98
Bridget Malcolm
The model, who’s worked for clients like Victoria’s
Secret and Seafolly, has a history of battling an
eating disorder and speaks out about the body
shaming she’s experienced in the modelling industry.“I was able to open up about my eating disorder and
being diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
(PMDD) because of the road feminist icon Gloria Steinem
paved for me. Some people might find it odd that I think
so strongly of a person I’ve never met, but she inspires me.
Her convictions, beliefs and commitment to equalitymotivate me every day; it helps me to stay brave. The first
piece of hers that I read was her famous essay forShow
magazine back in the ‘60s about being a Playboy bunny;
the way she weaved humour into a criticism of rampant
sexism was so clever. She was personal and political.
I wrote a blog for a long time but didn’t really open up
properly. It wasn’t until I was completely and utterly honest
with all the struggles I’d been dealing with that I found the
most connection; I got that from reading Gloria’s work.
I was met with 100 per cent love. It was incredible. To have
readers, who had pretended like everything was okay, tell
me, ‘No, actually, my life is a mess,’ was so important.
Gloria’s writing helped me understand that we have more
that connects us than divides us, and that letting your
vulnerability show is strength. I think we all need to be
reminded of that right now.”Celeste Barber
The comedian and Instagram superstar’s upcoming
US tour has already sold out several shows,
and her memoir,Challenge Accepted!,isonits
way to becoming a bestseller... before it even
hits shelves this month.“I was doing a show calledAll Saintswhen I met one of the
great loves of my life, Jo Cash. She was the greatest thing
that ever happened to me. Jo was one of the makeup artists
on the show and we just clicked straight away. I mean, I’d
like to claim we clicked and we had a relationship like
no-one else; it was like that from my end, but everyone just
loved her, they all had that connection with her. She was
that kind of person. Brighter than the sun.
We lived together and Jo was my bridesmaid. She
even, once, convinced me to do yoga (it didn’t go that
great). She had a very special bond with my eldest son,
Louis. I was devastated when JoJo passed away from
cancer, the same year my youngest son, Buddy, was born.
It was the hardest thing. Just the hardest. I still can’t really
talk about it.
I’m quite cynical in life and in my comedy, whereas JoJo
always saw the goodness and radiated joy. She taught me
that happiness is a very simple choice – you can take it or
leave it, but taking it is the best option. And I think joy is
actually a very brave choice – it’s easy to be negative and
cynical, it’s harder to see the happiness. But I try.”Dress, $390,
SASS & BIDE,
sassandbide.com.au;
ring (on right hand),
$98,ALIX YANG,
alixyang.com; Celeste’s
own ring on left hand