This is the kind of story that reminds me why we started P.S. You’re Beautiful. A friend just sent me this story on Taryn Brumfitt, an Australian writer, speaker, mom and former fitness model who’s working on a revolution of her own.
Taryn Brumfitt is the everywoman. After three kids, she found herself looking in the mirror and telling herself how disgusting she looked. Even after she changed her diet, started training and became a fitness model, insecurities continued to eat away at her. When she found herself looking into liposuction and breast implants, Brumfitt had an epiphany: She didn’t want her daughter to grow up with the same insecurities she’d been struggling with.
So, about a year ago, after slowly learning to love and embrace her body as it was, the mother of three released this photo on social media in the midst of the firestorm that was FitMom:
The photo that started Taryn Brumfitt’s Body Image Movement
Overnight, the image went viral. While thousands supported her, many others criticized Brumfitt, calling her a bad role model. She realized how “brainwashed” we’ve all become and decided to do something to change the dialogue surrounding women’s bodies. So, she founded the Body Image Movement and set to work on a project to unite women around the world.
Taryn Brumfitt’s response to all the “post-pregnancy celebrity” magazine covers
On her Kickstarter page, she writes:
Women and girls are constantly held back and lead to believe they’re not as good as they should be. Why? Because every day we feel we’re being judged on our appearance and how far away it is from an unachievable ideal.
Lose weight, reduce wrinkles, fight cellulite; we’re constantly told to fight a battle to be someone other than who we are.
Excessive photoshopping, the sexualisation of women in the media and advertising campaigns that prey on women’s insecurities – it’s no wonder there is a culture of body loathing and body shaming of epidemic proportions going on in the world.
So I decided I wanted to do something about it. I created The Body Image Movement and started spreading my message “LOVE YOUR BODY”. I soon got frustrated – 140 characters on Twitter, 4 minute TV interviews and 800 word blogs weren’t enough. I needed a louder voice and a bigger platform! Whilst searching for the best way to get my message out to the world the idea of creating a documentary was born.
Watch the trailer for her film below and just try to keep yourself from dissolving into tears (the way I did). Brumfitt has already raised over $100,000 (Australian), but she still needs over $85,000 to reach her goal. Donate here and embrace the revolution. Taryn Brumfitt, we embrace you and we can’t wait to see your film!