Demi Lovato’s life has been an open book – from their teenage days as an actor on Disney to the musical megastar they are today, it’s almost as if we have grown up with them. Their life has been a rollercoaster, to say the least – and what makes the pop icon so loved across the world, the very fact that their fans have lived their experiences with them. They are never afraid to have their powerful voice heard – both on stage and otherwise. On their birthday, here’s looking at 5 reasons that make Demi’s authenticity touch a million hearts.
1. Beacon of Body Positivity
Demi admitted to having body confidence issues in early days of their career, which in turn affected their mental and physical health. Since then, the star has worked hard to reach a point of body acceptance, and continues to advocate the issue. They frequently take to Instagram to express self love and body positivity, and urge followers to feel the same: “I’m not stoked on my appearance BUT I am appreciative of it and sometimes that’s the best I can do. I hope to inspire someone to appreciate their body today too.
2. Female Solidarity and Empowerment
Demi has never shied away from speaking up for women and having their voice heard. Their friendship with Ariana Grande radiates positivity, and they’re often seen cheering on each other via their social media, which is empowering in a competitive industry where artists are constantly pitted against each other. Demi also focuses their brand collaborations with women-run brands, such as Kate Hudson’s athletic label Fabletics. In 2020, they used their platform and brand collaboration #Demi4Fabletics, to raise funds supporting frontline workers working through COVID.
3. Queer Awareness and Support
As a part and ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, Demi is a huge supporter of the youth. In 2017, they made headlines when they walked the red carpet at the AMAs with Danica Roem, a transgender politician from Virginia. In 2016, Demi and Nick Jonas also cancelled an entire leg of their tour to take a stand against anti-LQBTQ laws. A glance through their Instagram is enough to attest to the fact that they care deeply about the rights of this community. Earlier this year, Demi announced they are non-binary, and changed pronouns from she/her to they/them.
4. Mental Health Advocacy
During the pandemic Demi often expressed how important it is for people to have access to help when needed. As someone who has struggled with mental health, the issue is close to their heart, thus their advocacy of the same has been a huge part of their life. In 2020, they committed to raising funds for mental health hotlines for those struggling with quarantine, and also partnered with Mental Health Fund- an organisation for crisis counselling. Their song ‘It’s Ok Not To Be Ok’ also seeks to remove the stigma around mental health.
5. Honesty With Fans
Demi’s authenticity with fans is something that sets them apart from others. They have always been transparent about their struggles, setbacks and achievements. In their latest tell-all docuseries, Dancing With The Devil, they have gone all out about their life from body confidence, sexual assault, eating disorders, cardiac arrests, substance abuse- where fans got a deep insight of the difficult moments in the music sensation’s life.
