#honOURselves
Social media is a funny one. In so many ways it's incredible as it allows us to share, connect, & communicate all the time with people all over the world. The magic of it's ability to connect people has become even more evident now that the world is so divided due to the pandemic. You only have to jump onto Instagram to see your loved ones & catch up on their lives.
I've always used my own social channels to share the real me & hopefully give people an insight into who I am, what makes me happy & what inspires me in life. As well as this, I share my work. Shoots, videos, campaigns and behind the scenes snippets. I'm proud of what I do & I feel very grateful for the creative people I'm privileged enough to work alongside. Social media has always allowed me to showcase the team behind everything I’m involved with - and I love that.
A lot of the shoots I've done in the past include swimwear, and swimwear of course means body shots. As well as swim I've worked with lingerie brands & I've done a whole heap of editorial shoots where the styling is a little more risqué.
While I feel that women should feel exceptionally proud of their bodies & confident in their own skin, I also feel that we should only ever share what truly makes us feel good. Remember that we all have a choice when it comes to sharing images of ourselves. You absolutely do not have to post & share things if you don't want to. Just because you may see other women using Instagram in a particular way, it doesn't make it a necessary trend for your to take part in if you don’t want to. The freedom is yours. No regrets is the key with anything to do with social media & the wider internet.
I really encourage everyone reading this to read Em Rata’s story, “Buying Myself Back. When does a model own her own image?” originally published New York magazine last month. It is an incredible example of how horrendously cruel this world can be yet sadly how easy it can be for people in power to take advantage of who they deem to be “weak’” . Em retells a few situations she’s had to deal with over the course of her career, all of which will make your jaw drop… and I hope they’ll also make you rethink what you choose to post in the future.
If anyone reading this ever feels unsure, nervous or not 100% comfortable either taking a photo or a video and/or sharing it online or on social media - my advice is not to do it. Once you put something out into the digital world it becomes very hard to take down … & the last thing you want is to become haunted by an old memory. Go with your gut. If it doesn't feel right - it's probably not. Showing more skin doesn't make you a sexier woman, a braver woman or a more confident woman. What makes you sexy, brave and confident is your heart, your head & your voice.
I've just noticed a lot more nudity on social media of late. And while some of it is graceful and has an artistic nature ... I can't help but feel a lot of women, especially young women & girls are posting super raunchy selfies to attract attention & fame. Again, it's totally up to the individual however I hope that nobody ever feels as if the way to win the world over is to use their body.
Your body is your treasure. It's yours. Nobody else's.
I know some people may read this & label me a hypocrite because I've posted racier images in the past, however the difference is that I've never and will never post an image of myself that I don't feel 100% comfortable with. I'd never even pose for an image where I didn't feel whole heartedly safe & completely in control. No way.
To all the girls & women reading this ... your bodies are beautiful but it's the smile that starts in your belly, the kindness that lives in your heart and the intelligence that keeps your mind ticking over that is your gift to this world. That is where truely spectacular beauty exists.
Self respect is all we have in this crazy world. Our mental health, our safety and our consciousness are things we should never take for granted. We have to back ourselves & protect ourselves every step of the way. Feed your happiness with the people who surround you, the experiences you encounter, the places you travel to & the things that make you feel wonderful in your own skin.
I urge you all to avoid giving into peer pressure when it comes to sharing the sides of your life that’d rather keep private. It’s always your choice … and your choice is your superpower.
There is currently a website that allows women to sign up and upload images and videos of themselves in highly sexualised ways wearing pretty much nothing. Whoever is a member (i.e. a paying subscriber), of the site can access the content, ask for more content & tip individual women based on how they choose to rate what they see - yuk. The idea of course is centred around naked women & money. It’s women selling their image, their dignity and their self worth for heartless cash. This is not ok. Whoever came up with the idea for the website is building a platform that will tear up souls & potentially rip apart lives and self worth. They are praying on females around the world & profiting from their demise. It’s sick, wrong & completely inexcusable.
Never forget that. If anyone is ever dealing with bullies, online trolls, negative self esteem or any kind of anxiety, depression or mental health issues of any kind - please speak out. Tell someone close to you & please seek the help & support you deserve. I’ve popped a list of amazing organisations below …
Butterfly Foundation - Providing amazing help for those suffering with issues concerning body image.
Kids Help Line - if you’re under 18, there is no place safer than Kids Help Line to find the support you need.
Beyond Blue - Bulling related matters & all types of mental health concerns.
Bullying No Way - For anyone who is worried that their child is dealing with a bullying issue.
Reach Out - For those who would like more information on understanding the importance & the complexities surrounding body image.
Elyse x
