Hilary Duff did an interview with Women’s Health about a week and a half ago that I’m only just seeing now. That’s the thing about Hilary Duff, she hustles so hard for coverage that she ends up getting ignored when she says something interesting/controversial. Hilary has been an outspoken advocate for body positivity, she’s like Demi Lovato in that way. However Hilary said a bunch of stuff to Women’s Health that was short-sighted, I’ll call it. Incidentally, Women’s Health rephrased an interview they did with Hilary to make it sound like a first person essay, which is bizarre. That may have altered the way her words come across, so some of her responses might be misrepresented.
Being a new mom was one of the happiest times of my life, but how I felt about my body really sucked… I also held onto all the “baby weight” for a long time. I wasn’t one of those women who just could nurse and lose the weight. Some people bounce back and don’t have to deal with that, and that’s wonderful for them. But for me, it was so hard to connect with my body again once I had a baby.
It wasn’t until my mind adjusted to not caring as much that I started to figure it all out. I realized that I am never going to be the same again, and that’s okay. I’ve learned to be proud of what my body does for me, and what it did while I was pregnant with my son.
Now, I’m happy to say that I have a pretty healthy relationship with my body. Of course, I’m 5’2″, so any kind of weight that I gain, I see it right away. And sure, I want to look good in my jeans, and I want to feel and look good. But I don’t need to be a super-skinny person. I’m normal, and I have a good relationship with food and indulging myself while being healthy and giving my body what it needs.
It’s hard for women every day, no matter what, to love their bodies. There’s pressures just from your friends and how they look, and trying to keep up.
It’s terrible that skinny is beautiful. There’s a new version of skinny that’s just…unreachable. It’s a really bad look. If we can just try to celebrate being individuals, and try to feel good instead of trying to fit in, I think that would be huge.
I have been trying to take more time to set my intention for the day and take a few deep breaths in the morning. It’s helped me be a more patient and understanding person not only with others, but with myself, too. To be kinder to myself.
I think I know what Hilary means about skinny being equated with beautiful and how that ideal is becoming smaller and more unreachable, however she phrased it oddly and could have been more inclusive in her message. I’m sure it’s much different in her industry and that she’s talking about extremes though. This highlights how celebrities get stuck in their own perspective and try to apply that to just about every other situation. Hilary could have hedged a little more in some of these responses, but her core message is good – be gentle to yourself and appreciate where you are now. A lot of us struggle with body image and she described that well.
photos credit: WENN and Instagram/Hilary Duff
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