Body Image Activist, Eating Disorders mamaVISION

Meet Sophie Watson.

Quite a lovely, 14 year old girl isn’t she?

(She would be lovelier without those freckles though, don’t ya think? But at least her tattooed eyeliner, eyebrows and lip liner makes her otherwise shallow features stand out).

“I am happy. I just look a lot better, Sophie says.

“I like it now that it is always there and I don’t need to bother with it every morning.”

Her mother, a demented beauty therapist (that’s a new one), said she gave permission for the make-up treatment, according to BBC News.

“I think she is old enough to be making these decisions with support from me. It wasn’t something we looked into lightly. When you say she has had her make-up tattooed on it sounds really shocking. But actually it is done very subtly,” she said. “It’s done to enhance her features, it’s not done to change her, to make her look like somebody else. It’s not done to change the way she looks.”

Really? And removing her freckles is going to do what exactly?

Child charity the NSPCC criticised the move and said girls should not be treated as “sex objects”.

The media is crying foul on this because “the danger is that a growing climate of sexualization encourages a view of girls as sex objects,” according to a spokeswoman for the Children’s Charity NSPCC said.

I get this, but first and foremost this is an issue of self esteem.

Girls are being made to feel they should “enhance” themselves physically at younger, and younger ages. What’s next — breast implants before their breast even start growing??! Toddlers strutting around in high heels?

“All children should be valued for their abilities and talent. They should be free to grow up as children. Sadly, we have reached a point where many children get distressed because they think they don’t look good. For some vulnerable children, this can even lead to mental health problems.”

Ya think?!

If you have a mother, like this obviously deranged one, avoid her advice at all costs. SHE is the one with low self esteem, and she is trying to make up for it through you. Don’t allow your mother’s issues become YOUR issues –whether is about weight, looks, height, style, whatever.

A healthy, loving mom should encourage you to dress how you want to dress, explore what you want to explore, and talk to you point blank about societies sick obsession with beauty.

If she doesn’t, that’s what I am here for.

Don’t believe the hype.

mV

XOXO

PS The BBC news article refers to Sophie’s two “illegal” body tattoos. For the record, I support this aspect of self expression. Sure, 14 is young, but I believe that forms of personal self expression such as this is one of the best ways to grow self esteem…you should try it — NOW.

How are you expressing yourself today?

Do you take risks with your clothes — wearing styles that are outside the norm, painting a streak in your hair, or plastering pins on your backpack that speak your mind? What about talking about things that are not “cool,” like reading, orchestra, or drama club? BE YOU BABY!

PSS Today, I have a henna tattoo on my wrist to go with my Buddha bracelet, black nail polish, and peace sign toe ring. The pin on my backpack says “I’ll have Cafe-Mocha Vodka-Marijuana Latte to go, please.”

Thanks for Sharon for sending me this story tip! Do you have a tip? Send to mamavision@gmail.com

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Who the hell is this pro-ana chick?

CRYSTAL FRICKIN’ RENN.

Yes, Renn, the PROUD plus size model and author of Hungry. Renn said she was stunned when a photographer for a charity fashion shoot gave her a digital slim-down (and heroin chic eyes no less) that prompted a flurry of questions about her body image.

The photos in question, shot by photographer Nicholas Routzen, show a suddenly svelte Renn in a tank top benefiting Fashion for Passion, a charity that funds arts education for children.

“When I first saw the pictures, I have to say I was absolutely shocked. I think I sat in silence for a good five minutes,” Renn said today on NBC’s “Today” show. “I don’t think it’s an accurate portrayal of my body in any way. I’m a size 10, and that is more like a size 2.”

Renn wasn’t the only one who did a double-take. The fashion blogosphere jumped into overdrive, comparing “before” pictures of a healthy looking Renn at the photo shoot with the drastically trimmed “after” shots. The contrast between the two is especially evident at Jezebel.com, where readers traced Renn’s original frame and superimposed it on her whittled-down one.

“It’s striking to see how much she’s been downsized all over — from the shoulders to the hips to the thighs,” Jezebel wrote.

(more…)

As if I wasn’t paranoid enough, now I have to find out about all the cancer causing chemicals in makeup. Take a deep breath and read this pile of crap;

To date, the European Union (EU) has banned 1,100 chemicals in cosmetics; the Food and Drug Administration in America has banned only ten. Yeah, I said 10.

Hello America???!! WTF?

