I was fortunate enough to get a last minute invitation to the UK premiere of Embrace, the body image documentary by Taryn Burfitt earlier this week.

The Body Image Movement and the documentary has captured the world’s attention and it certainly caught mine. You can check out the official trailer here.

Jo Hayley, Taryn Brumfitt and me!

It all started when Taryn posted a before and after picture of herself on Facebook in 2013. In the first image she is a muscled body builder, where she had what many would deem a ‘perfect body’ and the second was of her as she is now. Rounder, softer with visible signs of having children, plus a big smile on her face. It seems that a woman being happy with the body she has is major news! It went viral and off the back of this amazing response, the Body Image Movement was born and Taryn started a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to make the documentary Embrace.

Taryn flew over to the UK at the beginning of this week to tour the country attending screenings and Q&A sessions about the film.

The premiere of the documentary moved many women in the audience to tears and there was also a few tears during the Q&A session too. Taryn’s story resonated with me because she wants her daughter to have a better relationship with her body. As a mother of three girls I also want my children to be recognised for their talents and accomplishments rather than for how they look. Taryn originally loathed her post-baby body because it had changed so much and she even considered surgery to fix it but realised that she didn’t want to leave that kind of legacy for her daughter. The documentary also points out the huge global problem of unrealistic images of women (and men) in all areas of advertising and the media. The film’s simple message is for all of us to cultivate body acceptance of ourselves and the people around us too.

The statistics quoted are terrifying: – 91 per cent of women hate their bodies, 70 per cent of girls are dissatisfied, and 50 per cent of 5 to 12 year-olds want to lose weight!

During the film Brumfitt goes on a whirlwind of Australia and the world interviewing Austrailian Cosmopolitan editor Mia Freedman, body image activist Harnaam Kaur, model Stefania Ferraro, Amanda De Cadenet, Ricki Lake and burns victim and motivational speaker Tulia Pitt. Many of them frankly discuss the struggles they have had with their own body image and all of them advocate body acceptance.

Some people may argue that the message is too simple and repetitive in the film but I think it is a moving and inspiring documentary that should be shown in schools. The Body Image Movement is developing an education programme that will be launched in Australia with the main aim for it to be rolled out across the world.

Teenagers are a ‘selfie’ and ‘snapchat filter’ obsessed generation. They are always taking photos of themselves and looking at themselves critically through the screen of a mobile phone. They are also editing their images to fit in with what society deems beautiful. In a world of Kardashians, photoshopped women in fashion magazines and glossy catwalks with dangerously underweight models, it’s a message that can’t be reiterated enough. Taryn’s advice to teens: ‘Unfollow’ – if there are social media accounts that make you feel bad about yourself get rid of them!

I have already ditched dieting and enjoy healthy eating with my family but will eat cake and drink fizz when I want to. I exercise to feel good not to burn calories (although I can fall back in to old habits and obsess about my weight sometimes) schweizer-apotheke.de. My favourite bit of advice from at the Q&A session with Taryn was to ditch the scales! It was the last habit I wasn’t ready to part with after years of dieting and now they are gone!

And the good news is you can see this fantastic documentary at a cinema near you. To find your nearest screening click here.

Where I live in Maidenhead, Berkshire, the film is being hosted by Jo Haley, a Henley based a body image consultant and make up artist, she invited me to come along with her to the premiere. She says, “I am extremely passionate about this subject and feel Embrace should be watched by everyone and I really do mean everyone…men and women alike. In my profession I come across many women that struggle with the way their body looks, it is brilliant that this film and the Body Image Movement are making waves globally to encourage us all to love ourselves the way we are, so that together, we can stamp out the media’s portrayal of ‘The Perfect Body’ and embrace our uniqueness instead.”

The film is being screened on February 6 at 6.30pm and you can get tickets here.

#Ihaveembraced Will You?