POV
asks:
HOW CAN GIRLS MAINTAIN A
NORMAL
HEALTHY
&
BODY IMAGE?
It’s an extremely difficult time for young girls to be growing up. It’s hard for them
to have any concept of reality when music videos and magazines are consistently
airbrushing and warping the celebrities we look up to. It’s always a hard concept
for me to grasp [that I am a role model] since I too have insecurities and am still
deep in the process of figuring myself out and being comfortable in my own skin!
I believe that if young girls know they are not alone in their insecurities, perhaps
they will be more vocal about them rather than turning to eating disorders or other
harmful acts. Getting the word out there, that there is no such thing as perfection,
is the best way to show young girls what a healthy body really is.
–LAUREN COLLINS
ACTRESS
I make sure I’m healthy and I work out so I don’t worry too much about it. If you’re
looking for a basketball player, you’re going to find a really tall person…or a really
large person as a sumo wrestler. It’s the same for modeling. You’re not going to make
a voluptuous woman into a skinny tall one, you’re going to find her that way.
–COCO ROCHA
MODEL
I enjoy yoga and (contemporary) dance and I’m always amazed by what consistent
exercise can do for me…I’m lucky that I have a trainer to hold me accountable.
My long-term friendships also keep me balanced and healthy. Of course I cheat
sometimes…[fluctuating] between fries and chocolate.
–CLAIRE DANES
ACTRESS
Forget the word DIET. It’s scientifically proven that diets do not work over a long
period. In fact the result of ‘yo-yo’ dieting—losing and gaining weight over cycles—
can actually make you bigger and unhealthier (excessive dieting is now being linked
with heart disease) than you started off. The idea is to maintain regular exercise
(something you like doing), eating wisely (which includes cheesecake too!) and not
being obsessed with a scale. Find out your actual BODY TYPE (which dieting can
NEVER change ‘cause that’s in the genes baby!) and learn how to maintain a
healthy weight and activity level.
–JILL ANDREW
METRO NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST AND PRODUCER OF CANADA’S FIRSTEVER ANNUAL PLUS SIZE FASHION FUNDRAISER CURVY CATWALK
WHICH RAISES FUNDS FOR BOTH SHEENA’S PLACE AND NEDIC.
What’s your take? Sign up at vervegirl.com and
head to the POV Room to give your two cents!
24 vervegirl.com
THE IMAGE ISSUE • SEPTEMBER 2007
@
YOU SAID...
I believe normal is having a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index)
for your height. Not everyone has the ideal “perfect” shape,
but by eating healthy and exercising you can maintain YOUR
own perfect shape.
–HURRSTY
If you look around you nothing is perfect! When it comes to
weight, you just have to manage to stay positive about yourself!
Be confident, stay in control.
–TOMBRAIDER
I think the media gives us what we THINK we want to hear, but
it warps our minds into thinking we have to be like that. If we
were meant to be SUPER, SUPER, skinny, we would be! But
we’re not and we have to believe in ourselves and say “I’m as
perfect as I can be!”. That’s the only way people are
going to be able to live with themselves.
–LOVE_GIRL_02
A tiny waist and a mini skirt, you’re a hot girl and the cutest
flirt. Smiling lip gloss lips, ready to fly a kiss. Strutting down
the road with your flawless legs, stopping in style when the
light turns red. I walk up to you to tell you you’re flawless, but
you gave me a nasty glare that said you could care less. I was
taken by a sudden shock of surprise, and thought ‘how could
beauty show such lies?’ I just wanted to create friendship
between us, but I changed my mind because she proved how
ugly she really was.
–PRIIYA