In yesterday’s Mail, Camilla described her anguish at losing her beloved mother, the Honourable Rosalind Shand, to the cruel fragile-bone disease.

The article, her first in a national newspaper, prompted the Mail to launch a campaign to spare other women the same fate. Today, we highlight growing concern within the medical profession about the effect conditions such as anorexia and bulimia are having on female health, as well as strict low-fat diets.

It is an issue that deeply worries the Duchess, 64, who has a daughter, Laura, and two grand-daughters. ‘The link between young girls, eating disorders and osteoporosis is a ticking time-bomb,’ Camilla told a sufferer at a meeting at Clarence House.

The event was organised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Osteoporosis Society and the Daily Mail was the only newspaper invited.

She added: ‘A whole generation of young women could be affected. What particularly concerns me is the rise of osteoporosis in young people and its link with eating disorders.

You have all these glossy magazines which are read by young girls, who then go on a diet and try to be thin to emulate the models they see.‘

‘They, the magazines, bear a lot of responsibility in what they write because the girls read them and go on these crash diets, sometimes developing eating disorders. The trouble is that at that age you think you are immortal. You don’t think anything will happen to you. But what they don’t realise is that while they may recover and start eating again, the damage may well already be done.

‘They feel like, “Nothing hurts, I’m not in pain – so what’s the problem?” They don’t realise that in 20 years’ time they could end up in a wheelchair because of what they have done to themselves.’

Camilla added: ‘You can eat sensibly, exercise and stay trim. You don’t have to starve yourself  and risk damaging your health irrevocably. We need to make young girls aware of this. We need to drive it home’

View source to read full article

In the Huffington Post, Sun TV producer Miranda Frum recounts her short time in the fashion industry, and explains how fashion agencies promote unrealistic body images:

“”The very first agency I went to was Wilhelmina Models. I was told to leave my photos with the receptionist and then wait in a sitting area with six or seven other girls, also all with their mothers. We waited. We waited. We waited. After what seemed like forever, two women came out of the office.

Thankfully the only people to witness this defeat were me, the agents, and my mom. I shook my head no, and took my photos. When we got outside, my Mom was in a rage. “That’s how eating disorders are CAUSED,” she fumed, as I pleaded with her not to go back into the agency to tell the agents what she thought about their weight.”"

Hopefully with changes in the industry this imagery will be a thing of the past, however I think to eradicate it completely will take years.

View source for full article

Janet Jackson at the age of 44 has written her autobiography called ‘True You’ and details the singers lifelong struggle with body image caused mainly by the teasing of her elder brother. He constantly tormented her about her large bottom and insisted she lost weight. According to her book he knick named her ‘Dunk’ which is derived from ‘Donkey’ and apparently all his pet names for her had something in connection with her backside!

She states that he didn’t do it with malice but the grains of insecurity were implanted in the young eight year old girl’s mind.

This set her on the road to be obsessed about her size which culminated in her being convinced that her size was very wrong and the subsequent turmoil with food, skipping meals and starving herself.

When she should be enjoying her childhood, at the young age of just 11, experienced colonics, after turning vegetarian, in conjunction with her older brother.

Her career highs and lows carried the issues that this can have on individuals in the spotlight. With weight gain brought the media onslaught as did the weight loss bring the media applause. Why oh why does someone who has such as fabulous talent in her voice have to be brought down to this level.

Although her weight loss saw the applause this did not prepare her for the loss losing her ‘kindred spirit’ her brother Michael.

This is just one person in the media spotlight who has been in turmoil just due to what were just apparently harmless comments. However the media can have a devastating effect when individuals are slaughtered in the press and on TV and I think are a lot to blame for the issues experienced.

Janet would have people around her to help her through these issues, there are many individuals who don’t have this facility and are constantly in turmoil with no one to turn to.

Tell us your story – we will print any that will help others in the future – just email us at sarah@realbodiesunite.com

Titled ‘Remarkably Unremarkable: Blogging and Body Image’, I wanted to learn more instantly!

