The Good Place star and scene-stealer Jameela Jamil is rapidly becoming one of our favorite people. Not only does she make us laugh our faces off and tell wildly hilarious stories, the self-proclaimed “feminist-in-progress” isn’t afraid to unapologetically speak her mind and weigh in on issues facing women today. Speaking of weighing in, Jamil is the founder of the inspiring I Weigh movement, which focuses on self-worth and body positivity beyond the scale. She was also one of the inspired voices who joined us at 2019’s #BlogHer Health in Los Angeles from Jan. 24 to 25. And while we couldn’t wait to hang on every one of Jamil’s (sure to be impactful) words, she’s already said so much.
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Here are a handful of times Jameela Jamil said it just the way we all needed to hear it, because it would be nearly impossible to list all of the moments she imparted profound and often provocative words of wisdom.
When she launched I Weigh to make us “feel valuable”
She also wanted us to “see how amazing we are beyond our flesh & bones.”
And told the world what she weighs…
It includes everything from “financial independence” to “horrendous at flirting.”
…because she wanted to use her platform for good
“It was very organic. It was very from-the-heart,” Jamil told SheKnows of the I Weigh movement back in June. “I was just very, very upset and I felt like my gender was belittled yet again. And I think that a lot of people feel that way, so it just resonated with them. And the fact that it felt real and didn’t feel contrived or like a publicity stunt must have spoken to people. Then everyone just sort of joined me.”
When she revealed how she got into acting & motivated us all to live our dreams
Jamil had pretty much no acting experience at all when she moved to America to pursue the craft. She credits a lump in her breast as the “kick up the bum” she needed to follow her passions.
“And when I got that ‘all clear,’ I booked a one-way ticket to America. I left my job. I ended my lovely relationship, said goodbye to all my friends and just moved!” she explained on Today.
When she called out airbrushing (& why the practice’s days should be numbered)
In a December BBC News article, Jamil expressed her thoughts on why she thinks airbrushing should be banned.
“I would like to put airbrushing in the bin. I want it gone. I want it out of here,” Jamil said. “I think it’s a disgusting tool that has been weaponised, predominantly against women, and is responsible for so many more problems than we realise because we are blinded by the media, our culture and our society.”
When she reminded us “it’s never too late”
It is never too late to check yourself and right your wrongs. I used to be slut shamey, judgmental, and my feminism wasn’t intersectional enough. Nobody is born perfectly “woke”. Listen, read, learn, grow, change and make room for everyone. We aren’t free til ALL of us are free.
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) December 15, 2018
When she wrote about what we should be teaching young boys
I wrote a piece called “Tell Him” about all the things I hope we teach little boys. https://t.co/H5tQA02Eg9 (ps. This doesn’t mean this responsibility is only for women; it’s just a letter I’m writing specifically TO women for the book Feminists Don’t Wear Pink.)
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) December 20, 2018
“We have a lot of work to undo… Mothers, sisters and aunties, I implore you to take this little sponge, and render him sodden with humanity and an understanding of women. It will send him into this delusional world with an armour of empathy and self assurance, that a strong woman is something to be celebrated and not feared/crushed/undermined/spoken,” Jamil penned in a December blog post.
When she refused to be silenced
“Oh, I don’t care about that,” Jamil told The Guardian in a July interview when asked if she has concerns about her outspoken attitude affecting her career. “I can’t not say this because then you become a double agent for the patriarchy, which has always been my greatest fear.”
When she wasn’t afraid to take a stand against brands she feels are being irresponsible
Man, all these brands and celebrities really just want women to poo. It’s like a diarrhea special of Black Mirror. pic.twitter.com/2WicKcWtUS
— Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamil) January 13, 2019
Jameela has continued to speak out about celebrities and companies who promote weight loss teas.
When she was equally funny & poignant, touching on our obsession with appearance
“It’s fine to spend a little time on your looks. I’m wearing a suit. I bathed… yesterday. I didn’t do it today. I did it yesterday. I brushed my teeth, possibly also yesterday. But I’m here making an effort wearing some makeup. And that’s fine,” Jamil noted on PBS’ Amanpour & Company. “But it’s one-tenth of who I am. And that’s all I want is just life positivity. I Weigh is who you are, not what you look like.”
When she pointed out the constant shame women feel… and how she’s not gonna take it anymore
Jamil took to the stage at #BlogHer Health 2019 in Los Angeles and didn’t hold back when it came to calling out how women are consistently bombarded with images, media and advertising that are designed to make them feel bad about themselves. Not to mention, the double standards that come along with that.
“It’s so aggressive how pervasive it is, how it’s everywhere, it’s all around us. We’re constantly being shamed. It takes someone and something aggressive to tear that down and all I’m really doing is calling it out and showing it to everyone, because once you see it you can’t unsee it and that’s been the most amazing thing of the last couple of years of realizing that, ‘No, not shame on me. Shame on you for making me feel so bad about something men are rarely made to feel bad about,'” Jamil declared of her mission.
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