Why body shamers need to shut up

Body Positivity is something we all need to take on a little more; it's also something that others need to take on a little more. When I refer to the 'others' I'm talking about the body shamers, the judgemental men (and occasionally women) who decide to take it upon themselves to advise, judge and bash others for the way in which they look. Keep on reading to see how I overcame a body shamer this week...

All of my life I have been 'chubby' and all of my life I have experienced people calling me names, but last night was the first time that I had encountered somebody online bashing my positivity posts. Yesterday I took a mirror selfie, just one as I was in a rush (so not my usual 53) and I decided not to post it on social media as I thought I looked too fat, too chubby and I thought that the angle was unflattering. Despite all of these self-destructive thoughts, I decided to post it on social media later that day. Why? Because I want younger people to know it's okay to not look like the photoshopped, posed images you see on social media.

So, after posting this photograph on Twitter later that night and feeling proud that I had fought of the demons in my head telling me I'm not good enough, the post got over 100 likes and I felt happy with my earlier decision of posting. Then at around 11pm I received a lovely notification, a young man had quoted my tweet.. saying "why are fat people like this😂😂😂😂😂" with an abundance of laughing emojis. I screenshot the tweet and posted it on my twitter.

I had an incredible response. My followers stuck up for me and put this boy in his place, which I can't thank them (you) enough for! Honestly, I didn't want to bite back and give him the satisfaction and yeah, I did give him a piece of my mind in the end as he wouldn't shut up and I won't have him call me fat, say I'm not healthy when he knows nothing about me and put down other girls who were defending me and my lifestyle choices.

People like him are the reason some young girls (and guys) become anorexic. People like him are the reason thousands of people starve themselves everyday. People like him are the reason why people feel unworthy in the skin they're in. And people like him are the reason I'm sat here writing this kick ass article and defending my thick thighs and the thousands of other thick thighed gals out there who need a confidence boost.

I understand he may not find chubby girls attractive. GOOD. I didn't want you to find me attractive, because quite frankly I don't find judgmental, disgusting men who only think of women as sexual objects to find me attractive. I DON'T DRESS NICE FOR BOYS TO LIKE ME. I DON'T WORKOUT BECAUSE I WANT BOYS TO LIKE ME. I DON'T WEAR LIPSTICK BECAUSE I WANT BOYS TO LIKE ME. I honestly don't give a flying fuck if boys like me or not - if they do, they do and if they don't they don't. I will NEVER do ANYTHING so that a boy or anyone finds me attractive, I do everything for me and only for me.

Yes, I may have excess fat on my body, mainly on my bum and thighs lol, but everybody has excess fat on their body - but this will never, ever define a person. Excess fat does not mean you are fat and a random body shamer's opinion does not mean anything to you and should in NO way make you feel worthless. Years ago I'd have run off crying, crash dieted and worried about how I looked but instead this girl isn't worrying. Instead she's spreading positivity, self love and feels more empowered than EVER before. I'm bloody gorgeous and I don't care what anybody thinks about me. I'm healthy, I workout everyday, I'm happy and I have a goddamn amazing wardrobe full of clothes that fit, flatter and make me feel and look bloody amazing.

I want young people to know that being curvier and chubbier than the norm is okay. I want young people to know that a man's opinion (or anybody's opinion) should never, ever define you and WON'T. I want young people to know that they should wear whatever they want. I want young people to know that they can post photos of themselves and feel confident about it. And most of all, I want young people to know that if some low-life, body shamer who is clearly just sooooooo jealous that he can't have you, decides to slate you - you should just ignore it, post another photo, hashtag it #bodyposi, flip your hair, shake your curvy hips and go and enjoy that slice of cake that he made you feel unworthy of.

Let's end this post on a positive note with some bomb-ass photos of me from a recent shoot!

I hope this post has inspired you to be unapologetically you. Wear what you like, be true to you and don't ever feel as though you have to justify yourself to anybody.

Sending love, hugs and body positivity...