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Lately, my social feed has been flooded with stories about Kris Jenner’s face — and it’s got people talking. The buzz started when the 69-year-old matriarch was spotted in Paris, and the speculation ran wild about what new procedures she’d had done to look so youthful — kicking off yet another round of conversation about ageing, beauty standards, and influencer culture.

Let me be frank — Kris, like anyone, has every right to do what she wants with her body. Her family’s brand is built around their image, and that’s their choice. I’m certainly not saying people shouldn’t care about how they look — I care about how I look, too. There’s no judgment in what she (or anyone else) chooses to do. I live by: my body, my rules. Your body, your rules. 

But here’s the question: Why do we care so much about other people’s choices? Why all the focus on what someone decides to do with their own body, especially when none of us have even met her? It’s strange, right? We’re obsessed with how Kris looks, reading about it, talking about it, staring at her face. It’s absurd!

There needs to be balance in the conversation. 

The problem I see is the amount of praise and attention given to older women who look younger. What message does that send to the rest of us who are just trying to age (aka live!) without constantly feeling the need to fight it?

People say, “She doesn’t look her age, she looks so much younger!” But maybe it’s actually ok to look your age. Maybe wrinkles aren’t a bad thing. Personally, I’ve got my fair share of lines at 47, and guess what? It feels pretty great.

It’s okay to feel good about who we are at any age, without the pressure to look a certain way. We can be pro-aging and embrace the process. We don’t need to run to injections to feel better — we can feel good just as we are. You have a choice — you can have wrinkles and feel good about it!

For many people, this whole conversation is tough. Not everyone can afford treatments like Botox, but they might still feel pressured to look young. It’s easy to fall into comparisonitis, but we need more positive ageing vibes. We need a revolution to balance out the relentless anti-ageing messages that tell us we have to fight time at all costs.

Let’s embrace our age, wrinkles and all, and be okay with it. To me, that feels liberating.

Dr Stacy Sims. Image from NZ Herald.

I’m all for optimising health and longevity — I love leaders like the forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist, Dr Stacy Sims. I want to live as long as possible, and for me, it’s all about what’s happening on the inside, not the outside. It’s about investing in how I feel, not how I look. 

The energy we spend chasing beauty standards can be a real time-vampire — and the balance is heavily stacked against women, who are constantly pressured to conform to unrealistic ‘ideals’ even more so than men. We have a choice in how we invest our time and energy. Just imagine what the world would look like if women dialled down the need to measure up and dialled up their voice instead!

For me, the lines on my face are a reminder that life is short, and the bucket list is long. I don’t want to become complacent or waste time thinking I have forever to live. 

So, let this be a breath of fresh air in the never-ending tide of praise, admiration, and aspiration that the media, beauty industry, and society throw at us. It’s exhausting and unrealistic, and frankly, it’s a war we’ll never win.

If you choose Botox, fillers, or whatever else — go for it! Your body, your rules. But if you choose to skip it, that’s equally wonderful. The key is you get to decide — you may see them as crows feet or life’s brushstrokes, frown lines or wisdom waves, smile lines or kindness trails.

The post Why are we obsessed with this woman’s face? appeared first on Body Image Movement.

During pregnancy, there were a thousand apps telling me what fruit or vegetable my baby was the size of, and some explaining the body changes that supported my little rockmelon. After birth, the medical details of postpartum bleeding, wound care, managing mastitis and staying hydrated were covered, but no one told me my body wouldn’t go back to what it was like pre-baby. 

The truth is, that body was gone — and for good reason. My new body had to store enough energy to feed one (or in my case, two) tiny humans. It had a new sense of purpose — it had grown, birthed, and nourished babies. It let me soothe, cuddle, and calm them. My new body was one of the most important things they had in the whole world. 

Motherhood’s physical transformation is profound. From skin stretching to sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts to posture changes, the body becomes a site of constant change and unfamiliarity. In a world that values control, “bouncing-back,” and picture-perfect Instagram aesthetics, this can be deeply unsettling. 

You’re not being silly or vain — the pressure is real! And you’re not alone.

Body dissatisfaction in motherhood is common — and normal. Research shows that up to 80% of postpartum women experience some level of body image concern. It’s not just about how we look, but the disconnection that comes with rapid, unexpected changes. The postpartum body can feel foreign — what was once “home” now feels unfamiliar.

