Slate Daily Feed ICYMI | Okay. Let’s Talk About "Everyone" Getting Skinny
Dec 6, 2025
Mikala Jamison, a culture writer and author of the upcoming book The Forever Project, shares her journey of recovering from an eating disorder. She discusses the surge of online scrutiny regarding celebrity bodies, sparked by films like Wicked. Jamison questions whether the obsession with thinness truly faded or if it never left. They delve into celebrity reactions, like Ariana Grande's, and the potential harm of body commentary. Ultimately, Mikala advocates for shifting discussions towards systemic issues surrounding body image and the importance of diverse, real-world experiences.
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Visibility ≠ Universal Change
- The idea that "thin is back" is more visible than universal and likely never fully went away.
- Mainstream body-positivity made inroads but didn’t erase longstanding cultural thinness ideals.
Ariana Grande's Explanation Clip
- Ariana Grande posted a video explaining past unhealthy periods and antidepressant misuse tied to earlier body appearance.
- Mikala and Kate cite that clip to show how celebrities explain body changes publicly.
Talk Systems, Not Targets
- Zoom out from individual before/after body posts and discuss system-level drivers of body culture.
- Ask who you're trying to reach and what concrete preventive message you want to send.
