Can You Love Your Body — and Still Want To Change It? | Gabriella Lascano | TED

Summary

In this heartfelt video, the speaker reflects on their journey with body positivity, self-love, and the challenges they’ve faced as a plus-size woman. They discuss their rise to fame on YouTube and TikTok, where they became a voice for others who felt marginalized. However, the sudden loss of a dear friend and the evolution of the body positivity community made them reassess their health. The speaker advocates for self-love at any size, while acknowledging the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They emphasize that a health journey is an act of self-love, not self-hate, and call for more empathy and nuanced conversations around body image and health.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker believes in body positivity and self-love at any size, while also recognizing the importance of health and well-being.
• 😀 They grew up in a community where fat people were often marginalized or made the butt of jokes, leading them to seek out other ways to express themselves and spread positivity.
• 😀 In 2010, they started a YouTube channel to help others like them—plus-size women and people of color—feel seen and empowered.
• 😀 The speaker became a voice for plus-size women by sharing fashion, makeup, and health tips, gaining nearly 200,000 subscribers and fostering a supportive community.
• 😀 They discovered the body positivity community online, which was a place where people of all sizes supported one another and celebrated diversity.
• 😀 Despite the support, they faced criticism from outsiders who accused them of glorifying obesity, which they dismissed by focusing on positivity and love.
• 😀 In 2023, the speaker lost a close friend, which prompted them to reconsider their health habits and sparked a desire to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
• 😀 They created a TikTok video sharing their emotional journey and called for others to join them in prioritizing health while still loving their bodies.
• 😀 The body positivity movement shifted towards radical fat acceptance, where weight loss was often seen as a betrayal, leading to a loss of empathy for those wanting to pursue health journeys.
• 😀 The speaker faced backlash from the radical fat acceptance community but remains committed to promoting both self-love and healthy change, emphasizing body autonomy and the need for compassion in these discussions.
• 😀 The speaker continues to advocate for nuanced conversations about body image, health, and self-love, acknowledging that both positive body image and health goals can coexist without self-hate.

Q & A

What is the speaker's core belief about body positivity?

The speaker believes in body positivity, which means loving yourself at any size while still working towards health goals. They emphasize that people of all shapes and sizes deserve love, respect, and equal opportunities.

How did the speaker's upbringing in the Bronx influence their perspective?

Growing up in the Bronx, the speaker witnessed struggles such as drugs, finances, and poor living conditions. This motivated them to bring joy and positivity to others, especially through self-expression and their message of self-love.

What role did the speaker's YouTube channel play in their journey?

The speaker's YouTube channel allowed them to share their experiences, outfits, makeup tips, and more. It became a platform where they could inspire and help other plus-size women, women of color, and marginalized individuals.

How did the speaker's body positivity message evolve over time?

Initially, the speaker didn't label their actions as part of the body positivity movement, but as they grew their platform, they became involved in the community. Over time, however, the movement began to shift towards radical fat acceptance, which made the speaker reevaluate their position.

What significant event caused the speaker to reevaluate their health?

The speaker's dear friend's death in early 2023 made them reflect on their own health habits. This loss served as a wake-up call, encouraging them to reconsider their lifestyle and make changes toward a healthier life.

What was the reaction to the speaker's TikTok video about health?

The TikTok video the speaker posted, in which they discussed the importance of health and potential dangers of obesity, was met with mixed reactions. Some applauded them for their honesty, but others accused them of abandoning the body positivity community.

How does the speaker feel about the concept of 'radical fat acceptance'?

The speaker is critical of the concept of radical fat acceptance, which suggests that anyone pursuing weight loss or a healthier lifestyle is betraying the community. They feel this shift in the community has led to a lack of empathy and compassion for individuals who want to improve their health.

What does the speaker believe is the relationship between self-love and health?

The speaker believes that self-love and health are interconnected. They argue that loving yourself can inspire you to make positive changes, such as improving health, and that embarking on a health journey should not be seen as self-hatred.

What message does the speaker hope to convey through their story?

The speaker hopes to promote more open, honest, and compassionate conversations about health, wellness, and self-love. They want to highlight that individuals can love themselves at any size while still striving for health and well-being.

How does the speaker define body autonomy?

Body autonomy, according to the speaker, means having the right to do whatever you want with your body, including pursuing a health journey, without facing judgment or stigma from others.