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"Before I could heal my relationship with my body I had to realise why I'd hated it so much in the first place."
Our bodies aren't just there to look nice. They're a vehicle to live, breathe, and to experience all that the world has to offer. So why, historically, have we shunned bodies just because they're different shapes, sizes, and of different functionalities? The 'one size fits all' approach to beauty standards has finally begun to wear thin over the past few years, with the body positivity movement making waves, and having impactful repercussions in the way people view themselves.
Finally, we're starting to see more people who feel happy and confident in the skin they're in. These women aren't wishing for bigger bums, or straighter hair, or smaller waists - and they don't want you to, either. So on Mental Health Awareness Week, which has the theme of body image this year, we found out how they learnt to truly love themselves - exactly as they are - in a world that tries to dictate who and what is beautiful.
A post shared by Megan Jayne Crabbe 🐼 (@bodyposipanda) on Mar 17, 2019 at 11:38am PDT
“Before I could heal my relationship with my body I had to realise why I'd hated it so much in the first place. Learning about diet culture, fatphobia, and all the ways we've been conditioned to see our bodies as problems (so that industries can profit from our insecurities!) changed the game for me. I refuse to spend another moment believing that I'm not worthy of a full life because I don't fit a bullsh*t patriarchal beauty ideal . I never deserved to be taught that my worth was held in how my body looks, and neither did the person reading this.”
A post shared by Bethy ✌️ (@bethanypurnell) on May 13, 2019 at 9:49am PDT
“After going through a life changing operation, it made me truly realise that we do only have one life, and it’s sacred and precious. Life is too short to be negative and too hard on ourselves.
“Before my surgery I thought my life was ruined [Bethany has Crohns disease and wears a permanent ileostomy bag]. I thought I’d never be able to wear the same clothes, wear a bikini and I thought I’d never ever find someone that loves me with all my extra baggage (literally). But I’ve really proven myself wrong and I’ve conquered everything. I’m proud of myself and my body and I think everyone else should be, too!”
A post shared by Stephanie Yeboah (@nerdabouttown) on May 5, 2019 at 7:05am PDT
“My turning point was in a bathroom in Barcelona after losing 4 stone for a 'bikini holiday'. I was at my lowest point mental health wise, and while I had the 'bikini body', I realised that I had severely damaged it. I realised that instead of apologising for my body, I should be apologising to it. It was then that I decided to embark on my self-love journey.”
A post shared by Breanne💗Rice (@breannerice) on Apr 29, 2019 at 2:08pm PDT
“When I turned 30 I realised that I didn’t want to feel insecure about my vitiligo anymore. I wanted to love and accept myself for who I was. I wanted to feel beautiful and confident despite my insecurities. I was tired of hiding my insecurity beneath the makeup and wanted to use my story to help others feel confident and beautiful in their own skin and embrace their own uniqueness...but first I had to be vulnerable with my own struggles.
“Now, when I wear makeup, it’s not to hide my condition, but because it’s my own choice, and I love experimenting with different fashion trends and looks with makeup. We are all beautiful in our own special way; we need to stop looking at our differences as flaws and comparing ourselves to others, and just love and embrace who we are.”
A post shared by Joann (@joannvdherik) on May 10, 2019 at 8:04am PDT
“Up until about 3 years ago, I’d always been 100% sure that the only way for me to be popular, liked and successful was to be skinny. I was obsessed with losing weight and tried everything: juice cleanses, diets, skinny teas, you name it - I tried it.
“I lost weight but I wasn’t feeling any better. It didn’t change my mental state. So I tried to stop being so obsessive and changed the environment around me, removing negative people, which really helped. Other people’s opinions can really have a big influence on you and if you surround yourself with negativity, that’s what your thoughts will be. I found out about Iskra Lawrence and Ashley Graham on Instagram, and seeing them so successful, so happy and so confident made me realise that I could be too . I started working on myself, my state of mind, my thoughts and my problems, rather than working on my looks. I also started following Megan Crabbe on Instagram, she’s so honest and real, I love that. Those three women helped me to accept myself, and now I can help others accept themselves. Because, honestly, I want no one to ever feel like I did.”
