Amber Riley has a message for women who think their bodies make them harder to love

After filming her first intimacy scene, Riley pushed back against online beauty standards and encouraged women to embrace the bodies they have.

Amber Riley confessed she might have had nerves about filming a certain scene in her upcoming movie, but the “Glee” actress and multi-time NAACP Image Award nominee has a message for all women: don’t let the internet fool you into thinking you’re not appreciated for the body you have.

In a series of posts on Threads, Riley, 40, revealed that not only was she proud of her first intimacy scene but also that no “real man” has been scared of being with her because of how she looked, urging those to embrace their “stretch marks, back rolls and some thigh meat.”

“Please don’t let this imaginary world online convince you that you’re not qualified to be loved,” she wrote, adding, “I did my first intimacy scene in my next movie and I made it a point to show my body, because ALL bodies are beautiful and deserved to be scene [sic] being loved and desired.”

Riley then shared a revealing photo of herself in a two-piece outfit fit for the bedroom, celebrating how she looked.

View on Threads

The post quickly gained traction online with several commenters celebrating Riley’s openness and her message to other women.

“TALK. TO. EM.,” journalist and fashion designer Nina Parker wrote.

Another commenter added, “A body gets to change with age, stress and ordinary life. Nobody should feel that love expires when that happens.”

While some on Riley’s post were curious about why she might have been focused on the “male gaze,” the actress and singer quickly reminded them that her post was not about being lusted after, but rather being loved and openly loved.

“This isn’t about what a man wants; it’s about someone hiding themselves because they don’t think they can be loved because they don’t fit this world’s beauty standards,” Riley wrote. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be loved by someone who will treat you well. Y’all need to learn BALANCE. You can fight the patriarchy AND experience being loved and desired.”

The conversation about Black women and appreciating their bodies, imperfect or otherwise, has gone on for decades in the media. Some have leaned into fitness influencing, revealing how health challenges forced a wake-up call or how being bullied prompted a sense of confidence to lean in. Curvy or not, some Black women have been vocal about the insecurities they faced, with many helping others navigate through similar thoughts and doubts.

Since breaking out into stardom with “Glee” in 2009, Riley hasn’t slowed down. She’s starred in the “Single Black Female” series for Lifetime and portrayed Ursula in the Disney Jr. animated series “Ariel.” With her upcoming film revealing a more personal side of her, fans will no doubt lock in and celebrate Riley’s moment online.