Powerful video of women in Geraldton discussing Body Image

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ABC Midwest: "A movie about embracing our bodies has inspired a group of regional women in Geraldton to strip off and showcase theirs."

A movie about embracing our bodies has inspired a group of regional women in Geraldton to strip off and show case theirs. The ‘Body Image Movement’ is a growing and recognised movement thanks largely to Taryn Brumfitt's movie – ‘Embrace’. The movie explores the social impact of body image and the epidemic of body shaming within our culture. A group of women recently got together in Geraldton and dressed down to their underwear and posed in front of cameras in the hope to inspire and encourage others to embrace and love their bodies. Ranging in ages and backgrounds, the group of women not only braved a cold rainy day in their underwear, but they also openly shared their stories of struggles and insecurities with their own body image. One of the organisers of the photo shoot, Kate Tonkin said, “Even if know one sees our photos or video from today, just the conversations we’ve had among ourselves have just been amazing. ‘These are conversations that just don’t normally happen.” Ms Tonkin said. Working as a food consultant and helping people improve their food choices, Ms Tonkin has seen her share of women who struggle with their body image. “I see so many women who hate their bodies and I saw the Embrace movie and I loved it. So I wanted to re-create something on a local scale.” She said. Ms Tonkin says she know what it’s like to hate her own body. “I was working overseas in my twenties and I got really overweight and I hated my body. I’ve always been really conscious of being really short and stocky and not what I wanted to be. When I was overseas I spent a few months being bulimic thinking that was the answer but it wasn’t. I know now anyone who has an eating disorder it comes from a place of hate and not from a place of love. At this stage in my life I hated food and I hated myself. It’s a terrible place to be.” Today Ms Tonkin is in a much better place and accepts her body for what it is. “Having kids was probably a really big thing to change the way I feel about myself. It’s been a really gradual acceptance of this is me, this is who I am. I’m not going to surgically alter my body. It’s a matter of being happy with what I’ve got and I think that’s what kids really helped me to do, just to help me be really happy.” The group arranged to showcase some of the women’s stories in front of a live audience at the local cinema where the ‘Embrace’ movie was being screened. Related stories : http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-15/adelaide-documentary-maker-taryn-brumfitt-tackles-body-shaming/7633078 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-23/taryn-brumfitt-challenging-our-ideals-about-the-perfect-body/6335174