Story Series: Morgan

The third interview in our story series.

This series is intended to discuss the different experiences we have had with body image over the years and how swimwear impacts how we view ourselves. Although no two bodies are the same, and we all experience life a little differently, we often have a similar internal dialogue about how we look and the negative thoughts surrounding our bodies. Let’s talk about this experience, shall we?

Maybe you’ll find that you aren’t alone in how you think about yourself.

Transcript: MORGAN’S STORY

"Hi I’m Morgan, I’m 26.”

Growing up, what was your experience with your body image?

“My experience with my body image growing up wasn’t great. Elementary school I would say it started to kind of deteriorate quite a bit. I had a deep sense of self loathing. Opening up social media and seeing what was represented, on TV as well... and what was kind of being normalized to me by my classmates, like that kind of perpetual cycle really made me feel like there was something wrong with me. Which, over time into high school kind of spiralled into something a little bit out of control where I eventually needed outside intervention to kind of help me heal.”

How did swimwear play into that experience?

“I only ever saw one body type represented. Growing up for me, as a big girl being 5’10 since grade 7 and also having a larger frame, that going into a store and never seeing anyone that looked like me I ended up purchasing bathing suits because I- not because I necessarily liked the bathing suit but because I wanted to look like the model that was wearing the bathing suit. So again that perpetuated a really negative cycle because I’m purchasing things that were not “flattering” for my body type.”

How has your perception of your body image changed, if at all? 

“My body image is substantially better than it used to be. I would even go as far to say I have a really good body image now and good relationship with my body. That did not happen overnight. It took a lot of inward reflection and also a lot of energy put out there to reinforce that my body type is normal and I don’t need to conform to a standard that is being enforced on me.”

What do you want to see changed to help you as well as others have a more positive outlook on their body?

“I think it’s a really complex issue. I think there’s a number of things that we can adjust outwardly, and inwardly as well. Education is super important. Starting, for most of us, starting really young that’s when we start having negative thoughts about our bodies. So, the introduction of education, learning about our bodies, learning about what it can do and placing our value on what our bodies do and who we are as people and not what we look like. Of course, brand representation is really important. It is something that is starting to come out of the woodwork now. A lot of different brands and companies are going out of their way to find people who represent a different body type. I think we can take it even further, there is still a lot of editing that happens in photos that beyond just a body type there’s a lot of other things that go into body image that isn’t just size that can really positively impact people. Beyond that, in terms of kind of inwardly, I think we all have to go out of our way to break cycles. And surrounding ourselves with people that are willing to break cycles and normalize difference is really important. So, I think all of those things. But, it really does start with us.”