Rachel McNeil
8:00 AM
What is a personal experience with your own body image that you would like to share?
Body image has always been a tough subject for me to talk about. For a long time, I hated my body. Trying to find something I liked about myself was a serious challenge. I didn’t start forming a poor body image of myself until I reached middle school. I was the unfortunate girl who bloomed a bit early in life. I developed a lot earlier and faster than most of my friends did growing up, and I was teased for that. I can remember being in middle school and going to sleep with an ace bandage tightly wrapped around my chest hoping my boobs would shrink so that I could be the same size as everyone else. I even went as far as putting textbooks on my chest! It was insane, but I was desperate to fit in. My friends made me feel like something was wrong with me and that I wasn’t like the rest. They always made jokes and I just laughed and pretended like it didn't bother me. I felt like an outcast inside. I hated pool parties because that was the time where everyone would make some comment about my chest. The girls made me feel like I didn’t belong and the boys made me feel extremely uncomfortable. It was absolutely embarrassing for me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my friends dearly, but they never made me feel equal to them. High school wasn’t any better. By that point, I was completely ashamed of my body. I still had big boobs, I was the tallest girl in my class, and I wasn’t stick thin. Thinking back to this time in my life is extremely hard because I’d like to think I’ve come a long way since then. When I came to college, everything started to turn around. I finally started to feel accepted. I can honestly say that because I became a Tri Delta, my entire view of my own body and body image in general has completely changed for the better! Although I still struggle every day with my own view of my body, I know I am own the road to recovery. My sisters have been the greatest support system ever. They are the ones that have taught me to love myself. I am especially thankful for my very close friends because they never let me talk poorly about my body. Any time I start to have negative thoughts, I am always reminded of “body image 3D.” It is because of Tri Delta that I am finally starting to love my body and myself. I love you sisters!!!
When do you
feel the most beautiful?
I feel most
beautiful when I am around my friends. I have been so blessed to have such an
amazing support system in my life. I can honestly say that fat talk is not
present within my close group of friends. They are constantly encouraging me to
only talk positively about myself and that has helped me to do the same for
them.
What do you
think is the most important thing for young girls to know about their bodies
as they grow older?
I think it's
important to know that there is no perfect body type. I grew up thinking that a
girl should look a certain way. She should be super skinny, no blemishes, no
stomach rolls, and the list goes on. It drives me insane to think that I used
to believe that. The truth is that every single human being on this planet has
a different body type, and even that body type will go through changes. Young girls
should be encouraged to live a healthy life and to be accepting of other body
types, including their own. This constant desire to be a certain body weight or
look a specific way is quite honestly repulsive. Models don't even look the way
they do in magazines! When you start to be confident and accepting of yourself,
your beauty will shine all over!
How do you
feel the media’s portrayal of women’s bodies influences women’s body image?
The media
rips apart and destroys any positive body image that a woman has. Magazines, the
internet, social media, they all contribute some type of criticism toward women
and their bodies. The media thrives off of women with poor self-esteem so that
they can make a profit. It's disgusting. If one day I am fortunate enough to
have a daughter of my own, I will do my best to not let her drown within the
negativity of the media like every woman in this world so often does.
What is a quote or saying that makes you feel great about yourself?
"A flower does not think about competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms."
It's a simple quote, but in my opinion, it says a lot. Flowers are such beautiful aspects of nature. There is no such thing as competing for looks with flowers. They are naturally beautiful. Humans are also naturally beautiful. If only everyone could see that there is no need to compete with others. Just being yourself is beautiful.
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