Welcome

Welcome to my favourite WH issue of the year (don’t tell the others): our Naked Issue. It’s my top pick because it embodies everything that this magazine – and I, as editor – stands for: confidence, empowerment and celebrating our amazing bodies and all they do for us. Since we first persuaded a slew of famous faces from the celebrity and sporting worlds to strip off three years ago, this annual campaign has become a talking point for all the right reasons. Now, for the first time ever, 15 editions of Women’s Health from across the world are going naked; an international sign of solidarity among women of entirely different cultures and lifestyles – joining forces to applaud the female form in all its guises and calling for an end to body-shaming and sizeism. Some might argue that taking your clothes off in a national magazine isn’t brave. Me? I think it damn well is. Okay, it might not be up there with fighting in the armed forces or competing against top athletes with the world watching, but it takes serious bottle – especially since, as the results of our global survey on page 104 reveal, the average British woman isn’t exactly oozing body confidence. The 10 women posing across pages 86 to 103 in nothing more than their birthday suits are testament to the fact that – regardless of age, size or ethnicity – we are all beautiful. Take our cover star Sofía Vergara, Modern Family favourite and the highestpaid TV actress in the world. She’s 45, happily admits that she has to browbeat herself into her leggings and through the gym doors, and you only have to peek at her Instagram feed to see she’s partial to the odd cake – or four. She’s the very refreshing epitome of #balance. Check out Madeleine Shaw, who was 32 weeks pregnant when she took to a London rooftop to be photographed as part of our Naked shoot. With her first child due around the time this issue hits news stands, what better example of body positivity to show her son or daughter in the future than the beautiful image on page 94? The star who had the most profound and lasting effect on me was, no doubt, gorgeous Jada Sezer. Hand on heart, I’ve never met another woman who exudes such confidence and kindness. If I could bottle just 10% of her natural glow and carry it with me as a little vial of goodness to get me through my day, I know my life would be a nicer ride. On that note, I encourage you to spend a few extra seconds drinking in the stunning images of our Naked stars – you never know, their confidence might be catching.