Brazilian Body Positivity Movement Declines as Influencers Seek Weight Loss

The body positivity movement, which gained global traction about a decade ago and peaked in Brazil between 2019 and 2022, is now losing ground. Analysts link the decline to weaker diversity policies, reduced brand support for inclusive campaigns, and a shrinking presence of plus‑size bodies on runways.

Key Brazilian figures have publicly left the movement to pursue weight loss. Influencer Beta Boechat, a co‑founder of the Brazilian project Corpo Livre, announced she underwent bariatric surgery, saying, “I reached 220 kg and lost my mobility 100 %.” She now faces criticism for abandoning the stance she once championed.

Similarly, journalist and influencer Alexandra Gurgel, another leading voice of Corpo Livre, said the militancy became exhausting and she plans to lose weight using new appetite‑suppressing drugs. She reflected that “as with all militancies, things eventually get lost.” Their departures underscore a broader retreat of the movement in Brazil.