Singer Maren Morris celebrated her son's first birthday in 2021 and also celebrated the fact that her body is still — forever — her body. As she wrote on Instagram, alongside a picture of herself looking confident in a bra and underwear set and while working out, "I am never saying 'trying to get my body back' again. No one took it. I didn't lose it like a set of keys."
Sadie Robertson Huff
Duck Dynasty star turned author and speaker Sadie Robertson Huff is another mom whose relationship with her body was changed for the better by having a baby. She shares that pregnancy and the post-pregnancy phase have shown her that her "body is much more than an image. It's a powerful creation that can host and grow a powerful creation. If I ever get tripped up about my body image again, it better be me tripping over the fact I'm made in the IMAGE of God!"
Cardi B
Cardi B is an icon for moms who want to show people that they can look and feel sexy, even after two kids. Though Cardi has shared that she still has loose skin following baby No. 2, she also credits the little guy with a positive change in her body. "Right now, I got some amazing hips due to my gorgeous son because he was sitting so low," she revealed. We love the reminder that all bodies are beautiful and that curves can be celebrated!
