At Be U, one thing very important to us is diversity and inclusion. For our first round of models we mainly used people who we knew, or friends of friends who are all shapes and sizes.
Today we wanted to share with you some of the girls’ experiences whilst modeling with us and a little bit of their backstories to see how being part of the photoshoots has helped them.
Lian Wood, aged 22 @lianwood_
I wanted to be a part of the shoot because it’s a big wide world and I’m a big wide girl who is in the process of accepting myself as I am. I felt that this opportunity would help me realise how beautiful we all are. It’s really important for me to be a part of this because I wanted to stand against how women are percieved over social medica, we all have different body types and they are all beautiful in our own way. I was apprehensive at first because I don’t even cahnge in front of my best friends but as soon as Georgia and the other Be U ladies got in front of the camera with no judgement, just support, it was so liberating. I could have walked out of the studio in my undies I felt that good! So yeah, I may be chunky but I keep it funky!
Eleanor Hill, aged 22 @elainedaapain
I became part of the Be U campaing because, as I grew up, I’d felt like an outsider when it came to my body. I always felt physically bigger than everyone else. As I grew up, I would be bullied, getting called a boy. I hated everything physical about myself. Being part of this photo shoot was to show that everyone is completely different, beautiful and there shouldn’t be one single streotype of female. The whole experience was absolutely empowering.
Megan Fursdon, aged 22 @megfursdon
I participated in the shoot because it was something new for me, I’d never pushed myself out of my comfort zone with my body like that and it was amazing to be doing it with some of my closest friends. Being a part of Be U means being part of a community of women who are fully embracing themselves in every way possible whilst fully supporting each other. Women supporting women is one of the greatest things we can do for each other right now, and seeing it in action in my everyday life is amazing. Prior to the shoot I was excited but definitely nervous! Some of the other girls had already been on a couple of shoots so already knew what to expect, but it’s one of the experiences where I’ve never felt more comfortable being myself. It was so relaxed, we made each other laugh and I genuinely learnt to love both my body and my mind a fair bit more than I did before I walked into that room. That confidence is something that still continues to grow.
Millie O’Connor, aged 22 @millieoconnor
When I was first asked to take part in a shoot I mainly did it because Georgia is a good friend of mine and I wanted to help her out. However, I feel it’s important to represent girls of all shapes and sizes, and being 5’2, sometimes people forget that height can be something girls are also self conscious of. I’ve been out clubbing before and random people have tried to ID me just to take the piss. I’ve been ID’ed for engery drinks which you need to be 16 to buy. People don’t seem to see height as something to be self-conscious of unless you’re the one reminded of it on a daily basis. This is why being part of Be U is important to me – you’re height is something to be proud of and people would never joke about a girls size so why joke about their height? Taking part in the photo shoots made me feel good and proud of who I am as no one looks the same and we should not aspire to be a certain size or height.
Loren Williams, aged 22 @loren_deanne
When Georgia asked me to be a model for Be U, I didn’t even have to think. Body confidence is something I have struggled with from such a young age, and I would look at my friend’s thighs who were size 6/8 in jeans and then look at mine that was a size 14. My mum said that big thighs ran in the family and I would always have them and to love them. It made me so upset: when it was hot my thighs would rub, my jeans never fit properly and I never felt pretty. I’ve always had a little lower belly podge and mum used to tell me it was only puppy fat and it would disappear as I grew up. I remember hoping ever day, waiting for that day to come. Now I am 22 years old, and that day still hasn’t come but I now embrace it, I think it’s sexy…just look at Marylin Monroe! My mum and sister especially showed me that a fuller body is beautiful. I still struggle every single day with my body image, there are days where I wake up feeling good, but still days where I look at myself in the mirror and cry. Being part of Be U has insanely helped my body positivity; embracing my curves, my chunky thighs and my wiggly arms! Working with all these beautiful women of all shapes and sizes has made me realise we all have our insecurities, and that we as women need to be building each other up. I never thought I would ever be beautiful enough to be a model, but Georgia showed me I could be, she made me feel worthy. This is why Be U and similar projects are so important, we are making a stand against the photoshopped, unrealistic goals of today’s advertisements and empowering women of all shades, shapes and sizes.
If you live in the Falmouth area and are interested in taking part in a photoshoot contact us through our contact page, or DM us on Instagram!
Never forget, it’s okay to Be U.
Be U 