A post shared by Tess Daly 💋 (@tess.daly) on May 12, 2019 at 12:22pm PDT
“Even though I loved fashion, I was still very insecure about my body whilst I was at university and I used to cover up, wearing very plain and unassuming clothes. I didn’t think that glamour was for me - it was for those with fabulous figures who could walk around and show off what they were wearing.
“After university, I got into fashion styling and my relationship with image changed. I no longer wanted to just dress other people; I wanted to experience different looks too. It’s like a switch flipped and I realised that fashion was for everyone; I was the only one who had dictated to myself that it wasn’t for me . Once I saw myself wearing these things, I fell in love with wearing outrageous styles. One day I would be glam, the next I would be grunge. Any body - not anybody - but any physical body can be exactly who they want to be.”
A post shared by #TheGirlWithTheKeloidScars (@biancahoneybeex) on May 12, 2019 at 11:42am PDT
“My depression was spiralling out of hand; I had no motivation to do anything, including eating, so I told myself one day: ‘Life is too short, and I need to live while I am on this earth’. I wanted to feel free and be who I truly was without hiding behind clothes and hair extensions . I posted my first Instagram post of my keloids scars [a form of raised scar] on 16 of February 2017 and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
“This was my first step to freedom. Not only did I receive positive comments, but my picture enabled me to reach out to other individuals who were battling the same issues as I was. From that day I’ve never looked back and grown confidence day by day. I now love the skin I am and I will continue to progress in loving myself.”
A post shared by Amalie Lee🌈 (@amalielee) on Mar 30, 2019 at 1:14pm PDT
“I used to absolutely hate every single thing about my body, and I suffered Anorexia. But when I recovered, it taught me to view my body in a completely different way. I learnt to appreciate my body for everything it can do for me , rather than just what it looks like.”
A post shared by Grace Mandeville (@gracemandeville) on Apr 30, 2019 at 5:22am PDT
“I truly believe I owe the confidence I have about my body to my biggest difference - being born with a missing hand. When you get used to looking so obviously very different, everything else body-wise seems so minor. There's no point worrying about someone looking at that stretch mark on my thigh when I have half a limb missing for everyone to stare at.
"How did I get to the point where I loved my half an arm? Honestly, I think I have my parents to thank. Not once did they treat me differently or tell me I couldn’t do something. I mean, ok, they did make me wear a prosthetic arm when I was a toddler (because the doctors recommended it), but I soon taught them that I didn’t want to dress to fit in when I started pulling it off in the supermarket and throwing it around at people. I’m pretty sure that’s not what you expect on your Sunday morning food shop…”
A post shared by Jessica Megan (@jess_megan_) on May 12, 2019 at 10:39am PDT
“One of the BIG, central moments that helped me to achieve true body confidence was when I was writing a science fiction piece and I looked at a photo of Earth from space. It looked like a mite of dust in a sunbeam in the vast blackness. It was so tiny. It put my feelings about human life into perspective. How our lives are a passing glare in the grand timeline of the cosmos and how we don’t get much time at all to make an impact. I’m hardly going to let my cellulite and back fat stop me from enjoying this one chance I get to soak up all of life's priceless experiences.
“I aim to be proud of my body some days and neutral about it other days. But most of all, I make it a vessel for carrying pasta.”
A post shared by Michelle Elman (@scarrednotscared) on May 11, 2019 at 10:50am PDT
“When I was 19 years old, I was hospitalised for my 15th surgery. I was bedridden for 6 weeks, unable to move, eat, or even drink water - and it made me realise that all the scars that I hated across my body so much served a purpose. They are the reason I am alive and they are the reason I have been able to stay out of hospital.
“It really put into perspective all the insecurities I had let limit my life, because I really thought my life was going to end and all I could think about were all the opportunities I missed out on because I thought people would stare or make comments. Other people's opinions are really unimportant in the context of dying, and that was the tough love wake-up call I needed to start appreciating every moment I get to live in my body.”
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