It's time for me to spout off. This is a touchy subject for many people. Usually, I just ignore this subject, shake my head and move on. I have so much to say about it and I know I won't even come close to laying it all down in this wee little post.
Recently I had someone comment on a photo of me on a photographer's Facebook page. This particular comment that read, "My God, that girl needs to eat!" finally showed me that it obviously strikes a chord somewhere in me that I can't just ignore.
"I know why that model looks miserable, she's hungry!"
Actually, I look miserable because the photographer asked me to display a particular mood. I like to do my job. Or maybe I am thinking, "Oh man, I hope people don't look at this photo and think I'm anorexic..."
I don't want to attack anyone who has made these comments. I get it. I also think this world's ideals and examples of a beautiful body image are insane and for most, completely unobtainable. I suppose we have the media to thank for that. That being said, it does not mean that everyone wants to fit into that world. I don't know why anyone would strive to be super thin nor do I understand why anyone would strive to be overweight. If you are healthy you are healthy, and only you know what that means for you. This makes me wonder why it is okay to make negative remarks regarding a "thin" person and scrutinize their eating habits, when nobody would ever publicly make a comment regarding a stranger on Facebook for example, who is "overweight". I put these words in quotations because everyone has a different perspective on what is under or overweight. "My God, that girl need to eat less!" Are you kidding me?
I agree, do be concerned if your friend is listless and yellow with ribs, shoulder blades, hips and cheek bones jutting out, and do be concerned if your friend is 300lbs, 5'3" and on the couch every day. I understand that there are some serious eating disorders out there. There are also some severe cases of obesity. BUT neither of these situations is the norm. I don't like that because of the body type I was born with, in combination with my chosen profession, it must mean that I don't f*cking eat. 2+2 =4
All I know is, I don't like being asked where the food goes when I'm constantly snacking or eating a giant meal, or being questioned when I go to the bathroom to WASH MY HANDS after a meal. This happened even before I was involved in an industry that pushes for certain body specs. I find this all so CRAZY! I have made it this far as a model at a sTaaaaaggering 1 -2" larger waist/hip than most of the girls I work with in this industry, and even THOSE teeny tiny, lovely, healthy ladies (yes I know there is the exception that may have eating issues but most models I have come into contact with have healthy appetites and a hyper disposition!) do not deserve to be treated that way. I have always been a healthy girl, who has never changed my eating habits even after becoming a model. It makes me wonder if Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" applies to everyone except models?
I feel so good. I love to eat. I hike and play and jump around like a crazy person and I like my body. It is a very happy body.
Bottom line - I work as a model and my peers care more about my weight than I do. There is something very wrong with that picture!
Thank you to my friends & family who know me, support me, and the strangers who get that not every model starves themselves.
This is bad mmmmkay?