This story on body image is straight from the heart and although sad, I urge you to read it all as it has a happy ending, I promise!

Tall Girl Blogger tells her story of feeling outcast by her community for looking different to the other children and her battle with her body image throughout childhood. She writes of her struggle to find clothes that fit and the emotional turmoil she encountered, wanting to look like everyone else; “smaller, shorter, thinner, better.”

This inspiring story really makes you understand what effect the fashion industry has on the perspectives within society. This requirement to conform is unhealthy and unrealistic, causing healthy women and men to feel they need to change who they are.

Visit Tall Girl Blogger to read her story.

Today I came across a compelling article that not only spoke to me but encompassed everything I feel about the fashion industry and the whole point of our Real Bodies Unite Campaign.

I wanted to direct you all to this article on a blog called InkBlotPhotography by a woman who is passionate about photography and the fashion industry but has recognised the implications of the images used in the fashion industry.

What the blogger, Cate states is so well written that I am not going to pull it out and write quotes, instead please read the article here and let us know your thoughts.

I hope she won’t mind but I borrowed the published photograph that compelled me to write about InkBlot. Thank you so much for thinking the same.

PROMOTING the importance of healthy body image to teenage girls is the aim of a new mentoring program to be held at YMCA Perth.

The Leederville-based organisation is hoping to follow the Go Girls! pilot program with a permanent one that would be implemented around Perth.

The State Government Office for Youth has contributed $21,000 funding to the project.

YMCA Big Brothers Big Sisters program manager Clare Waldron said Go Girls! would instil positive body image and the importance of exercise and healthy eating in participants.

“This eight-week program will be introduced in the 2011 school year and will build the leadership and life skills of all the program’s participants, including both the students and the mentors,” she said.

“There are a lot of issues around adolescence and obesity, but research has also found that at that critical age, at the beginning of high school, is typically when girls start disengaging from sport, and fashion and body image take over.”

Miss Waldron said the program was designed to break down myths and barriers about body image through techniques such as showing real-life examples how the computer program Photoshop can manipulate images.

“By giving real examples the girls can see why body images in the media are not achievable,” she said.

For more information contact program manager Clare Waldron on 92270479 or 0407005236 or via email at bbbs@ymca.org.au or ymcaperth.org.au.

view article

Today this statement was released by Jo Swinson for the case of airbrushing in media images and it’s effect on adults and children.

“This portfolio of evidence clearly shows the negative impact that idealised images in the media are having on children and adults alike, who are bombarded with these unrealistic and altered pictures on a daily basis.”

Co-founder of the Campaign for Body Confidence and Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson has given the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) details of 172 scientific studies which show that exposure to idealised media images has a negative effect on body image for adults and children.

The portfolio of evidence gives a comprehensive overview of research examining the link between airbrushed media images and people’s dissatisfaction with their own bodies.

The Campaign for Body Confidence is calling on the ASA to amend its codes of conduct for advertisers to require airbrushed images of people to be clearly labelled.

Commenting, Jo Swinson said:

“This portfolio of evidence clearly shows the negative impact that idealised images in the media are having on children and adults alike, who are bombarded with these unrealistic and altered pictures on a daily basis.

“The media has a responsibility to protect audiences from these pressures, which can lead to low self-esteem and eating disorders.

“I hope the ASA will take this evidence into serious consideration and work with the Campaign for Body Confidence to look at how its codes of conduct could be changed.”

View source

What are your thoughts?

You have recently set up a new business, offering your expertise to other business owners on how they can achieve success and set goals. Can you tell us more about it and how it all began?

Sure! My business predominantly started as a coaching business but I soon found I could bring in skills I’d learnt in internet marketing. So that is primarily what I’ve been doing with my clients. Of course part of that is still goal setting and time management (finding the time to promote online and setting up a plan) plus, when it’s needed, I put in some motivational elements for clients who feel a little wary of connecting with the unknown online.
I know it doesn’t take a lot of money to set various things up in terms of promoting online but it does take patience, self belief and consistency.

What have you found the most difficult when setting up your new business in our current climate?

