TAKE UP SPACE, Y'ALL

Plus-size supermodel and activist Holliday empowers readers to reject traditional beauty norms and love themselves, inside and out.

Holliday, whose body-positive “Eff Your Beauty Standards” social media campaign went viral, acknowledges her commitment to striving to make “the world a better and safer place for folks in larger bodies” and the pride she takes in being “part of a collective of people who have helped shift a generation,” particularly since she grew up without positive role models who looked like her. This work, which Holliday co-wrote with YA author Coon, draws on the expertise of four consultants with diverse backgrounds and professions, and urges teens to practice self-acceptance. The material is divided into two parts: “Love Your Outer You” and “Love Your Inner You.” Some sections encourage readers to become aware of and challenge the stereotypes they hold about others based on identity labels relating to gender, religion, social class, and other factors. Holliday and Coon strive to include language and content that will engage people of many genders, styles, and cultures. The fun fonts and graphic design, short segments (frequently divided into bullet points or numbered lists), and style and personality quizzes peppered throughout mean the book may be most appealing to younger teens. Even as the work addresses difficult topics like disordered eating and food insecurity, the tone remains upbeat, focusing on messages of kindness and confidence.

A breezy, accessible, and uplifting guide to body positivity.