In an industry under constant scrutiny, Hollywood’s own have often faced undue criticism for their weight. Yet, some have managed to shift the public’s perspective dramatically, not just by altering their appearance but by sharing their deeply personal journeys of weight loss.
These transformations have sparked a mix of awe, support, and curiosity among fans and onlookers alike. Here are the public figures who have shared their incredible weight loss journeys and now look better than ever.
Kelly Clarkson: Overcoming Criticism with Confidence
Kelly Clarkson’s weight loss reveal in 2023 was nothing short of a sensation among her followers. Her appearance on “Fallon Tonight,” highlighted by an Instagram clip, showed a visibly slimmer Clarkson, astounding fans and followers.
The Grammy Award winner posted a picture of herself on Instagram, wearing an all-black attire which featured trousers and a semi-transparent lace blouse showing her slim physique.
The positive reactions to Clarkson’s transformation were overwhelming, with comments ranging from supportive praises like, “Revenge Body! She looks great!” one Instagram user commented. Someone else concurred, “Looking good. You look 10 years younger.”
One person exclaimed, “Guuuurl look at all that weight you’ve lost!!! So proud of you!!!!!!” Another online user wrote, “You look gorgeous! Congratulations on your weight loss journey!” “You look amazing!” said one other individual. One fan said, “Wow, you really lost a lot of weight! How did you do it?” While someone stated, “Amazing transformation. Kelly looks great.”
Despite previous criticisms, Clarkson has consistently maintained a strong, unaffected demeanor. In a 2017 interview, she expressed how such negativity rarely impacted her, attributing her resilience to her upbringing.
“It doesn’t really affect me… I come from a small town where everybody always has something to say about what you love, pray, and eat,” Clarkson remarked. Moreover, the television personality has chosen to remain unfazed by the critics concerning her appearance. This is thanks to her being playful and confident.
Still, Clarkson lamented that naysayers should refrain from commenting about a person’s appearance regardless of whether they get bothered by the snide remarks or not.
That said, a health wake-up call partly spurred the singer’s transformation. She shared on her talk show “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in January 2024 while having Kevin James as a guest, that she was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic and overweight.
Her journey was marked by adopting more active habits. “Walking in the city is quite the workout,” Clarkson stated in a January 2024 interview. A healthier diet, is also credited for her remarkable weight loss.
“I eat a healthy mix. I dropped weight because I’ve been listening to my doctor — a couple years I didn’t. And 90 percent of the time I’m really good at it because a protein diet is good for me anyway,” the songwriter admitted.
Yet, curiosity and speculation about how she achieved her look persisted, with Clarkson facing assumptions about medication use. “For all of us fighting weight, please share with us the truth of how you lost yours,” one Instagram user commented.
Another said, “Looks like you’ve been hitting the ozempic.” “Ozempic to the rescue!!!” one other person exclaimed. However, Clarkson has since rubbished the claims of using a drug to lose weight.
Melissa McCarthy: Embracing Every Size with Grace
Following Clarkson, Melissa McCarthy’s story is one of resilience and self-acceptance. Long subjected to unsolicited opinions about her weight, McCarthy has approached criticism with incredible poise, expressing pity for those who choose to spread negativity.
“I’ve been every size in the world. Parts of my twenties, I was in great shape, but I didn’t appreciate it. […] Now I feel like I have two great kids and the dreamiest husband on the planet, and everything else is just a work in progress,” she shared, highlighting her priorities and inner strength.
Recently, McCarthy stunned her Instagram followers by sharing photos of her slimmed-down figure. Fans flooded the comments section to compliment her new transformed look.
“Wow. You’re absolutely stunning. Three words. Fab. U. Lous.,” wrote one person. Another exclaimed, “Wow!!!” While someone else stated, “Oh wow she looks amazing. Good job Melissa, you look stunning.”
McCarthy’s weight loss became evident to her followers in early 2024, showcasing a transformation that garnered acclaim and support from her fanbase. At the time, she shared a photo of her and her spouse posing together, in which she donned a shimmering jumpsuit, showing off her physique.
Followers were quick to praise her with one person writing, “Wow you have lost a lot of weight! You look amazing.” “You look incredible! Always beautiful no matter the shape or size. Always bringing the queen vibes,” commented one user. Someone else gushed, “Wow just wow you look fantastic, but then again I always thought no matter what weight you were, you always looked fantastic.”