My business is pretty low-cost in terms of set up and maintenance so that has not really been an issue. What was an issue to begin with is really defining my target market.

At first I called myself a coach, but barely anyone really knew what that entailed. So I looked hard at what I was coaching people in and that was to learn how to use the internet to promote.
Now I’ve defined clearly what I do I have clients who specifically want training and guidance into internet marketing.

Right now, looking forward, the economy is going to go through a worse time than the bank collapse in 2008 which is very grim to think about.

Look at the facts here, gold has sky rocketed to an untold high and people who follow business trends understand we can no longer be complacent when we invest or spend money.

That said – if you start off very small and keep your business outgoing’s in check there is money to be made but you really have to define what you do. Don’t try and appeal to everyone – it won’t work. Appeal to your super defined target market.

What inspires you, giving you the drive and determination to be successful?

I don’t like being ignored is probably the most egocentric answer. (Vanessa laughs) People who shrug their shoulders and say ‘oh well’ won’t get very far. People who keep pushing draw positivity and in turn they succeed some way, somehow.

It is not the British way to toot your own horn but in this economic climate you have to stand up. I’ve spent way too much time in America and love them or hate them the Americans have a very strong entrepreneurial back bone. They have become a little lost of late with their economy but there are still some amazing examples of people who had nothing and now have million dollar businesses. Not so much because of what they sell but how they sell it.

There are also some great home grown examples here, like Ann McKevitt who isn’t detached from reality. She recently gave me props on an article I’d written on my site and all I could think was, ‘this is a billionaire who took time to thank and praise me for something, wow!’

What more do you think can be done to change the attitudes of the fashion industry leaders?

This is such a good question and I’m really torn to give an answer on it. I think they’re getting used to the fact that people don’t want to see super skinny models anymore, but by the same token they are not quite ready on the whole to accept showcasing women who are classed as overweight. They give us the healthy happy medium with models like Laura Wells, who I adore. I’ve met her and she’s curvy, in proportion and takes care of herself. This is the image most fashion leaders are leaning towards to promote fuller figured fashion. The only time you see someone bigger showcasing fashion is a celebrity like Beth Ditto for Evans.

You know I like the new face of SimplyBe UK, Amy Sellu. She looks in proportion with her size but still has the right attitude towards health. I hope she doesn’t start spouting the same crap as I used to – like being overweight is so much fun. She doesn’t need to feed the machine – she just needs to keep it real to herself and enjoy the journey.

We are now seeing some size diversity in the press and fashion media, do you feel realistic representation is becoming more apparent?

In the cases I just mentioned yes, but on the whole in the UK it’s not so acceptable to see a woman who’s a size 18/20 model clothes unless she’s in proportion with killer legs and/or a taller build. Look at the Asos Curve range. Asos want to appear young and they don’t seem to associate youth and size 18/20. I used to be really annoyed by this, but actually I can see where they are coming from.

To be frank people do need to assess what inspires them to buy a piece of clothing? Is it the look of the model wearing the garment or the garment itself – maybe both? If we’re truly honest the majority of people, especially in Europe, do not want to see an un-toned man or women being showcased in fashion. Even if they’re bigger themselves they don’t always aspire to be or stay that way. They want the dream image.
People can shout Crystal Renn’s name as an example but she’s tall and curvy, not obese. Hard fact but a true one.

As an individual, have you ever felt pressure from the fashion industry to conform?

Like I said, only within myself. When I worked for Asos they had nothing but respect for me. Everyone there really embraced who I was and not what I looked like. All the jobs I’ve ever had as a model have been based on me being bigger – so there was never any question to conform. They booked me because I was big.

The only time I ever felt crap through a job experience was when I worked for Gok Wan and I’m not going to go into why suffice to say, I wasn’t the only one who was left feeling bad after that. It was a shoot concept I don’t think him and his team entirely thought through and it upset a lot of the models (of all sizes) who were working on it when Gok turned into Diva Gok. The man is so much nicer when he keeps it real. The glasses change everything!

