Allison Kimmey Is Encouraging Girls of All Ages to “Just Do You, Babe!”

Ladies First highlights women and girls who are making the world better for the rest of us.

Achieving self-love and embracing self-care isn’t always easy, given social media and the celebrity-driven world we live in, but it is often especially difficult for young girls and teens. Which is exactly what author, body-positive mom, and self-love expert Allison Kimmey is on a mission to change.

“I grew up a very shy and overweight child after some trauma left me very closed off and using food as comfort,” she admits in an email. “I felt unworthy to get involved in activities because I was always fearful of what others would think of me. I missed out on many experiences and my self-hate compounded through college, and into my first years as a wife and mother.”

Then, at the age of 24, she had her big eureka moment: She became pregnant with a baby girl. The thought of having a daughter grow up with the same body-image and self-esteem challenges that she herself faced snapped Kimmey into action.

“I didn’t want her to be like me,” Kimmey remembers thinking. “In that moment, I realized that something had to change. Shortly after that, I began my journey to finding self-love.”

It’s a journey she’s chosen to document on Instagram in an effort to inspire self-love in others. With 182k followers and counting, several of her empowering, honest posts have already gone viral. She most recently made headlines in February when her now-six-year-old daughter decided to get rid of her Curvy Barbie.

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I felt a sense of ease from so many of my lovely followers after I shared my sizes. I realized I don’t really share those numbers very often here, because well none of us are defined by them in the least. But I do honor that it helps us all relate to one another and see ourselves in others and that helps us validate that loving oneself is possible no matter what our size (or any other physical trait that tends to define us in society) So yes! Right now I’m a size 18 on top, and a size 20 on the bottom. Sizes are subjective as you probably have experienced that nearly every brand has different sizing! But I use Lane Bryant’s size chart. I am 5’10’’ and have always been tall - tallest in my class through grade school! I wear a size 8.5 or 9 in shoes but have wide ankles and calf’s so hardly ever fit in shoes with ankle straps (unless I make a new set of holes) and boots - forget it! I wear a 36DDD, but used to be a 34b. I had a breast augmentation in 2014. So no I don’t usually have to wear a bra - and this would be why they still look perky. I have naturally light hair, but get it colored lighter every 6-8 weeks. I have eyelash extensions because I love them. The point of sharing all that is really to say that despite ALL OF THAT INFORMATION - none of it actually really matters. I learned that I was no different, or more valuable as a size 2/4 as I am now as a size 18/20. I learned that I was no more sexy with uneven saggy breasts as I am now with fuller proportioned breasts bc my conviction in my self worth and my confidence when I own my body are what makes me attractive to ME. And in the end - your body, your rules. You get to decide how you’re going to see it, with love or with hate. But might I say, babe, hating it hasn’t gotten you anywhere good yet, has it? Give me an amen 🙌🏻🙌🏻 if you’re feelin this post! Just do you babes! Xoxo Allie _________ Swimsuit is @gabifresh for @swimsuitsforall

A post shared by ALLIE 🌸 Just Do You, Babe! (@allisonkimmey) on

“At first, I wasn’t sure if she had just thrown it away by accident,” the mom admits. “When she explained that she threw away this Barbie in particular because ‘Her arms aren’t right; Her legs are too big; She doesn’t look like my other Barbies; she doesn’t fit into any of the clothes except this one outfit’ I knew it was something I needed to carefully address.”

The unexpected incident served to highlight an important fact for Kimmey: “Even though I am a body-positive advocate and self-loving mother, outside influences, down to the toys our children play with, leave them with an impression that being bigger is bad,” she says. “This interaction with my daughter lit a new fire in me to continue the work I do!”

That work includes regularly sharing empowering messages on her Instagram page, as well as a free e-book, Get the Body You Love Now By Loving the Body You Have!, and a nonprofit, called GirlPhoria, which she founded in 2015. With a mission to “empower teen girls through self-love, self-care, and self-discovery,” GirlPhoria organizes live workshops, therapy projects, and even yoga and pilates classes, all aimed at starting a healthy conversation about body image, mental health and growing up.

The busy mama has also just finished writing her first body-positive children’s book, titled Glitter Stripes, “a phrase my daughter and I created after having a conversation about my stretch marks about a year ago,” explains Kimmey. “She had asked me what they were and instead of responding with something negative to explain them, I decided to lovingly explain how I had received these marks and revel in the beauty of their sparkle.”

