Body Image

 The reason for this shoot for me, was that I have had serious body issues for my entire life. Whether I'm six and a half stone or whether I'm ten stone the body issues continued. I was known by my family for not swimming when we went to the seaside - would never change in a communal changing room and at one stage stopped shopping for clothes to prevent seeing myself in the full length mirrors. 
Some of you may remember a programme which took a family member away for three months to work on their weight, nutrition etc. They always came back looking stunning. I remember thinking "Why can't that be me?"
Last year my hubby bought me a membership to a lovely gym. I therefore had to go. At first I only worked in the gym by myself. Next I bought a swimsuit and started to swim. Finally I began to have enough confidence to join in with some classes. With these changes came a confidence that I never knew I had. No longer did I have to hide in the cubicles of the changing room. Last holiday I wore a bikini for the first time in my life. My body isn't perfect but then, neither am I and who is? At 54 I am ok with what I look like but it is because I took charge of my body. Only I had the power to do that.
Nobody else could do that for me. So, the photo is about me regaining control of negativity.
The photo was taken a little while ago and yesterday I went to the studio to add some audio to the piece for the exhibition. A man was just leaving & we had a brief conversation & his parting shot was "Are you ashamed that you did it?" as I said I hadn't shown anybody. Thats why I am sharing the picture with you all. It is because I am proud that I have beaten the struggle with body image that I have had for my entire life and if I hide it away then what would be the point of having done it in the first place. So there you go - let nothing stand in your way - only you have the power to change whatever it is you need to change. Take back control (By the way for anybody wondering why the black tape is there, I know there are some friends who may get offended so hence the coverage. )
Picture by Aleksandra Karpowicz for her project "Lets Talk About Sex"