Be the change
Body positivity? Is out, I’m told, and thin is in.
Indeed, this is apparently the era of the “Ballet Body”.
Over the last few months, I have been getting stories about Amy Schuemer, Rebel Wilson …even Jelly Roll and their “stunning” weight loss.
Now, I’m not going to knock the ballet body. Dancers are beautiful and I love photographing them. But if you’re not a dancer, there’s no reason to chase after the ballet body. Indeed, even if you are, it’s okay not to fall into the stereotypical body shape and type (Misty Copeland, anyone?)
I’m a fan of people being allowed to be who they are and celebrating the beauty to be found in that. If you love being a fitness influencer with muscles and a 16 percent body fat, be that person. If you are a dancer, with a slender build and an A-cup? As long as you’re not torturing yourself to be that person, be that person.
And if you’re not a dancer or bodybuilder, but just a regular Jane Doe? That’s okay, too. And if you carry a few (or more) extra kilos? It’s okay. Indeed, be the you that you want to be. And if you’re not the you that you want to be? Be the you that loves you even so.
I’ve talked about this before, but somewhere, someone makes these decisions that say “This is beautiful, this is not.”
But who are they? Who is this person who determines who is in and who is out? It’s not me. Is it you? Are you buying into the narrative that in order to be beautiful, you must be what society says you must be? Because by doing that, all you’re doing is perpetuating the beauty myth.
My goal here is not to say “this is beautiful, that is not.” This is why I don’t take people and dress them up in the outfits I think are worthy of being worn for a boudoir shoot. I don’t try and put people into any preconceived notion of who they are supposed to be.
I’ve had people tell me that I don’t show a diversity of body types. “I don’t see people that look like me in your images.” So I ask them if I can take their picture so I can show the world that they are beautiful, too. “Oh, not me,” they’ll say.
So I invite you to be the change you want to see in the world. Be willing to do the boudoir shoot. Be willing to share with your friends, acquaintances….maybe even the whole darn internet that you are beautiful, too. Accept the body you have,
So yes, you will see 23 year old fitness competitors in my feed, because she’s proud of her body and wants to show the world. But you will also see the 32 year old mother of two, or the 44 year old struggling with weight issues and the 55 year old grandma? I will celebrate all who are willing to say “yes”, and I will share their beauty if they let me.
But will people see you? Are you willing to stand up and represent whatever group you are a part of: big or small, short or tall, thin or squat, pale or dark? Because if you don’t do it, how will people know how beautiful you are, and, by extension, how beautiful people like you are.
Be you, and be proud of the you that you are. Be willing to celebrate the person you are, and the person you’re becoming. And I’ll be right there with you, celebrating as well.