My biggest body image lesson

Lucy Newport • April 25, 2023

Reading time: 3 mins


This is a story about something I’ve known about body image for a few years, but that an experience last Christmas helped me to understand even more deeply. And it’s an experience that I think about all the time... 


Alongside coaching and building Binge Free & Worthy, I currently have a part-time Supervisor role in a women’s fashion store. What’s been really interesting about this job is that it’s given me even greater insights into the relationships between women and their bodies. Because whilst I’m suggesting outfits and being on hand at fitting rooms, these women often share with me the insecurities they have about their bodies. And believe me, I’ve heard many since starting this job 7 months ago. 


I’ve had a mother of the groom in tears, telling me that she’s never felt so much pressure to look good in all her life. I’ve had a woman telling me how much weight she’s lost and how much she’s trying to lose before her holiday by eating just once a day. I’ve had a new mother buy an outfit that’s too small for her to “motivate her to get her old body back”.


Sometimes these comments are really hard to hear. And I know we’ve all been there. If you have thoughts like this regularly that’s okay! I have too. This story isn’t to shame anyone, but to help us see what really matters when it comes to body image.

So, last December we had a rare type of woman visit the store. The type of woman that I one day hope to be! She was accepting of her own unique beauty in a way that we don’t often see. She didn’t have the culturally “ideal” shape or size but she LOVED what she did have. 


This woman was looking for an outfit for a Christmas party and we went around the store picking out options together. She was looking for something that she would a) stand out in and b) she could dance in - yes and yes! When she tried on the outfits she GLOWED. She LAUGHED. And she tested out her dance moves in them! 


I felt magnetised to this woman. She was loving herself and that made it easy for me to love her too. And because she was at ease within herself, I felt more at ease within myself. I didn’t feel like my body was being judged by her. My tummy softened. My heart opened. And I wanted to go out dancing with her! 

This experience taught me three things:

  1. True beauty, for a large part, is an inside job. What you feel about yourself, about others and about life shines through.

  2. The way that you feel about your body affects how others also feel about you. If you’re feeling comfortable in yourself, others will more likely feel comfortable around you. Your energy speaks louder than words.

  3. When you’re loving and accepting of yourself, you reflect that back out. Others will also feel more loving and accepting of themselves and will feel even more drawn to you! 


I hope this little story has shown you a different perspective on body image. I hope it’s helped you to see that you don’t need to force your body to look different in order to be lovable. And I hope it’s helped you to see where your next steps may be in your own journey towards a more accepting relationship with your body. 


Now, I invite you to reflect on the different people you’ve been around and how they’ve felt about their bodies…

How do you feel about specific people when you’re in their company?

How do you feel about yourself when you’re in their company?

Play with these questions as you interact with others, it may surprise you what comes up…