[Sharon]

22/10/2012

A New York blogger and her project on sizeism has found herself catapulted into the spotlight after a photo of herself in a bikini went viral.

Stella Boonshoft had originally posted the snap on her tumblr blog with the following caption:
WARNING: Picture might be considered obscene because subject is not thin. And we all know that only skinny people can show their stomachs and celebrate themselves. Well I’m not going to stand for that. This is my body. Not yours. MINE. Meaning the choices I make about it, are none of your fucking business. Meaning my size, IS NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS.

'My body must be a revolution', proclaims blogger Stella Boonshoft

Boonshoft, who suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome, dedicated the picture to the litany of people who have bullied her over her size, including the boy who told her she looked like a "beached whale" and the middle school pupil who nicknamed her "lard".

She adds:
MOST OF ALL, this picture is for me. For the girl who hated her body so much she took extreme measures to try to change it. Who cried for hours over the fact she would never be thin. Who was teased and tormented and hurt just for being who she was.

She signs off the post with a triumphant:
I’m so over that. THIS IS MY BODY, DEAL WITH IT.
and FUCK YOU ALL who tried to degrade my being and sense of self with your hurtful comments and actions.
GUESS WHAT IT DIDN’T WORK HAHAHAHAH

Boonshoft's blog - and this image - went viral after her path crossed with that of Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind Humans of New York.

Stanton asked for a photo and Boonshoft shared her story, posing for a picture and steering him towards her blog.

What she hadn't expected was for Stanton to use the bikini picture on her site.

The image quickly went viral, and has so far amassed nearly half a million 'likes' and thousands of comments, with the majority applauding Boonshoft for her beauty and bravery.

Boonshoft later blogged how her first reaction had been to "burst into tears" and that the move had left her feeling "like utter shit".

In a panic, she asked Stanton to post the (clothed) picture he had taken of her, adding: "Here I was, this woman speaking about loving yourself and accepting who you are, suddenly absolutely devastated because some random people I don't know where saying nasty things about me on the internet.

"Finally, I decided to leave it. I know what I am trying to do, which is help young women struggling with their body image and expose the hypocrisy and cruelty that is sizeism, is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than whatever feelings I may have about myself."

[Sharon]

Meaning my size, IS NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS

Of course it isn't BUT there is the issue of making images public. People who won't know others from Adam will comment as they choose without consideration for their feelings.

absolutely devastated because some random people I don't know where saying nasty things about me on the internet.

Posting ourselves on the net, no matter what we look like, is risky business if you are trying to bury demons from your past regarding image.

Finally, I decided to leave it. I know what I am trying to do, which is help young women struggling with their body image and expose the hypocrisy and cruelty that is sizeism

Good on her and I commend her goal in trying to help others

[Darkest Angel]

She is a plus sized beauty. Kudos to her for going against the grain.

[speakyourmind]

She probably eats a lot cake.

[woodsetton]

Originally Posted by speakyourmind ↗

She probably eats a lot cake.

And I bet you suck a lot of dicks.

[Pyramid_Head]

Why do some fat women think they need to show off their jelly roles? Shit, I don't care who you are, keep your fat ass covered up.

[Dynamo47]

She is a very pretty girl. I for one don't need some ultra skinny fashion model to make me happy and I like having something to hold on to!

[Vera Wang]

So she's built for comfort, not speed.

Get over it.

[Faline]

Good for her

[ices]

Whilst I dont like bullying, this part made me roll my eyes;

[MOST OF ALL, this picture is for me. For the girl who hated her body so much she took extreme measures to try to change it. Who cried for hours over the fact she would never be thin. Who was teased and tormented and hurt just for being who she was.

So you're saying physical exercise and a proper diet does nothing?

Or is it because you're too lazy to get off your ass and do research on the matter.

Everyone that 'fails' to lose weight is the latter, trust me on this I know where I'm coming from. Fat people are not magically created, if so why is Africa so fat, oh wait THERE IS NO FAT PEOPLE IN AFRICA.

Get off your ass, learn how to exercise and eat well and THEN post pictures for progress.