Her positive body image is refreshing, but I hope she can hold onto it. It seems like a lot of "heavier" actresses start off in Hollywood with this kind of positive attitude and then end up joining the latest diet craze after the Hollywood culture wears them down.

I love her! Her voice is fantastic! I think she's got a great attitude about her body. It's strange though, but it seems to me - and I really don't want this to be construed as racist, because that's not where I'm coming from AT ALL - that, in Hollywood/popular culture - it's a lot 'easier'/more acceptable for black or hispanic women to be (for lack of a better word) "bigger" than it is for white or asian women. Just something I've noticed. Hope she stays awesome!

I agree kimmie. I've noticed that as well.

Isn't it unfortunate that someone with this much talent even feels the need to defend her body shape. She deserves the spotlight a lot more than some of the size 0 "singers" out there...

Ok, I can totally understand where these women come from, defending their bodies; but shouldn't they be concerned for their own health? It's nice to see that they are happy with themselves, but there really is more to weight than just how you look, and people seem to keep forgetting that.

I am all for body confidence, and I think we need to see more actresses that are a healthy size. Sometimes I worry, though, that in promoting actresses who aren't unnaturally thin, we embrace other unhealthy body types. Of course, I am not Amber Riley's doctor or trainer or even friend, so maybe she exercises and keeps a healthy diet and 16 is a healthy size for her ... but it wouldn't be a healthy size for most women.

To me, health and vanity are two separate things. I think if she ate a healthy diet and exercised regularly, she would lose weight and be healthier, which would be a good thing. But, I totally agree with her quote - I think it's great that she is not defined by her size. Also, accepting herself as she is now and being happy does not mean that she has to stay the exact same size. In fact, that's her whole point. I think this is a great attitude to have, so I likewise find her confidence to be refreshing.

She has a great voice and I like her positive attitude but I doubt she is very healthy if she is a size 16 particularly at such a young age. I also wouldn't want her to join the latest Hollywood diet fad but diet and exercise are good for everyone. However if she happy with her body and health then it doesn't affect me any and I will continue to enjoy her voice on Glee.

She is young, she is still probably figuring the whole health issue out. But she is much more likely to lose weight (if she so chooses) in a healthy way if she loves herself as she is then if she wants to jump out of her skin.

Good for her. Finally someone who is okay with it. We need more Amber Riley's and Kelly Clarkson's!

cg130-- I don't mean this to be racist and I hope it doesn't come off that way, but maybe black/hispanic girls just have more self confidence when it comes to things like that. Maybe they realize and genuinely believe that they're not defined by their size and don't feel as much pressure to be stick thin because they actually LIKE themselves. Just a thought. From a black woman who is not full figured and who has a white best friend who is not full figured but thinks she is.

Anonymous #10-

One thing I've noticed in black/hispanic cultures, is that larger/curvy/whatever you want to call it women are more likely to be considered culturally attractive and are far more accepting of all types of sizes

first i think there are a lot of stereotypes about black, white, spanish, and asian going around. if you have to start off your statement with the disclaimer "i don't mean to be racist" then you probably are being racist and ignorant to boot. there are black and spanish women who are anorexic and bulimic and there are white and asian women who are happy being a size 24. can we stop generalizing please.

as for amber riley, her voice is amazing and i'm glad that she doesn't have a problem accepting her body in size 0 hollyweird, she doesn't look particularly healthy. i think if she adopted a healthy diet and exercise plan she could take some of the extra weight off.

What I have to say has more to do with our discussion than Amber RIley in particular. I am always happy to hear of actresses or celebrities that are confident with their body types. It strikes me, however, that there are more and more extreme body images in the media for those proverbial impressionable young girls.

Ultimately, I think we would benefit most from confident women in the spotlight with healthy body types - not "normal" like so many call for. Normal in this country is large and, largely, unhealthy. Confidence and being comfortable in one's own skin is hugely important, but obesity is a more grave problem. As a society, I believe we need to be focusing more than we are on healthy eating and health promotion.

I honestly don't think this constant talk about celebrities' weight is beneficial at all, even when it's to say that size doesn't matter and as long as you're healthy, yada yada... If you're talking about it, it matters. It obviously matters more than all the topics celebs could be talking about. It just feeds society's obsession with weight and, consequently, the insecurity of young girls.

You can be a size 16 and still be perfectly healthy. I'm a 16 and my doc says I'm healthier than a lot of his "thin" patients. Blood pressure, pulse rate, cholesterol, etc. are all good. This is the weight I can maintain healthily.