When my colleagues and I conducted a study on body image in postpartum women, we thought dissatisfaction would peak soon after birth — but surprisingly, research showed that this is when women felt most appreciation for what their body had done. It was the 6 to 9 months postpartum when dissatisfaction kicked in — when returning to work, facing colleagues who hadn’t seen you since the “cute bump” days, and trying to wear clothes that no longer fit or felt right. 

Here’s what helps: 

While feeling uncomfortable in your skin or disliking your body is common, it’s not good for you or your kids. Many of us know what hating our body has cost — time, energy, jobs, promotions, missed experiences and opportunities — and we don’t want this for our kids. Role modeling a positive relationship with your body, food, and movement is the best way you can help them feel confident in their appearance. 

How? Here are three approaches, backed by science:

1. Be a little kinder to yourself

One of the most powerful tools in reshaping our relationship with our postpartum body (and our new identity as a mum!) is self-compassion. Dr Kristin Neff defines self-compassion as treating ourselves with the same kindness, care, and understanding we’d offer a friend. Research shows that women who practice self-compassion experience a whole range of benefits for their stress levels and mental health, and body image — particularly during the postpartum period. 

Instead of beating ourselves up about having a messy house, our kind voice could say: “Of course I feel overwhelmed, I have three kids and very little support.”

Instead of berating our bodies for not “bouncing back,” our compassionate self would say: “Of course my body is different — it has done something extraordinary. As long as I am comfortable and doing my best.”

This isn’t pretending to love every stretch mark, but about giving ourselves permission to feel what we feel, realising that no one is perfect, remembering that many others have felt this way, and treating ourselves with kindness. 

To get started, try listening to these self compassion meditations.

2. Reframe towards functionality 

Instead of focusing on how we look, research supports focusing on appreciating what our bodies can do. Our bodies help us experience our five senses, heal when we are sick or injured, allow us to move about the world, and interact with loved ones. Next time you find yourself focusing on how a part of your body looks, try reframing your focus to appreciate what your body has done: “My body nourished a baby,” “My soft belly lets me comfort my children with the best cuddles,” “My arms let me carry my child and provide them with security.” 

And then, go do the things! Wear the swimsuit, run even though everything jiggles, be in the photos. Focus on what you’re doing — not how you look. 

So many of us were raised to believe that our bodies and our beauty is our currency — or that we ‘should’ look a certain way. But motherhood gives us an opportunity to rewrite that script — for ourselves and the next generation watching us.

3. All movement matters

We all know that physical activity is good for us, but for mums, it’s essential. Regular movement reduces stress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and of course, there are physical benefits as well. But when you’re a mum, it can feel like there are a thousand barriers to going to an exercise class, making it to the gym, or even going for a walk. 

While leaving the house for a pilates class can feel like a luxurious vacation if you don’t have to take the kids, formal exercise classes aren’t the only option. Vacuuming, doing laundry, running errands, even walking around the supermarket are all opportunities to move — and they all count. 

Research shows that short bursts of activity (or ‘exercise snacks’ or ‘microworkouts’) can be just as beneficial for cardiorespiratory fitness, blood glucose management, and vascular health. Think going up and down the stairs 3 times, or doing 10 squats while you wait for the microwave or the kettle to boil.   

Your new body

There is no “bouncing back,” but there is “evolving forward”.

By taking small steps to reframe how we think and talk about our bodies and appearance, we are breaking the cycle of passing our body ‘stuff’ to our kids. 

It’s not about #lovingyourbody all of the time — it’s about looking in the mirror and seeing what’s been gained. Strength. Resilience. Memories. 

It means respecting her. Accepting her. Appreciating her. 

And that’s not only possible — it’s transformational.

Our hot tip… 

When you don’t know what to wear, throw on activewear! Stretchy, comfy pants encourage more movement throughout the day, making you more likely to do a walk-and-talk meeting, or even do squats while brushing your teeth. Bonus points if the activewear supports your core, improving posture and activation while working and moving! This month, the Body Image Movement team proudly announced Mama Movement as our newest Embrace Feel Good Fashion partner. There’s so much to love about Faye and her incredible team — starting with the fact that they create Australia’s happiest activewear: bold, high-performance pieces designed to help you feel good in your body again.

You can check out Mama Movement here!

The post Embracing your body in motherhood appeared first on Body Image Movement.

