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Stella Boonshoft. self-image, body awareness

Stella Boonshoft: Body Issues Be Damned, It’s My Body, Deal with it!

by Deborah Cruz

Stella Boonshoft. self-image, body awareness

Stella Boonshoft; You Rock my Socks Off

Stella Boonshoft a New York University student  took this photograph of herself in a bikini and posted it on her Tumblr account, The Body Love Blog.

Photographer Brandon Stanton then published the same image on his Facebook fan site, Humans of New York on Thursday, where it has since garnered 455,000 likes and been shared 20,000 times.

The image of Stella Boonshoft in her bikini has sparked a debate about body image and traditional notions of beauty, with some people congratulating Boonshoft and calling her an inspiration, and others criticizing the image for promoting obesity.

I don’t know about you but, as a woman who pretty much looks exactly like this in my own bikini right now and has battled with crappy eating disorders and been plagued with body dysmorphic disorder, this photo gives me hope. I am inspired by her tenacity and proud to know that there are women out there who are trying to change the status quo. I’m not saying that I want to live in a world where it’s accepted that people are unhealthy. I want better for people. I want them to be able to be healthy and fit but more than that, I want to raise my girls in a world where it’s okay to love yourself even if you are not a size 0. We need more role models.

I can’t be a role model. I am not that comfortable in my own skin. I try to be. I try to accept who I am but I have a long ways to go. I KNOW that I am blessed to be healthy and my worth is not in the size of my pants but this girl inspires me, which is exactly what she set out to do for women everywhere.

 

Stella Boonshoft Super hero to Young Women

“I know what I am trying to do, which is help young women struggling with their body image and expose the hypocrisy and cruelty that is size-ism,” she says on her site. “[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][I know that] is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT [than] whatever feelings I may have about myself.”

‘THIS IS MY BODY, DEAL WITH IT’ : Stella Boonshoft in her own words

‘WARNING: Picture might be considered obscene because subject is not thin. And we all know that only skinny people can show their stomachs and celebrate themselves. Well I’m not going to stand for that. This is my body. Not yours. MINE. Meaning the choices I make about it, are none of your … business. Meaning my size, is none of your … business.

 I wish there were more women like you in the world. You go Stella Boonshoft.

What do you think of Stella Boonshoft’s dare to be honest bikini photo?

 

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10 comments

Elaine Griffin 2012/10/21 - 2:56 pm

I think she is amazing! I am not that strong, either. I wouldn’t want to look at myself in the mirror wearing a bikini, let alone put it on the internet.
Strong women like Stella help me take one step forward. Maybe someday I will be that strong.
Thank you Stella, and thank you Deborah for this awesome post!

Reply
Ashley @ Bottles, Diapers... Babies 2012/10/21 - 3:00 pm

Good for her! I struggle with my body image but I don’t let it show. I am raising 2 smart, healthy beautiful girls and I never want them to have to worry about not being a 0 and I don’t want them to learn to worry at a young age, especially not from me.

Reply
Deborah Cruz 2012/10/21 - 3:20 pm

Amen girl. I am with you. It’s hard but I do what I can. I think this girl has BIG BALLS and I wish I had the nerve to do the same. I hated bikini pics even when I was tiny thin.

Reply
KalleyC 2012/10/22 - 11:24 am

I think it is awesome! I’m so happy that there are women who are promoting comfort in their own skins. It’s hard to do, especially when you put yourself out there like that, but I think she has major guts and hopefully, people get the message.

Reply
PAAL 2012/10/24 - 2:56 am

She is unhealthy, but if she’s comfortable with that. then no worries. This website blog has summed up the abuse and self deception of the term ‘real woman’ very well. It’s an interesting but honest read. It WILL tread on toes! I certainly gave the article a ‘Like’!

http://www.lifenergy.com.au/blog/

Reply
Kenny 2012/11/01 - 4:34 pm

You don’t have to be a size 0, or a size 5 for that matter, but common folks. This woman should stop shoving ho hos and ding dongs down her throat and be a little healthier. We shouldn’t promote unrealistic expectations of body image, but we shoudn’t promote obesity either.

Telly

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