As for her top piece of advice for anyone struggling with self-love, Kimmey keeps it simple: “Just do you. I have said it on the darkest days when I didn’t even know who ‘you’ was, and I say it now in my most joyous days,” she declares. “When we live our lives authentically, follow our hearts, and let the expectations of others fall away, then we are truly living. So, just do you, babes!” YES!

What do you think of Kimmey’s approach to self-love and parenting? Tweet us @BritandCo.

(Photos via Allison Kimmey)

Blake Lively's known for many things — her illustrious career (come on, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), her hilarious husband, her gorgeous kids — but I love how much value she places on her female friendships. She's a well-known Taylor Swift bestie, but she's no clout chaser. Blake values — and seemingly adds value to — all her beautiful friendships with other women.

And while I could gush about that all day, she recently solidified this admirable character trait in an Instagram post. Keep reading to see what miss Serena van der Woodsen herself had to say!

www.instagram.com

The iconic actress wrote that she recently got "maybe the best compliment" of her life. She explained that someone called her a "crown straightener," or "A woman going around straightening all the women’s crowns around her."

As a queen herself, it's clear this was incredibly impactful. Blake wrote, "It meant so much to me because it’s those invisible things people see that make us all feel best. I learned that we’re all sparkling leaders 👑, stronger together, from ALL the women in my life, blood and chosen. I am surrounded by crown straighteners. This weekend alone was packed with that empowering female energy. When I looked back at these pics, I saw it all in action. And it made me feel so lucky and loved."

She continued celebrating the women around her in the caption, shouting out It Ends With Usauthor Colleen Hoover, novelist Tarryn Fisher, her mother-in-law Tammy Stewart Reynolds, and more! She even managed to shoutout the men "who show up for us too." It's clear that Blake was feeling — and sharing — the love!

Friends and fans alike took notice of this moment, sharing love and comments galore. Fellow actress, Mary Steenburgen wrote, "People who know you know that your extraordinary exterior doesn't even compare to your kind, generous and hilarious soul." I may not actually know Blake, but that's all I really need to know to understand the kind of friend she really is!

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Header image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.

My best friends mean the world to me, and though I wish I could give them the world, this year, I just want to get them gifts that are as special as our friendship. Whether it’s a personalized pendant, a cute skincare set, or the lip shade they simply can’t stop talking about, I want them to know just how much I care about their companionship! Thus, I’ve curated the ultimate list of gifts for best friends to help you gift your besties something they’ll truly love, especially if it comes from you. These gifts are so good, I really want them for myself, too.

Our 40 favorite gifts for best friends:

Scroll on to see the absolute best gifts for best friends to give in 2024!

Amazon

1. Scent Beauty by Sabrina Carpenter Cherry Baby Eau de Parfum

Leave it to Sabrina Carpenter to influence my list of gifts for best friends. Her "Cherry Baby" scent carries sultry notes of vanilla, peony, cherries, and chocolate, which is the perfect aroma for a night out with the girls.

Summer Fridays

2. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm

This lip balm is viral for a reason. Your besties' lips deserve all the instant moisture, color, and shine this tube provides. This brown sugar shade looks decadent AF, but you can also snag it in other fun 'flavors' like iced coffee and mint.

Urban Outfitters

3. Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera

For the one that's always documenting the friend group's antics, they'll enjoy taking this unique, screen-free digicam on nights out, weekend trips, and cozy nights in! It captures film-style photos (without the time-consuming film photography process), and it can be used over and over again since it's rechargeable.

SeaVees

4. SeaVees Hayward Platform Shoes

Moccasin-style shoes are super popular this winter. I love how comfortable SeaVees' shoes are, so I might just have to share the love with my besties this holiday season... and snag a pair for myself so we can match, of course!

Dieux

5. Dieux Angel Face Cleanser + Moisturizer Bundle

Dieux is one of my go-to skincare brands for effective products that still take it easy on my sensitive skin. Their Baptism cleanser, part of this giftable duo, provides a nice clean without stripping any moisture from my skin. I also use their Instant Angel moisturizer religiously in the wintertime since things tend to get real dry. I'd say you can confidently gift this set to besties of any skin type.

Anthropologie

6. By Anthropologie Monogram Heart Locket Necklace

Personalized gifts will always feel special. Kick this gift idea up a notch by inserting a little pic of you and your BFF in the locket before wrapping and handing it over!

Urban Outfitters

7. Baggu Mini Nylon Shoulder Bag

I carry this Baggu bag just about everywhere I go. It's perfect for happy hours or dinners since it's small and not too much of a hassle to tow along, but don't let its size fool you: this baby can fit a lot. Your most stylish best friend will be wearing it the moment they open their gift!