One of the best examples is that Cover Girl waterproof mascara contains the same ingredient (petroleum distillates, an oil by-product) as Dr. Scholl’s Wart Remover—both of which are illegal in Europe (oh, so that is why “every lash for volumized  at their boldest, rain or shine” like the commerical says!)

How lovely. But at least we LOOK good right girls?

(more…)

It seems “eating less” is cool these days according to Urban Outfitters. I guess it’s their hip and trendy response to the whole “obesity crisis” but perhaps they should ponder the repercussions of placing this shirt in their stores modeled by a pale skinny chick (that kind of looks stoned).

Irresponsible as hell.

On their web site, this is how they describe the product;

“Eat less or more or however much you’d like in this seriously soft knit tee cut long and topped with a v-neck.” Perhaps they should have printed all of that on there.

Whatever.

(more…)

Everything is wrong about this story -EVERYTHING (and don’t you dare rip into me about calling this girl anorexic, I don’t even want to hear it, let’s just call a spade a spade already and stop with this PC non-sense).

Ahhh, on to my points;

Healthy Magazine (oh, the irony) has digitally altered a model to appear to weigh more than she actually does. Or as the rest of the articles on this topic are quoting “Skinny Model Airbrushed To Look Fatter”

Irritating. Ridiculous. Just plain wrong.

(more…)

Hi Guys, no time to post commentary, will do so in the comments, please go here to reach the story.

Lane Bryant Skelton Commercial Is Unfricken Real

UPDATE: 5/26/10

I am told I have been foiled (along with Huffington Post and MediaPost). This is a fake ad some knob created pretending to be Lane Bryant. Thank goodness, practically gave me a heart attack)

When Lady Gaga was recently asked by the magazine if there’s anything special she does to maintain her figure, other than dancing a lot and possibly hitting the gym as well every once in a while,  Gaga’s answer was as blunt as it is potentially upsetting for the fans who look up to her.

“It’s all about starvation! Pop stars don’t eat.”

Now coming from Lady Gaga, I figure her comment was a “joke,” but we all know that eating disorders are no joke, so this really ticks me off. Further, commentary from celebrity sites stating “she’s not exactly a size zero” adds fuel to the fire, again since one does not need to be thin to have an eating disorder.

Grrrrr!

Since the lame-o coment, Lady Gaga has dismissed rumours she’s suffering from an eating disorder – putting her recent weight loss down to her busy schedule.

The singer has sparked fears for her health in recent months after a string of problems during her Monster Ball tour, including passing out on stage in New Zealand and cancelling shows after she was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in January.

And Gaga’s increasingly slender frame led to concerns she is in the grip of an eating disorder, but the Poker Face hitmaker is adamant she doesn’t have a problem with food – she just can’t find time to sit down for proper meals.

She tells Britain’s The Times, “My schedule is such that I don’t get very much time to eat. But I certainly don’t have an eating problem.”

Tipsters informed us of the location of Oprah’s Inside Rehab program, Shades of Hope Treatment Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas. This treatment facility is where the program “Ruby” was filmed, shown at left with Oprah herself. Read more about it here.

Shades of Hope will be featured on Dr. Oz this Friday during the segment on food addiction. And they are twittering away about it today, so I am thinking they aren’t planning on keeping their involvement a secret.

Here’s what I am wondering, why would a treatment center want to participate in a Reality TV show? If you are so inclined, feel free to contact Shades of Hope and share your feelings. However, I ask that you do NOT go ballistic on these people.

Tell them your feelings in a mature, professional manner so we are viewed as the serious eating disorder community that we are, a group that truly cares and wants to make sure patients are not exploited in any way, shape or form. I understand this is a highly emotional topic, but we really do need to be respectful in order to be heard.

Ok, breathe…..here’s the contact info:

Phone Number: 1-800-588-4673
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 639, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508
Physical Address: 402-A Mulberry Street, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508

Email: Contact Us Form

Here is a video of the owner talking about why she got into this field of work;

Have you been interviewed for the show? If you would like to share your experience email mamavision@gmail.com

Join our FB group working hard to gain the attention of Oprah’s publicity team to let them know our concerns.

Join the discussion on Facebook here

Have you been contacted by the producers and/or casting agents of Oprah’s Inside Rehab, E! What’s Eating You, or The Biggest Loser’s producers yet to be named show? If yes, I would like to talk to you, email me direct at mamavision@gmail.com

Thank you tipster Candice for this story from East London where the Department of Advertising Correction is in full pursuit. A white utility van emblazoned with the logo of the “Shoreditch Department of Advertising Correction” has been taking over political billboards in East London, changing Conservative Party ads to poetic or sometimes political ends.