So now more than ever, it feels necessary to take a look back at the beautiful, inspired, forward-thinking campaigns and imagery that did show up in our social media feeds, on YouTube and across the internet this year.
A video posted by Philomena Kwao (@philomenakwao) on
These ads, which notably included a 56-year-old in a bikini, ran in the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Swimsuitsforall was also responsible for running the issue's first-ever plus-size ad in 2015.
Rachel Roy's first curve line debuted in February. "A big part of developing this line was about listening," she said. "Listening to the marketplace, listening to what was going on in culture, and listening to the women who have been asking us to do this for years."
The rad feminist ad, which debuted in September, features the likes of Hari Nef, Lauren Hutton and Jillian Harvey showing us that being a "lady" means doing whatever the hell you want.
Nike made waves in July by posting this image of Elesser, finally making its social media presence a bit more inclusive and helping normalize the idea that women of all shapes and sizes care about fitness.
The powerful ad, released in September, "highlighted the ways in which the beauty industry marginalizes women of color" ― beginning with the use of the term "for normal hair."
L to R: Robyn Lawley, Charli Howard, Nicola Griffin, Jennie Runk, Denise Bidot, Nathalia Novaes, Erica Krauter, Philomena Kwao, Sabina Karlsson, Emme, Iskra Lawrence and Sasha Exeter.
Anastasia Garcia
Photographer Anastasia Garcia snapped models of all different shapes and sizes for this powerful shoot as a "call to action" for the media to be more inclusive.
The brand announced in October that James Charles, a 17-year-old Youtube makeup artist pictured above with Katy Perry, is its first-ever male Cover Girl.
Charli Howard, who won our hearts with an open letter slamming body standards at her former modeling agency, co-founded this body positive campaign shot in September.
Modcloth solidified its reputation as one of the most inclusive brands out there with yet another swimsuit shoot featuring its employees as well as some of its shoppers.
Bobbi Brown, who announced Monday she is leaving her namesake beauty company, went out with a beautifully diverse celebration of the brand's 25th anniversary.