Target

8. Jingle & Mingle 5 Days of Rosé Wine Set

You can never go wrong with rosé, baby! This gift set carries 5 personal-sized bottles of different varieties for them to sip on around the holidays.

Kulfi Beauty

9. Kulfi Beauty All Night Out Eye Set

This eye makeup set is complete with a bold eyeliner shade and a shimmery pot of eyeshadow. You get to choose the exact shades of each before purchasing, so this is truly one of the most fun personalized gift ideas. The set also comes with a funky pair of mismatched hair clips – so cute!

Dame

10. Dame Massage Oil Candle

This soothing candle melts down into a sweet-smelling massage oil that's easily dispensable, thanks to the pointed spout on the glass. This is a great gift for your single and partnered pals alike, whether they're using it to wind down themselves or for sexy time with their S.O.!

Life is Good

11. Life is Good 'I Deserve A Little Treat' Boxy Crusher Tee

Everyone deserves a little treat. Wrap up this awesome (and comfy!) tee alongside your bestie's favorite snack, sweet treat, or freshly-baked dessert to totally nail their gift this year!

Compartés

12. Compartés Pistachio Sea Salt Chocolate Truffles

These aesthetically-pleasing truffles could be the perfect sweet treat in question!

Nordstrom

13. OSEA Super Glow Body Set

I know anyone in my close friends circle would be happy to be gifted some nice skincare goodies. This luxe set from OSEA comes with a body wash, oil, and serum to keep skin looking and feeling happy!

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In a world full of eerily real-looking TikTok filters showing us what we could look like if only, authenticity shines like a beacon of hope. Millie Bobby Brown, the actress celebrated for her role in Stranger Things, recently lit up our Instagram feeds with a powerful message that resonated far beyond her 63.5 million followers. In a refreshing moment of transparency, Millie shared two photos that left us inspired and snapping our fingers in awe of her realness.

Image via @milliebobbybrown / Instagram

The post, shared yesterday, began with a captivating image of Millie Bobby Brown, looking like the Hollywood superstar she is, donning natural glam makeup. Her flawless skin, sparkling eyes, and radiant smize were a sight to behold. But this was just the beginning of her message to the world.

Scrolling left, we were met with a bare-faced Millie, sporting a patch of blemishes. Gone were the filters, the photo editing, and the retouching. Here was the real Millie, looking ethereal– embracing her “imperfections” with grace and confidence. Standing before a global audience of millions and essentially saying, “Here I am,” is a brave feat, but her comments were flooded by celebrities and fans alike shilling out rounds of applause.

Image via @milliebobbybrown / Instagram

Millie Bobby Brown’s post is a direct calling card to Gen-Z’s golden standard for authenticity–shining as an example of embracing one’s vulnerability and breaking the mold of society’s evolving yet stringent beauty standards. The young actress courageously stood before her global audience, showcasing that even celebrities have skin that isn’t always camera-ready.

By sharing her unfiltered self with the world, Millie invites us to embrace our own blemishes, be they physical or emotional, and to take pride in our individuality. In a world that often encourages conformity, her post is a valuable lesson in self-love.We are enough just as we are, blemishes and all. It's time we embrace our unfiltered, authentic selves with the same confidence and self-love that Millie has so beautifully exemplified.

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Header image by Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Our favorite dancing queens (Meryl Streep included) might be returning to the big screen for a third encore of Mamma Mia! and we’re already rewatching the first two movie musicals in preparation.

In an interview with Deadline in May of 2023, Mamma Mia! franchise creator and producer Judy Craymer said a third movie musical is in "earliest stages." She also shared that she has come up with a way to bring Meryl Streep back again.

"I don't want to over-egg it," she said of the unofficial news, "but I know there's a trilogy there…and I do think Meryl should come back, and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna."

"Of course I want to do it," Streep said during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival (via Deadline). Sounds promising to us!

Is Mamma Mia 3 happening?

Universal Pictures

Yes, Mamma Mia 3 is in its early planning stages! Christine Baranski just told The Hollywood Reporter that she's met with producer Judy Kramer, and that Kramer has plans for the third movie. "She gave me the narrative plotline of how it’s going to happen," Baranski says. "That’s all I can say! But, it’s not like, 'Oh, I wish it could happen!' Judy Kramer makes things happen. She made number two happen, and it was a phenomenal hit. I wouldn’t put it past Judy Kramer to get everybody back together."

