From the editor
Somewhere in between Spice Girls photos and quad vods at Liverpool University’s SU, there was one thing I spent my precious money on – bras. I despised the measly A-cup I was endowed with and would trudge around department stores in search of push-up structures that could magic a cleavage out of a piece of A4 paper. Years of self-loathing went by, envying friends as they squeezed into low-cut tops. I feigned sympathy when they moaned about clothes not fitting, industrial bra straps and the dreaded summer underboob sweat. For me, it was the equivalent of someone complaining about how badly they’d done in an exam when, really, they knew they’d get an A*. However, as I entered my twenties and the fog of teenage insecurity started to lift, I realised they’d been feigning sympathy too. While I moaned about my flat chest, all they heard were the “problems” of being able to wear pretty lingerie, exercise without the fear of boob-induced injury or back pain, and the ability to go bra-free. It turned out the thing I hated most about my body was one of my most envied features. A recent survey conducted by our publisher, Hearst, confirmed it’s our own inner critic that has the biggest impact on our body confidence and that “comparison” is at the core. It’s one of the many reasons we’re part of Project Body Love and why we promise to do our absolute best to represent a range of body shapes, sizes and abilities in this magazine (and online). Whether it’s championing bodypositive babes like Bebe Rexha (p72), deep-diving into mental health (p26 & 80) and body dysmorphia (p43), or featuring feel-good fashion (p102), we want to help you see your body how it truly is – beautiful.
Feeling crappy today? Close your eyes and repeat one (or all) of these mantras: have” “I’m grateful for what I of” “I have a lot to be proud “I’m doing my best” “I’m happy with the way I am today”
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