Céline Leboeuf is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Affiliate Faculty in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Florida International University. In her research, she tackles important questions about beauty and the body today. How are standards about physical appearance shaped by gender and race? What does it feel like to be perceived as racially ambiguous? To be sexually objectified? Why can’t we shake the pressure to shrink our bodies  into sizes we can’t sustain in the long term?

Her work blends theory, personal experience, and cultural criticism. Following counseling for disordered eating, she went from collecting online “thigh gap selfies” in her 20s to gathering thousands of food porn photos in her 30s. In her view, movements like body positivity only go so far in dismantling our obsession with thinness. Of course, we need more diverse representations of beauty. However, other strategies can shift our mindsets about weight and food. For her, the  meals she photographed during treatment for restrictive eating were ones that helped her ditch dieting once and for all.

Her professional articles “What Is Body Positivity? The Path from Shame to Pride” and “Anatomy of the Thigh Gap” have attracted a wide readership. She has been sought out for her expertise in publications like VOGUE, The Atlantic, and The New York Times on topics ranging from body positivity to inclusivity in swimwear. 

Her piece “Body Positivity Is Fixated on Beauty — Here’s How to Fix That” was awarded a prize by the American Philosophical Association for one of the best public philosophy op-eds of 2023.

Céline has shared her insights on podcasts such as the Overthink Podcast and the Philosophy and Therapy Podcast. She is also the creator of the “Why Philosophy?” Substack, a newsletter for students, philosophy professors, and other lovers of wisdom about why philosophy matters today.

When she is not writing or lecturing about feminism, she can be found fulfilling her duties as a dog mom to her terrier, Carol.