This is me when I was seven years old. Look at that smile. I look happy. Well, I was.Life back then felt very simple. I didn't care how I looked or what I wore. And eating my favorite chocolate brought me nothing but joy without any second thoughts or guilt.But the most heartbreaking part about this picture is that this little curfew Veronica had no idea she would grow up to hate and hurt the older version of herself. How did this happen. Well, I still find myself asking this question sometimes.It all began ...

[Music] Vagina. Vagina. Yes, I said it in front of you all on a stage into a microphone. And guess what? The world didn't end. But let's be honest, some of you flinched. Some of you looked down. And some of you might be still wanting this to turn into a joke. >> It won't. I say it every day. I'm a doctor. I'm an aesthetic gynecologist. And I talk about vaginas all day. Not in secrecy, not in shame, not in whisper, not as something dirty, embarrassing or as a taboo. I am an aesthetic gynecologist. I talk abo ...

Beauty Standards & Body Image - The beauty industry perpetuates impossible beauty standards, exemplified by the unrealistic proportions of Barbie dolls [2][3] - Societal pressure to conform to beauty standards is deeply ingrained, driven by the human desire to fit in [5] - A 2020 UK survey revealed that over 60% of women have negative feelings about their bodies, influenced by diet culture, postpartum pressure, and unrealistic images [6] - Media representation historically favored thin, white, and blonde figures, with significant gaps in representation for Black and plus-size models [7] Impact of Media & Culture - Body shaming culture was prevalent in media and even schools, contributing to negative self-perception [8] - The illusion of perfect bodies in media is often achieved through extensive post-production and skilled creative teams [10] - The rise of the Kardashian era briefly shifted beauty standards towards thicker thighs and curves, highlighting the fleeting nature of trends [9] Empowerment & Change - Photography can be a tool for self-acceptance and empowerment, allowing individuals to redefine beauty standards [11][12] - Challenging societal norms and embracing one's physical form can lead to self-love and inspire others [15][16] - Celebrating body diversity and promoting body acceptance can help dismantle the need for rigid beauty standards [19] - Showing diverse bodies in media, such as the viral budoir photography series, can positively impact women's self-perception [18]

Societal Beauty Standards & Impact - The pervasive influence of beauty standards, often unattainable, leads to negative self-perception, with over 60% of women feeling negatively about their bodies [3][6] - Media representation historically favored thin, white, and blonde ideals, with significant gaps in representation for Black and plus-size models [7] - Body shaming culture was prevalent, extending from media to schools, impacting self-esteem [8] Personal Journey & Empowerment - The speaker's personal journey involves challenging conventional beauty standards and embracing self-acceptance [15] - Art school and photography became tools for healing and empowering others to celebrate their bodies [11][12] - Creating safe spaces for women to challenge beauty norms and embrace self-expression is a key mission [19] Redefining Beauty & Representation - The speaker advocates for visibility and representation of diverse bodies, challenging the need for a "perfect body" [16][18] - Celebrating body acceptance and promoting self-love can potentially eradicate the need for beauty standards [19] - Encouraging self-love and challenging societal pressures are crucial steps towards redefining beauty [20][21]

[Applause] I wonder if you can guess what I do for a living. Would it help if I told you that I grew up in the old concrete jungle. Or that a boyfriend once told all of his friends that I was a stripper before I met them all for the first time.and nobody questioned it. My point is you would have made a decision about who I am and even maybe about what I do based on how I look. I'm actually a personal trainer.I know I don't look like one. But let me take you back to 10 years ago. Looked in the mirror one day ...

Have you ever looked in the mirror and been unhappy with how you looked. When I was eight, I would look into the mirror and hate how short I was. It made me believe I wasn't good enough or strong enough.So to compensate for this, I took martial arts, earning my black belt at 15. I then got into weightlifting, which I grew to love. I realized these were ways of becoming stronger and staying in shape.For years to come, I believe by working out and eating well, nothing could go wrong with my health. But I was ...

Have you ever wondered whether you're still the same person you were yesterday, last year, or when you were a child. Since I was 5 years old, I found myself in various situations that made me self-conscious. For instance, I used to go to ballet classes and sometimes we played improv games and once we played Cinderella.And of course, like every little girl my age, I wanted to be Cinderella, the one who gets to go to a ball, meet her prince charming, you know, get a princess makeover. But instead, my teacher ...

[Applause] How does it feel to hear that your body was not designed for aesthetics. It doesn't care if you lose the last 10 lbs and keep it off. If you can fit back into your pre-preg jeans, or if you even feel confident in your body at all.To many of us, this might feel pretty disappointing because who hasn't wanted to change or tweak something about their body before. You know, I once knew a 12-year-old girl who thought the size of her body was such a problem that she would spend all of her time looking a ...

[موسيقى] [تصفيق] دي شويه دلاين حقيقيه من طفولتي في التسعينات واوائل الالفينات وقتها الدايت كتشر كان في كل حته كنا اوست بالاستريم والف والسبريتي بديول عايزه احكي لكم على اول مره عملت فيها دايت كان عندي 10 سنين كنت بتمشى مع واحده صاحبتي في النادي واحنا بنتمشى خبطنا في مامتها الست اول ما شافتني قالت لي ايه ده انت تخنتي كده ليه؟ طيب انا بكل امانه مش فاكره خالص انا جسمي كان شكله ايه وقتها ولا فاكره اصلا اذا كنت تخنت ولا لا بس اللي فاكراه كويس قوي هو الديب سنس اوف شيم اللي حسيت بيه كنت مكسوفه وحاسه ان انا اكني عا ...

Personal Experience & Recovery - The speaker shares a personal journey through childhood struggles with food, body image, and the development of bulimia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] - The speaker highlights the importance of professional support, mindfulness, and self-compassion in the healing process [21][22][23] - The speaker emphasizes the ongoing nature of recovery and the importance of self-compassion in managing inner criticism [26][27] Eating Disorder Statistics & Impact - Eating disorders affect a significant portion of the population, with one in five women struggling with disordered eating and 22% of adolescents and youth being impacted [17] - Less than 6% of clinically diagnosed individuals are medically underweight [18] - Suicide attempts are prevalent among those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (31%), bulimia nervosa (21%), and binge eating disorder (21%) [18] - LGBT plus youth are four times as likely to attempt suicide [18] - Every 52 minutes, one person dies as a direct consequence of an eating disorder [19] - Only 16% of those diagnosed seek treatment [19] Societal Factors & Advocacy - The speaker advocates for an end to fat shaming and weight teasing, highlighting their long-lasting impact [17] - The speaker emphasizes the need for increased research and advocacy for eating disorders globally [24] - The speaker expresses concern about the impossible beauty standards that children are exposed to [25] - The speaker encourages parents and adults to help children create positive memories and to address their own inner work [26]