Zoe's Wise Words on Body Positivity

Pre-baby bump, Zoe Saldana bared (mostly) all for the naked issue of Women’s Health U.K. The excerpts E! Online posted didn’t skimp on the skimpy pictures (or the weird female body hang-ups. Let us note: side-butt — and some cheek action — is totally cool, but for the love of God, please make sure that side-boob is mostly covered!) But assuming you can tear your eyes away from her gorgeous bod, Zoe Saldana also imparted some important body positivity wisdom. Let’s take note, shall we?

Don’t worry, be happy

"I do feel beautiful in a way that even when I was working out a whole lot, I sometimes didn't," Saldana told the magazine. "Because there have been times that I was really slender and I didn't like that I sometimes looked a little too muscular and flat chested — you'll never be completely happy, so at the end of the day it's like, 'Fuck it. Just be happy, regardless.'"

Can I get “Fuck it. Just be happy, regardless,” emblazoned on a t-shirt? (Coffee mug? Pencil pouch? My body?) Let’s also take the time to reiterate that there are about a million different standards of beauty out there and they’re all great. Getting hung up on one might mean you’re ignoring another.

Saldana's quote also happens to provide me with my new favorite gym excuse. My (imaginary) trainer can’t argue with “Zoe Saldana says she's happier now than when she was when she working out a lot so...” now, can she?

We’re all a little insecure

“I do look in the mirror and see things I don’t want,” Saldana said.

Look, Zoe Saldana is a beautiful woman. In fact, let’s take a moment and marvel at her beauty together.

Yup, hot stuff.

But let's not take this admission as a signal to throw up our hands and say "If she's insecure, there's no hope for the rest of us." Instead, let's realize something: In our Photoshop-distorted world, what we don’t talk about so much is that we also face a barrage of “you’re beautiful” and “everybody is perfect the way they are.” And that’s great — it’s how I find the strength to look at the Victoria’s Secret catalogue every month — but at times, it can feel more like, “love yourself, dammit.” But everybody’s entitled to a little insecurity now and then, and its important to remember there’s nothing wrong with us for feeling that way.

Your body = your business

My favorite part of the interview was what Saldana didn’t say. She got through the entire interview without confirming her pregnancy. Now that she’s made the rounds to promote her new film, Guardians of the Galaxy, her pregnancy has essentially confirmed itself, but that doesn’t mean she has to talk about it. And who can blame her, with the media essentially turning her into a walking incubator ever since she started showing?

But the point is, you get to control the conversation about your body. If you don’t want to talk about it, don’t — no explanations or excuses required.

Saldana's full interview hits shelves tomorrow. Let's keep our fingers crossed for more love-your-body insight.

Images: Getty Images; Women's Health U.K.