Interviewed by:  Julia @Angel_Dancer

Campaign: loveyourselfcampaign

Admin: malolley

1.) What is your opinion on the body-positive movement?

if we're talking about spreading body positivity in general (and not a specific campaign that has probably flown over my head lol) I think that it's important that we have things like this on social media's so we can reach so many people with the click of one button. By spreading body positivity about all body types I find it can be empowering to women (and especially) young girls, due to the stigma that the media feeds into young teen girls especially. It can help people realize that they're actually happy in the body they're in and no matter what that they're beautiful.

2.) What does true beauty mean to you?

true beauty to me is when we learn to recognize that there isn't a "wrong" or "right" way to beautiful or to look beautiful. I think so many people are worried about the media or other people's perception on real beauty, when to me, real beauty is when someone learns to love themselves and accept that others may not like their body but they're happy and they like their body.

3.) What advice would you give someone who isn't confident with their body image or the way they look?

I would tell anyone who is unsure or isn't confident with their body image or the way they look that no matter what they look beautiful and they aren't going to be outcasted due to their body which I think is what a lot of people are worried about, being excluded from society I guess because of their bodies. They're beautiful regardless.

4.) How does the media affect body image? How can the media stimulate the formation of EDs?

I think the media is such a multi-tool weapon that has been continuously used for a quite evil message. They always seem to only put in thin models and even when they incorporate "plus size" models they go by modeling industry standard "plus size" (which is a mere size 14). This can be so damaging for girls that grow up and read popular magazines because their sister did or their friends do because they're never shown that all body types are accepted to be models (and I'm sure every girl at one time of her life wants to look like a model or to be a model) all in all, it's used for sinister things as well as good, some magazines (like "Dolly" and "Girlfriend" which are popular in Australia adopting "reality check's" that tell the reader when a photo has or hasn't been photoshopped and also can tell the audience how many shots were taken to get the "perfect" shot)

5.) How do you love your body/make yourself feel good about your body?

I make sure that I always tell myself that no matter what my body looks like I can always be happy with it, I don't have to be thin to be happy just like you don't have to be "fat" to be upset. Things like meditation or just taking time out to really notice yourself is really good as well. For me (it's strange) but I always find I feel so much more positive about myself after I've painted or sat down and drawn something or even after I accomplish something such as completing a school assignment. Just having small goals to reach that you learn to take as a victory can boost your confidence and self esteem by a load.

Campaign: xxJustBeYourself

Admin: PointTrueNorth

•What gave you the idea to initiate this campaign?

The campaign was made initially without the help of Wattpad, meaning it existed before I found out about Wattpad. When I first made the campaign, I was mainly targeting people with mental illnesses because I, myself, was suffering from major depression back then. I didn't feel like I was truly part of society and no one could understand the monsters and voices within my head. But I began to realize that if no one can save me from drowning, I may as well take matters into my own hands. I decided to call myself "special and beautiful" and the story of the campaign was born shortly after. I began campaigning to help kids, teens, adults, and seniors with mental illnesses- to tell them they are not alone and they don't need to be anything society is forcing them to be. Their happiness is the most important. Man, this campaign has really come a long way. I've included much more types of people out there other than mental illnesses. Now there's women, LGBT+, the abused, and so on. I still remember how when I first started the only members were me, my brother, and my one and only friend. Now there's over 700 supports and many of my relatives are also included in the campaign!

•If you were a color, what would it be and why?

This is hard considering I like to be every color because I believe colors represent who you are, and I think everyone has a little bit of everything in them. I would be mostly made out of green because

1. I love using that color to draw.
2. That was original theme color of #JustBeYourself (and kind of still is if you look at the background on the profile page for the campaign)
3. I believe green means free. I think I am free of the monsters and voices. They may still be lurking in the shadows but now that more people are joining me in the battle against these creatures, they wouldn't dare come any closer.

•Do you think media is a factor in promoting individuality, freedom of expression and self-confidence?

I believe the media was a major factor in promoting my campaign. When I first started I had a box of crayons and some printer paper. I had really bad handwriting back then, but still had to handwrite everything because we didn't have a printer. Looking back, those were some really stupid days. I should have just rented a place and gave the speeches instead of sitting there each night and handwriting two page essays thirty times. My brother helped, but his handwriting was worse than mine. I think I wrote that one essay for two weeks before I was about ready to puke.

Fast forward to when I first uploaded #JustBeYourself on Wattpad: I joined wattpad two years ago and a year later, I saw @TahliePurvis making a campaign to promote body image. I was intrigued because I had never thought of that. I decided to make #JustBeYourself into a campaign on Wattpad, mostly because I was tired of all that writing. Wattpad made it so much easier for me to write down what I want to say only ONCE and everyone would be able to read it. Also, more people were notified of the campaign, propelling them to join. It's really great to have a growing campaign online and in real life.

•In your life, how do you be yourself?

I believe I have already stated the fact that I used to be going through major depression. I really don't have any other reasons as to why I started this campaign. I guess it was also because I felt lonely and wanted someone- anyone- to talk to. I thought that I could create a campaign and have fun talking with my supporters. Now that #JustBeYourself has grown so big (I'm about to make a website for it), I just sit back everyday and stare because I still don't believe the numbers flashing on my scene.

•What advice would you give the readers in order for them to express themselves?

My single advice: You are who you are. Society is not you. So don't be society. Be you.