Jennifer Hudson is emerging as a source of inspiration

Jennifer Hudson is emerging as a source of inspiration for grieving families worldwide, but this plus-sized diva has been a living example of full-figured beauty in the entertainment industry ever since her bout on ‘American Idol.’

The entertainment industry is notorious for selecting pin-thin models, actors and spokespeople, thereby promoting unhealthy body standards. Jennifer Hudson is one of the shining exceptions to this unfair rule, as she entered the industry based on her talents first and her looks second.

The following articles each celebrate bigger body shapes in different ways. There’s full-figured individuals filling roles traditionally reserved for flawless bodies, like Jennifer Hudson as an American Idol and the Florida Marlins’ Manatees.

There are also moments where the entertainment industry has reversed its traditional preference for super-skinny women in favor of more realistic body shapes, like Angelina Jolie’s bigger body double and the ‘Transformer’ producers’ request of Megan Fox to gain weight. While Jordin Sparks became the first plus-sized female American Idol, Jennifer Hudson could easily have filled that role as well.