But you know, money talks, and some people will say almost anything to stay on trend, be popular and sell you a ‘dream’.

There are currently huge debates appearing in the press about airbrushing model images and the extent to which it is considered okay to do so. What are your opinions on airbrushing? Do you think altered images should carry a warning?

Ha! Let me give you an example of over air brushing. Recently Matthew McConaughey the US actor did his second shoot for Dolce and Gabanna and this man is already one of the most handsome well buffed men on the planet. What did they do to his face? They ‘thinned’ it in post production – thus alluding to an older more distinguished look. The poor man looks terrible in these ads. I was appalled, but it goes to show, even perfection can be mutilated in Photoshop.

I think most people knew what had been done and I think when it gets so severe people should complain with their wallets and purses. Stop buying the products and stop buying the magazines where excessive airbrushing has been used. No matter how adorable or enticing that product is these big brands and magazines will not get the message until they see their profits plummet. They won’t understand if you just put a warning up – people ignore warnings all the time and continue to buy.

Perfection does sell and when it comes to stretch marks or pimples I don’t see a huge issue but when you start taking pounds off people in post production to such a point they look much thinner then I feel it’s totally misleading.

I have done exactly that, stopped buying the magazines and ultimately the products advertised by ‘perfect’ people to make a stand!
What do you believe to be the reason behind using “straight” models to portray beauty?

Because most people associate beauty with youth and when they do that they think of someone who isn’t overweight. Notice I say most people – not everyone. However seeing as the beauty industry wants to appeal to the majority that’s pretty much how they promote. Ageless, timeless, youth are buzz words the beauty industry use and that doesn’t always equate to being overweight. Dove are probably the only company I can think of that decided to break that thought process. It worked for them but I think it worked because it came at the right time and it was unique.

If you could speak to one person in the fashion industry, who would it be, why and what would you say?

At this point I’ve met all the people I want to and the ones I haven’t I’m interviewing for my site which still includes beauty and fashion (albeit sporadically) slowly but surely.

But I think as the population gets bigger and the fuller figured fashion world grows there will be a junction and the same discussions that have happened in the straight fashion world. Which is – should we be promoting a certain size in a positive way?Where do we draw the line at plus-size? Do we consider obesity something to aspire to or that we want to promote with young people? No one in the Fashion world wants to address that yet, because it’s still so new in the grand scheme of things. And no-one wants to annoy the plus-size target market. Well apart from me and few others, and I think I made it clear when I did the ‘big speech’ and left Asos that I was not prepared to live a lie.

Fashion is business like any other. They will and do sell the dream, the ideal and they want to make money. They don’t really consider the effect fashion has on society and how it’s portrayed.

Teens and twenty somethings are particularly easy to target if you sell them the right ‘dream’ which in this case is plus-size fashion and that ‘fat’ = strong, happy, comfortable etc.’ Until recently I drank that kool-aid up and I believed it. I woke up with new eyes and strong consideration of the facts and I can speak for myself without the need for a garment to do the talking for me.
To all those teens and 20 somethings who currently are overweight I would say, enjoy the fashion because it’s beautiful but don’t use it as justification to stay overweight forever. When the time is right for you, you’ll see that the majority of obese people really are not truly comfortable physically or mentally and those that are either in denial (and will hate you for pointing that out as I used to be when someone questioned my health and weight) or luckily have not yet suffered any health effects from their weight.

It’s not all about getting down to a super skinny size. I’ve resigned to the fact that for me it’s about regular exercise and good nutrition and wherever my body takes me with using those things is fine. I think it will probably be a size 14 which is still plus size and comfortable for my own personal frame and height.

Beth Ditto has a beautiful voice, mind and kind spirit but she’s young – she looks much older. Is that what I want to look like? No, no matter how you dress it up she’s a rich celebrity whose overweight and we cannot all get away with being that size and having that much success whilst being high fived for it. How many young girls out there think they can be Beth Ditto?

Instead I think I’ll take Kelly Osborne’s new lifestyle any day. That’s the kind of youth that inspires me as a woman. She’s faced a lot of demons and she’s been brave and honest with herself and her fans.