McCarthy’s approach to dealing with body image has always been grounded in self-love, regardless of her size, showcasing a message that resonates with many. She wanted to shed the weight to be healthy and not necessarily settle for Hollywood beauty standards.
Keely Shaye Smith: A Public Transformation
Pierce Brosnan’s wife, Keely Shaye Smith, also made headlines with her dramatic weight loss. Previously criticized for her weight, Smith appeared alongside Brosnan at the Oscar Wilde Awards in March 2024, revealing a significantly slimmer figure.
The transformation prompted a flurry of supportive comments, marking a stark contrast to the negativity she had faced.“Keely looks fantastic. Congratulations on the weight loss,” commented a user. “How much weight Keely lost!” another chimed in. “Lost soo much weight,” a commenter agreed.
“They look awesome, especially his wife,” posted a user. “What a great Bond between them. Awesome,” another commenter remarked. “Looking gorgeous and healthy,” a user wrote. While other people gushed over Smith’s new appearance, one individual recalled how she was initially treated, asking, “Didn’t they make fun of her for being overweight?”
Most recently, Smith stepped out again attending her famous husband’s art exhibition titled “So Many Dreams” in Palm, Desert. She stole the spotlight with her new look as she posed beside her spouse at the event leaving social media users in awe of her body transformation.
“Keely looks amazing. You [two] are [a] really beautiful couple,” said one Instagram follower. “Your wife looks great,” one individual commented on Brosnan’s social media upload.
Meanwhile, Brosnan, ever supportive, has always prioritized their emotional bond over physical appearance. “[…] Watching someone grow up with you and grow old with you is a very spiritual journey. To watch each other change … whatever it may be, the hair, the waist. But it’s the love in the heart,” Brosnan reflected on their relationship, emphasizing the depth of their connection beyond physical changes.
Oprah Winfrey: A Journey of Self-Acceptance
Oprah Winfrey’s public struggle with weight has been a defining aspect of her career. Her weight has been highly discussed in the media including magazines and on her very own hit talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” that aired for 25 years.
“It was public sport to make fun of me for 25 years. I have been blamed and shamed, and I blamed and shamed myself.” Winfrey revealed in a December 2023 interview.
She even landed on acerbic fashion critics Mr. Blackwell’s list which left her gutted. “I was on the cover of some magazine and it said, ‘Dumpy, Frumpy and Downright Lumpy.’ I didn’t feel angry. I felt sad. I felt hurt. I swallowed the shame. I accepted that it was my fault,” Winfrey recounted.
Having faced her share of harsh criticism, the media mogul’s mentality concerning maintaining a healthy weight long-term has since shifted. Most importantly, she has rid herself of the constant shame she felt because of how she looked then.
In March 2024, she recalled starving herself for five months before bringing out the wagon of fat on her now-defunct talk show in 1988. During that period the famed host shed 67 pounds following a liquid diet and soon after, gained the weight back.
Following a knee injury in 2021, the philanthropist challenged herself by going hiking and setting distance goals weekly. “I could eventually hike three to five miles every day and a 10-mile straight-up hike on weekends. I felt stronger, more fit, and more alive than I’d felt in years,” she explained.
As for how she consumes her meals, Winfrey shared that she has her last dish at 4 p.m. and drinks a lot of water per day. The producer’s approach to weight loss has evolved into a holistic strategy, incorporating regular exercise, dietary changes, and medication.
“It’s everything,” Winfrey stated, addressing the multifaceted nature of her journey toward health. Her openness about adding weight-loss medication to her regimen marks a significant moment in her narrative, challenging the stigma around medical aids for weight management.
Winfrey’s story culminates in a powerful message of redemption and vitality, having climbed a mountain she once only dreamed of conquering. Her physical and mental transformation is a journey of profound personal growth and self-discovery.
Winfrey’s longtime significant other, Stedman Graham, gushed about her in a May 2019 interview, saying, “I was always attracted to who she was as a person. I’m so lucky and fortunate to be with her. It’s a blessing,” he said.
The Hollywood couple has been together for over three decades. Winfrey posted a picture of the pair in February 2016 on Facebook, showing the lovebirds warmly posing together and captioned it, “Stepping out with my Valentine of almost 30yrs!”
These celebrities, through their personal stories of transformation, challenge and change the narratives around body image, showcasing resilience, health, and self-acceptance. Their journeys highlight the importance of kindness, both from others and towards oneself, in the face of public scrutiny.
