Whether you 're into football or not, chances are you at least tuned into __Lady Gaga'__s halftime show at the Super Bowl on Sunday night. While I would have loved to see her perform a few more songs from her latest album Joanne, there's no denying that she killed it. The girl was hanging from the roof of the stadium and there were drones, for crying out loud. But of course, there were delusional haters out there that wanted to shame Gaga's toned but not completely flat stomach and it's pretty effed up to be honest. Seriously, after a performance like that are you really going to talk about the her pancita?
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I'll be the first to admit, I noticed Gaga's very athletic, dancer-trained bod but not for the reasons you'd think. I have a naturally slim but pear-shaped figure and I've recently developed a small gut. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Gaga has a gut at all. But the fact that a slim, and very toned celeb went on stage and showed off a stomach that doesn't look Photoshopped or straight out of a Victoria's Secret catalog really inspired me. But apparently, a ton of body shamers out there who have nothing better to do with their lives didn't feel the same way.
A few fools described Gaga's pancita as fat or "flabby." Some even went as far as calling it a "dough belly." Seriously, what is that?
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/ChonceDeLeon/status/828414675553513473
Fortunately Gaga's Little Monsters were quick to defend her on social media.
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/ChelseaBeauford/status/828416046549827585
But here's why this whole body shaming made me sick to my stomach: As a real woman–you know, not a model–I can totally relate to Gaga's body. Even on my most toned or flattest days, I can still experience a fair amount of bloating. Because again, I'm a real woman and that crap happens. Secondly, even at my thinnest, if I bend over or wear something that's cut like the high-waisted bottoms she had on, my skin folds. If you are a human woman you will absolutely experience a bit of folding or bloating even if you're a size zero–and that's a freaking fact. So the fact that Gaga was called fat for showing off her beautiful, HUMAN body is not only upsetting but straight up unhealthy.
It's these kinds of absurd body standards that get in the way of us fully loving ourselves. I'll be the first to admit that the flawless images I see on IG of perfect-looking fitness models with rock-hard abs really gets to me sometimes, especially now after having picked up a few pounds over the holidays. My bubble butt is bigger, my hips are wider, my thighs are thicker and my stomach is not as toned and flat. Just this past Sunday I was complaining to my older cousin about how uncomfortable I feel in my new curves.
I've even convinced myself that I don't deserve to dress up in cute, fitted outfits until I've slimmed down because this body isn't worth showing off. But all the body shaming surrounding Gaga's bod has made me realize that thinking like that is precisely the problem. Real women aren't perfect and it's our imperfections that make us not only beautiful but relatable.
I have to just point out that while a lot of the body shaming trolls were men, a fair amount of them were women. I can't help but wonder if these women look like runway models. Because what right does a real woman have to criticize another real woman's body, right? Seriously, if Lady Gaga is fat what does that make you?
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/prettynormalme/status/828983062323200000
By mocking a woman for not having a high fashion model bod, we are giving in to the mentality that super thin and perfect bodies are what's beautiful. And come on, I know you know that's not true. Let's practice some kindness and learn to love our bodies more–despite their imperfections. I know Gaga does!
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Image via CygnusiaFan/Twitter
