Georgie: As the project started
gaining more momentum I noticed
more and more that women were
getting involved because they had
something to share. Women wanted
to share scars, their journeys with
cancer, the pain of living with
diseases that people can’t see such
an endometriotis, their life-long
struggles with eating disorders,
living with a ileoscomy bag – so
many issues affecting women were
being brought to the forefront.
The project had really become a
platform for women to not only
stand up and say ‘This is Me’ but to
share and to raise awareness.How have your feelings
towards your own
bodies changed over
time, or changed from
creating this book?Georgie: Creating this book has
made me more aware of how I
speak about my body to myself and
in front of my family. I constantly
compliment my children and speak
kindly to them and I have started
to practise that kindness more
to myself. Since working on this
project... I don’t miss an opportunity
to jump off the jetty with my kids,
join them in the waves learning
to surf, a morning dip ... I’ve even
walked the dog in my swimsuit (it
was on the beach!)... but it’s made
me accept myself more and be more
of a participant than a spectator- something I had become more
aware of as I was getting older. I
think learning to accept and love
yourself opens the doors to so
much more joy.
KATE, 40
“I never gave much thought to the
‘perfection’ aspect of images in the media
until I had my daughter. At such a young
age, minds are shaped and ‘goal posts’ set.
We need to realise how misleading and
unattainable these are for most people,
and the impact constant comparison can
have is something that should change. The
more we see perfect imperfections,
the more acceptance there will be. For me,
body confidence is all about perspective.
I’m lucky enough to work in a field that I’m
passionate about – speech pathology – and
through this I know that everyone has their
own stuff going on. If my biggest drama that
day is body image, then I’m doing okay!”
Kate with her daughter MaddieThis is Me by
Julie Adams and
Georgie Abay
(Bauer Books, $39.99),
bauerbooks.com.au.be inspired