Universal Pictures

A third installation was first mentioned way back in 2020, during a Collider interview with Mamma Mia! star Amanda Seyfried. Seyfried said she was on board — and at the time, she thought the rest of the star-studded cast would be too.

"Listen, every single person in that movie would say yes in a heartbeat because we want to hang out with each other," Seyfried told Collider at the time. "That's what we talked about last time, like did we ever think that we'd end up here again on an Island in Croatia?"

When will Mamma Mia 3 come out?

Universal Pictures

We don't have an official answer about when to expect this highly anticipated sequel. The project is in the "earliest stages," according to creator and producer, Judy Craymer. Cher also revealed to Entertainment Weekly that everyone is "talking about it," but she doesn't "know when they're going to do it."

Has casting information been shared about Mamma Mia 3?

Jonathan Prime/Universal Studios

While nothing's been made official, Amanda Seyfried just said something that made my heart skip a beat. She told ABC News she loves Sabrina Carpenter's music and dropped this admission: "If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen."

But before she admitted that, the actress said something else that made me raise my eyebrows. "Everybody says it’s gonna happen, but I mean, I haven’t seen a script."

Cher is also eager to return to the beloved franchise and is rooting for Meryl to make an appearance again. "I keep saying, 'Meryl, you've got to come back,'" she said (via Entertainment Weekly). She also said she's told her, "'It'll be fun. You'll have a good time. You'll be able to sing.'"

I don't know what it'll take, but hope someone gets a script in Amanda Seyfried, Cher, and Meryl Streep's hands ASAP!

What is the first Mamma Mia about?

Universal Pictures

The first film follows Donna (Streep) and Sophie (Seyfried) as mother and daughter living on a remote Greek island. When Sophie is about to marry Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sets out to learn who her real father is after discovering it could be one of three men (played by Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, and Colin Firth).

Who does the second Mamma Mia follow?

Universal Pictures / NBCUniversal

Mamma Mia 2takes viewers back to 1979, where young Donna (Lily James) embarks on a series of adventures throughout Europe following her Oxford University graduation. On her journeys, she makes the acquaintances of Harry, Bill and Sam – the latter whom she falls in love with. In the present day, pregnant Sophie dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her mother's old friends and boyfriends on a Greek island island.

TBH, we’re pretty happy that Mamma Mia! is far from over, and we can’t wait to see what the franchise has in store for us next. Stay updated on all the latest entertainment news with Brit + Co.

This post has been updated.

There's nothing ~normal~ about how much we love Normal People's Paul Mescal & Daisy Edgar-Jones. While it turns out we're not getting a Normal People season 2 (yet), the two actors are starring in some of 2024's biggest blockbusters (Twisters and Gladiator II, namely), and we've been soaking up their presences ever since.

Paul recently exhibited his ongoing friendship with Daisy at the Gladiator II premiere in Los Angeles. While he approached Brittany Broski on the red carpet for an interview, he recognized her from her recent 'Royal Court' interview with Daisy:

"You were with Daisy!" he chimed in excitingly. We just love this power duo!

Enda Bowe/Hulu

Daisy Edgar-Jones also revealed that she's remained incredibly close to Paul Mescal after their time on Hulu's Normal People. "Paul is one of my lifetime best friends," she says. "He’s an incredibly grounded person and I am too, I think, so it’s nice to be able to have those touchstones and those people you can laugh about it with and be lighthearted with. We met when I was 20 and Paul was 22; I’m so excited to see where we’ll be at 32, 42, and what life will bring us."

But the coolest thing is that not only is Normal People special for Paul and Daisy, but they've also been able to see the effect of the show on its fans.

"The thing I love people saying the most is, 'It made me contact my ex,'" Daisy continues. "Especially when much older people say, 'I just wanted to reach out to the person I was with when I was 17 just to say you were a big part of my history and thanks for being part of who I am, the tapestry of my life.' And that I really love, because I’m a massive romantic."

Daisy recently revealed they bonded over their training for Twisters and Gladiator II.

"I did running lessons — isn’t that crazy?" she told Variety. "Actually, Paul [Mescal] and I were laughing about it, because he was training for 'Gladiator II' and I was training for 'Twisters,' and obviously he had to be huge and I was like, 'Don’t worry, I’m going to be right up there with you.'"

Let us know your favorite Normal People moment in the comments and check out 5 Leading Ladies We'd Love To See In A Paul Mescal Rom-Com.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.