It will be truly interesting to see how fashion deals with these issues in the next few years – because it’s something that many talk about behind the scenes – they just don’t know the best way to address it on a united front.

Lastly I would like to thank you for asking me to do this interview – I’m not the most popular chick on the block because of my views but it’s brave you asked me. What I say will not sit well for everyone but I’d say acceptance works both ways and it should not be confused with fact. If we really have to use the word ‘real’ in body image terms let it be defined as ‘keeping it real to every individual.’ We are not all cut from the same cloth and if we change how we keep it real to ourselves for ourselves we as people are less like sheep and more powerful as individuals. If I can accept that someone just doesn’t want to lose weight they need to accept that I don’t want to be obese. Style it however you want, obese is obese just as anorexic is anorexic neither is a good way to live. Evaluate and re-educate is smarter than denial any day.

Thank you Vanessa for doing this interview for us, we are so very grateful and keep in touch! Connect with Vanessa on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

I have asked Vanessa Reece to join me in an interview so I can really understand her thoughts as an expert in the fashion industry, she is an inspiration to me and I know she will always be honest with me. People either love Vanessa or hate her due to her controversial change of heart regarding weight and its portrayal in fashion but here at RBU we love her!

This will be a two part interview, the first half is about Vanessa’s experiences and lifestyle choices, the second about her opinion on the fashion industry and new business endeavours!

Vanessa, thank you for joining us, for those that don’t know you, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a 35 year old single Mother who’s worked as a plus-size model for Fashion, TV and Print Publications. Up until recently I’d been working in this field on a part time basis whilst also working in various other fields such as health care, business and retail.

On top of that I’ve, for the past ten years, been very much into using the internet to communicate and build awareness regarding my modelling work as well as other people’s work in entertainment, fashion and a whole other host of business niches.

At what age did you begin modelling and why did you want to get into this industry?

I first ventured into trying to be a model at eighteen but I just got the usual feedback which was, ‘you’re not right for us at the moment.’ Bearing in mind at eighteen years old I was a size 10 so it had more to do with the agencies I went to and my height which is 5ft 5.

I shelved the idea until about three years ago when a friend recommended me to the UK director Steve Price to be in a pop video. At this point I was about a size 22 and I thought it sounded fun but insane. Steve assured me it was a positive promotion of the larger female form and that if anything it was a dig at all the mainstream pop videos that were out featuring very slim women.
Ever the rebel – I jumped at the chance to show off my figure as by that time I’d got used to been a bigger woman, had no health issues that I could see or feel and was happy to show the world just that.

You were a plus size model and recently decided to make some lifestyle changes in order to be true to who you are and be happy in your skin. Can you tell me your experiences in the fashion industry and your decision to openly talk about your health goals?

Well if I may be blunt here. When I slowly announced my lifestyle change then made it really vocal the-you-know-what hit the fan big time.

Many of the plus-size community saw me as being ‘untrue’ to them or they perceived me to be on a preach fest. Many took it personally and I understand how it came across. They looked at me for so many years being happy to be big and all of a sudden I was saying, ‘look fat isn’t fabulous for me anymore. I’m obese and many of you are obese and when you say that word it’s not cool and it’s not something we should be promoting as such.’

I was working for Asos at the time as a fit model and I was restricted from changing size. I got tired of hearing the other models and staff talking about getting fit, maintaining weight etc. I felt real pressure but not from them – from myself. That was my instinct kicking in – if it was annoying me there had to be a reason right?

I wanted my slimmer body back and if I’m honest part of me came to the realization I could no longer carry the weight I was at 35 years old as I’d done for the past fourteen years!

To coincide with this I also had to deal with trying to liberate my mother to face her battle with weight, which had got so out of control it was affecting her physically with immense pain. When you hear the most precious woman in your life tell you she’s in agony due to her weight you have to start thinking with a different mind-set. I spent 24 hours worrying who I’d upset with my new stance after all the negative comments around the internet and then I thought simply, screw you all. This is not your life, it’s not your mother. This is not your body. I didn’t want to lose my mother to a weight related illness and I didn’t want to walk down the same path.

