About the project
I am a “full-figured” woman. Others might even say, “well-rounded” or “big-boned”, but because of the “ideal” that is broadcasted all over the media for most of my life I have struggled with the way I look. I never felt I was pretty enough, even if my family and friends told me otherwise. This insecurity overwhelmed me wherever I went and whenever I looked in the mirror until I realized that I was not alone. There is extreme pressure for people today to fulfill and maintain standards of beauty set by the media, which has created idealistic standards. The message about the ideal body type is such an influential message that can shape anyone’s attitude and behavior. Real beauty, however, is not airbrushed and plastered on television screens and magazines. Real beauty is looking in a mirror and realizing that feeling and being beautiful is a choice. Feeling and being beautiful is much more significant than having someone tell you that you are beautiful. Taking responsibility to define what being pretty means to you rather than striving for someone else’s ideal is so essential for mental health. And that’s something I had to realize and it takes years to do, I’m still working on it. So, I felt that creating a video that showcases people who are working on loving their bodies no matter their shape or size was important for our community to see. I was fortunate enough to partner with the Student Team of the Office of Diversity and Equity to create a video campaign which discusses the various types of physical beauty across Geneseo, NY. These videos intend to promote body positivity and challenge negative perceptions of one’s characteristics by highlighting self-love within the campus community! We wanted to hear students perspectives and lived experiences to help change the negative stigmas surrounding the American ideal. With the student’s help, we started on the path of deconstructing the dangerous and harmful narratives amplified by the media.
– Jada Atwood
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
