Why I’m all for an ‘undress’ code
As you know, I don’t need much of an excuse to go out in public in my underwear, or to write about going out in public in my underwear, and this week I am thankful to the staff of Thomas Cook for providing me with one. Staff on-board a plane flying from Birmingham to Tenerife earlier this month almost removed a 21-yearold passenger, Emily O’connor, for wearing “inappropriate” attire on the flight – trousers and a crop-top, which they had mistaken for a bra. Much was made of it in the news, with one social commentator noting that O’connor had “demeaned herself ” by wearing it.
Personally, I don’t see what the fuss is about – but then I have just launched a crusade to get as many women as possible to run a 10k with me in their underwear. The Celebrate You campaign aims to give women reasons to give thanks for their bodies, rather than doing them down, as we are so often encouraged to (be it by filtering or Photoshopping or, in the case of Thomas Cook, public-shaming).
On May 27, I will be joined by a range of women who have experienced everything from FGM to cancer, who are sick of being made to feel that the only value their body has is in its sexiness. Through showing the lumps, bumps and scars that are so often airbrushed from view, we plan to show that taking your clothes off doesn’t always have to be about titillating men.
If you want to join us – and we would love you to – just go to vitalitylondon10000.co.uk/celebrateyou