Danielle Brooks Opens Up About Being a Body Positivity Role Model

“Orange Is the New Black” star Danielle Brooks is appearing on the cover of Shape Magazine, and the actress and singer is getting real in the issue about how she's become an influential example for young women.

Danielle spoke to the magazine about her status as a body-positive activist, explaining that she's actively using her position to encourage fans to embrace themselves and practice self-love. The 29-year-old said, "I began to realize the impact of my voice when the first season of "Orange Is the New Black" dropped. I started to see girls use my red-carpet looks as inspiration for their prom dresses. I began to see my interview quotes on social media. I realized that I could be what I wished for as a young girl, for someone else. I wanted someone in the industry, who I felt was a reflection of me, to scream from the mountaintops, 'I love my body! I can accomplish whatever I want in the exact body God created me to be in!'”

Danielle elucidated on finding her voice, adding, “When you let your light shine, it not only gives others the permission to do the same but opens up a world of unknown opportunities and joys for you as well.”

The Grammy-winning performer broke down when talking about what being on the cover of Shape means to her. Danielle said through tears in a video on Instagram, “This is a big deal because I feel like the universe, the way the world works, it has built these invisible bullets to bully us in telling us who we're supposed to be and what we're supposed to look like. I've always had this desire to prove people wrong. To say, this body that I'm in is enough.”

Danielle is expecting her first child and discussed the changes her body's gone through with Shape. She described the experience by revealing, “There's so much beauty in my body taking new shape every week, and it's been quite a joy to know that I get to bring another life into this world."