Years ago, there was a very popular book out by some French chick about how to combat cellulite.
A lot of the advice was for a diet that reduced salt and some other stuff (don't remember what...I read it when I didn't have cellulite! Though for some odd reason, I do remember she recommended cutting out popcorn---and this was in the 70's, before microwave popcorn and hydrogenated oils) along with drinking lots of water and loofah scrubbing (I've heard anecdotally that some people reduce their cellulite with dry brushing).
The author's contention was that cellulite is a problem of lymph circulation. I've heard what others have: that it's a combination of fat and the way the skin fibers sit on top of that fat.
I once went to a play directed by a student of mine, and one of the actresses (a friend of his) was a HUGE woman...with absolutely no cellulite! At one point she crossed her legs (wearing a rather short skirt) and no sign of any orange peel look anywhere! (I wondered if it helped that she was African American?). During the break between scenes, the friend sitting next to me (who's no skinny minny) and I turned to each other, and we had the same thought : how could she have such huge legs (not all muscle) and no cellulite?