It all got to the point I had to vocalise this and unfortunately many people thought I was being preachy – but it bore out of watching my mother in so much pain because of her weight and feeling the same pain in my joints etc creeping up on me.

I think if anything the Asos gig and people I was around was simply a small percentage of the catalyst. In all honesty it was watching someone I love dearly being in so much pain and seeing me transform into that person if I didn’t get a grip and stop basking in denial.

What advice can you offer to other men and women who want to make a change to their lifestyle but are struggling?

Look at the facts before you look at the plus-size community. I was very well known in that community for a long time and very few people within it offer advice on how to make changes should you wish to. I support the people that are brave enough to.

Be under no illusion! Some of the most well known people in that community either struggle with depression, inner self doubt and or health issues. If they tell you otherwise I’d wager they are in the grip of denial as I was or they’re just happy to stay in the gang. Hard facts hurt but addressing them may just extend your life span and comfort. It’s not about acceptance it’s about education. I’m sick of hearing the word acceptance being used as an excuse not to educate people on the facts.

I would say be brave. It’s easy to be ‘one of the gang’ but far harder to be the leader of your own destiny.

If you don’t want to make a change that’s down to you, but be aware the longer you ignore it the harder it becomes to make the change.

I have been so guilty of allowing myself and others to believe that there is nothing wrong with being obese. But something is very wrong when you struggle to breath, walk, work out etc.

Go and see your doctor or reach out to someone who’s a nutritionist and get a plan together if you’re ready to commit to it.

And for goodness sake – don’t diet. You need to learn how to deal with food and emotions as well as understand that processed foods leads to untold health issues.

You are being there for your mum but how about you? Has there been anyone there for you?

I’m a big fan of Debra Mazda and she’s been a real inspiration. She was 300 lbs and just by exercise and observing what she ate she’s managed to maintain significant weight loss for the last thirty years. She’s feisty and passionate in educating people and it’s her mentoring I sort when I made my decision to speak out. She said, ‘Vanessa do you know how many people hate me for speaking my mind? Do I care? No, because I love my life and I didn’t when I was 300lbs.,’ so yes, a good mentor is great to have no matter where they are in the world. Just reach out and they will help you all they can because most of them have been where you are now.

I’m still on my journey and by no means can I say I’m out of the unhealthy zone (I still have demons) but I take each day at a time, read labels and embrace cooking from scratch instead of relying on processed meals. It is more expensive and it takes time but it’s totally worth it.

I’ve gone down almost two dress sizes by exercising and eating five small but healthy meals a day. If I can’t workout I go for a walk around the block and break a sweat. I feel so much better! Some days I totally fall by the way side, but I don’t beat myself up. Tomorrow is another day and I just get back on track.

My son has been a great support and even though he’s super slim, he too had got used to quick meals with no nutritional value. As a mother I was doing him no favours. We’ve started cooking together and I’m introducing him to different recipes that hopefully when he leaves home he’ll know how to cook and pick those meals rather than a processed meal. If you’re a parent then take your kids along for the journey. Let them see how hard you’re trying and how good it makes you feel.

to be continued next week…

If in the meantime you want to learn more about Vanessa, connect with her on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

Curves For Change launched it’s new website just last week advocating women with healthy body images who are dedicated to helping causes responsibly.

Based in New York, these women are helping charities from all over the world to make a difference and achieve significant fundraising activity.

“Curves For Change is an organisation that demonstrates how the power of beauty can change the world. Founded in 2010, curves for change reflects the commitment of Wilhelmina W Curve Models to use their careers and visibility to advocate and support a variety of issues and causes.

The women of curves for change are genuine trailblazers. They are successful women who have accepted the task to be healthy role models for girls and young women in society that preaches the importance of superficial beauty and thinness at any cost. Curves for change is committed to working for charities that benefit the empowerment of all women, no matter their size, shape, culture or income.”

Visit the Curves For Change website here.