Pretty girl. Why such a big deal ? * Sighs. *
This, from The Sydney Morning Herald: ” New York University student Stella Boonshoft took this photograph of herself in a bikini and posted it on her Tumblr account, The Body Love Blog.
Photographer Brandon Stanton then published the same image on his Facebook/photography site, Humans of New York on Thursday, where it has since garnered 455,000 likes and been shared 20,000 times, according to The Daily Mail online.”
Why?
The SMH continues: ” The image has sparked a debate about body image and traditional notions of beauty, with some people congratulating Boonshoft and calling her an inspiration, and others criticising the image for promoting obesity.
When thousands of people started looking at her picture, Boonshoft said her first reaction was to “burst into tears” and she contemplated taking the photo down, The Daily Mail reports.
But she decided to leave the picture online…”
This, in her own words: ” ‘WARNING: Picture might be considered obscene because subject is not thin. And we all know that only skinny people can show their stomachs and celebrate themselves. Well I’m not going to stand for that. This is my body. Not yours. MINE. Meaning the choices I make about it, are none of your … business. Meaning my size, is none of your … business.
If my big belly and fat arms and stretch marks and thick thighs offend you, then that’s okay. I’m not going to hide my body and my being to benefit your delicate sensitivities.
This picture is for the strange man at my nanny’s church who told me my belly was too big when I was five.
This picture is for my horseback riding trainer telling me I was too fat when I was nine.
This picture is for the girl from summer camp who told me I’d be really pretty if I just lost a few pounds
This picture is for all the … stupid advertising agents who are selling us cream to get rid of our stretch marks, a perfectly normal thing most people have (I got mine during puberty).
This picture is for the boy at the party who told me I looked like a beached whale.
This picture is for Emily from middle school, who bullied me incessantly, made mocking videos about me, sent me nasty emails, and called me “lard”. She made me feel like I didn’t deserve to exist. Just because I happened to be bigger than her. I was 12. And she continued to bully me via social media into high school.
MOST OF ALL, this picture is for me. For the girl who hated her body so much she took extreme measures to try to change it. Who cried for hours over the fact she would never be thin. Who was teased and tormented and hurt just for being who she was.
I’m so over that.
THIS IS MY BODY, DEAL WITH IT.’
One hundred hoorays, for her.
And couldn’t agree with every word she said, more strongly.
A post for us (and all our daughters) to read.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Go Stella!
This is hardly “promoting obesity” because she’s hardly obese. However, I kind of disagree with all her “none of your business” declarations. What did she really expect? Was she NOT trying to inspire dialogue? Did she just want to post this picture and have NO ONE comment on it or have an opinion? When you have a “Body Love Blog,” I would think that part of your deal is trying to get people to be more in tune with your business (especially when you personally address several people who have made you uncomfortable or offended you, then say you don’t care about offending others). I like where she’s going, just not how she’s getting there.
Well done Stella!
She is so courageous! And to think I untag Facebook photos where my CHIN looks too fat. Such confidence is rare. I agree Nomali, Go Stella!
WHY ARE PEOPLE GLAMORIZING HER??
She’s pretty, but her attitude really SUCKS!.
I’d like to see her come from a place of vulnerability, instead of a place of anger.
I wrote a post about her on my blog, please feel free to check it out if you feel so inclined, I’d love the feedback:
http://www.mynameisntmediumcoffee.com/2012/10/angry-big-girl-half-naked-on-internet.html
That is so brave and so wonderful, i love her stance, why the hell should she come from a place of vulnerability?? she has been vulnerable all her life, this is the most fantastic stand for the diversity of womankind. I am cheering for her bravery..
Agreed. Maya. At least anger is powerful. Vulnerability is weakness. People already see her as weak.
Kudos to her!!