UK size 14 ♥ UK size 24

Sooo, it’s not been too long since I wrote my → #ImNoAngel post. And currently we’re back at this whole model thing topic because of “Germany’s next Topmodel”. I know that most of my readers, you, are already open for the #bodypositive movement, open for self-confidence and self-love, open for diversity. But there are still enough people out there who like to use this show for two very negative things:

Belittling themselves: The first group sees these young girls, skinny and beautiful, and forgets that their beauty doesn’t mean that they’re ugly themselves. Just because you think that someone is beautiful doesn’t make you less beautiful! You’re beautiful in your own way, your uniqueness and – most importantly – you are beautiful no matter what you think is ugly about yourself. Please understand that beauty has many faces and skinny is as gorgeous as fat, tall is as charming as petite, and disabled people are as beautiful as non-disabled people,… EveryBODY is beautiful and that’s why diversity is the most wonderful thing we can celebrate when it comes to our bodies.

Bodyshaming: The other group loves to use those young girls’ skinny bodies as an example for sickness, the reason for eating disorders in our society (even though this may be true in some way, but that’s not the girls’ fault!) and call them ugly and disgusting. They come up with those discriminating quotes (dogs and bones, you remember?), calling them names and being pretty horrible, insulting young and easily influenced (by our society’s ideal) girls that they don’t even know – just because they’re skinny. Yes, there’s not only #fatshaming, but also #skinnyshaming. Shaming people because of their appearance is never acceptable. It’s not cool to shame fat people and it’s also not cool to shame skinny people. And it gets even worse if you want to stand up for one of these body types and use this as an excuse to say horrible things about the other.

#bodypositivity = all bodies are good bodies!

Both reactions are wrong. Absolutely wrong. #bodypositivity means that all bodies are good. Skinny bodies, fat bodies, white bodies, black bodies, tattooed bodies, disabled bodies, bodies with scars, bodies with cellulite, bodies with stretch marks, male bodies, female bodies, trans bodies, heterosexual bodies, homosexual bodies,… (you get it – the list is looooooong because “every body” means EVERY BODY).

You know, looking at this picture above makes me happy. There’s mannequin diversity – because we need it, because we’re all different and because there’s not only a size 14 but also a 24, like there’s a size 4 and a 34. DIVERSITY is the key – and if there’s mannequin diversity, why don’t we accept that there’s body diversity too? Why don’t we celebrate that we’re all different and unique, a product of love and happiness, the biggest wonder of mankind? Why do we prefer to call ourselves ugly and disgusting, make others feel bad because of their looks, and even put ourselves down because we don’t look like that model on TV? Why do we accept and ask for diversity in every other area but not when it comes to ourselves?

I want you to know that you’re absolutely great the way you are. No matter how your body looks. Because – yup, there’s some cliché coming! – what really matters is the inside. Of course, human beings like to judge from the first look, that’s in our nature. But we should never stop after that first little glance at someone. Let’s get to know each other. Accept our differences and be curious, get to know them, talk about them, fall in love with them! Fall in love with others and even more with ourselves! Instead of spreading hate and destroy everyone’s confidence, we have to be open for diversity. Wouldn’t’ it be pretty boring if we all looked the same?

♥