Stop Using The Word DIET

campazine
Dec 27, 2015
4 min read

Few more days to 2016! How's your christmas going? I just had the best christmas of my life ever! Before 2015 ends, I'd like to have probably the last post of the year to introduce a beautiful woman to you. If you've been struggling the most part of your life from the beauty stereotypes, this post will be an inspiration for you. I hope 2016 will be the year you EFF those standards, and just be whoever you want to be! This beautiful woman is...

Iskra Lawrence.

Source: C-Heads Mag by Lauren Engel.

Iskra impresses me so much that I'm so motivated to get my ass off the sofa and hit the gym now. I saw her photos and interview online at C-Heads Magazine taken by Lauren Engel, every single part of her body is inspiring me to be a better person-- to have a fitter and healthier body, as well as a mind that is not afraid to show what I have and who I am.

Iskra Lawrence in Aerie advertisement.

She Is More Than Just a Coat Hanger.

Just as Ashley Graham, Tess Holliday, Candice Huffine, Georgia Pratt, and Erica Schenk, Iskra Lawrence is another plus-size model now. But what makes her more special is that she does not only do modelling or giving talks on body shaming, but she is also:

-an ambassador for National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), which is a global symbol that recognises unretouched images, as well as companies, brands and people who promote healthy body image.

-one of the models of a lingerie calender that she did it on her own to raise money for cervical cancer. She found models from different sizes, shapes and colours to shoot for the calendar that used unretouched images because she wanted people felt the bodies were all real.

-the Managing Editor of RunwayRiot.com, where she selected the product personally from different well-known brands that cater the needs of different sizes from 0 to 28. It is a fashion, style and beauty site that uses unretouched images and strived to serve underrepresented community in the world of fashion.

Source: Screenshot from her Instagram @iamiskra

Neither skinny nor plus-size modelling agencies accepted her.

Iskra has always wanted to be a model but was deemed as not suitable for modelling. But no, not what as you think, it's not because she's too phat. She's been rejected for both SKINNY and PLUS-SIZE modelling agencies! People just think Iskra is not skinny enough, nor phat enough. So she started to on diet although she really knew her body is not naturally tiny.

After years of trying to be 'tiny', she got to the lowest point of self-esteem and decided to give up bothering what people say and just be the way she thinks is beautiful, without giving up her dream to become a model for 12 years.

She doesn't make herself to fit what plus-size modelling agencies initially thought how 'plus' a plus-size model should be. Instead, she believes that she can represent some women who just have the size and curve like hers, she continues being who she thinks right. Finally she successfully persuaded and entered a modelling agency, and become who she is today.

You know, you don't have to fit others' expectation on you, because whatever you are, people will judge, so why not just believe in your body and be yourself?

Source: Screenshot from her Instagram @iamiskra

She might look phat to you but she is undeniably fit and healthy.

I hate that when people always link PHAT to UNHEALTHY. You just can be any body you aspire or born to be, as long as you have proper diet and exercise frequently. She went to gym at least 3 times a week and her Instagram account is a gem! I mean, looking at her working out videos is such an inspirational boost for unmotivated people like me, and I can totally relate why she has such beautiful curve!