I started relentlessly working out and restricting my calories. As my weight dropped, I decided to enter a bodybuilding competition. Up there on stage, slathered in fake tan and wearing a tiny bikini, I had a moment of absolute clarity. The ‘perfect body’ was not the answer. Maintaining this size and shape was completely unsustainable. I was miserable, hungry, and had almost no time for my kids. 

A few months after the competition, I posted a photo on social media that summed up how I was feeling. It was my take on the classic ‘before and after’ diet pics — except my before photo was taken at the bodybuilding competition, and my after photo was a more relaxed me, sitting on a chair — in the nude — with a few rolls and a big smile. 

To say the photo went viral is an understatement. It made headline news around the world and, all of a sudden, I was in the middle of a media frenzy. My photo was featured on Good Morning America and NBC’s Today Show. Russia’s national broadcaster even sent a TV news crew halfway around the world to interview me at my house!

And then the emails started landing in my inbox … 7,000 heartbreaking stories from people all around the world who hated their bodies. I felt such a huge responsibility to help the people who shared their experiences with me. 

And that’s when the Embrace film was born. 

I was sure the world needed to hear this story, so I got to work hustling and raising money to share it. More than 45 million people watched the trailer on Kickstarter and agreed that this film had to be made. We raised a record-breaking $331,046 from 8,909 backers. It was time to do this!

The Embrace film follows me as I travel around the world trying to understand why so many people hate their bodies. I interviewed amazing people from the US, UK, Europe and Australia, including TV show hosts Ricki Lake and Amanda de Cadenet, and ultra marathon runner Turia Pitt. The film was released in 2016 at the Sydney Film Festival and quickly became one of the highest grossing documentaries ever released in Australia. 

Next stop: the world. 

I was so passionate about getting people to watch our film because I knew it had the power to save and change lives. In the US, when I saw massive billboards advertising the film 50 Shades Darker, I knew we had to do something wild to get attention. So in the middle of NYC, I started the Race to Embrace by giving out thousands of dollars worth of $10 notes to women and asking them to download and watch the Embrace film. If they loved the film, I asked them to pass the $10 on to another person, and keep the race going. And guess what, it still is!  

The buzz was global. The Embrace film reached #1 on the iTunes documentary charts in the USA, UK and Canada. On opening night in Germany, 52,000 people came to watch the film and pushed it all the way to #1 at the box office — toppling Guardians of the Galaxy and King Arthur from the number one spot! 

Over in the UK, 2,000 people hosted public screenings for tens of thousands of viewers. To support these public events, we created the Embrace Education Study Guide UK to inspire life-changing body image conversations. Then, we released the guide to every secondary school across the UK — for free!

The Embrace film helped launch the Body Image Movement around the world and inspired millions of people to change the way they think about their bodies. It was the first big story we told in a long list that includes hundreds of keynote speeches, multiple books for adults and children, a magazine, the Embrace Kids film, and even our very own song! 

Find out how you can watch the Embrace film in your country. 

The post How the Embrace film became a global blockbuster appeared first on Body Image Movement.

The post Why making women feel bad about their bodies is bad for business appeared first on Body Image Movement.

Many mums returning to work after having a baby face a loss of confidence, and who could blame them with the Australian Human Rights Commission finding that half of all mothers reported experiencing discrimination at some point during their pregnancy, parental leave or return to work.

There’s a phrase that haunts many women as we get ready to swap our nappy bags for briefcases, brave commutes, navigate the bureaucracy of the childcare system and become fluent in industry jargon once again. It’s the idea that once we have grown, birthed, nurtured and sustained the life of a tiny human, our bodies are meant to ‘bounce back’. 

In homes across the country, women planning their return to work after having babies are looking at their work clothes and sighing. In fact, research has found that postpartum body image is at its lowest 6-8 months after having a baby because it’s when a woman is likely to be preparing to return to work. 

Body image plagues us on so many levels. Even for those of us who have worked hard on embracing the new version of our body, there’s the logistical challenge of building a wardrobe of clothes that fit, feel good and are appropriate for work. This can be stressful, expensive, and impacts our confidence. 

And it’s not just the clothing that rings up the bills – research conducted by AMP found that women pay a ‘pink tax’ — 29% more for razors, 16% more for body wash and that’s without even getting into the price of make-up and skincare compared to brands marketed to men.

Returning to work is hard enough without being compounded by body image challenges. In a time when our bodies have done something incredible, they should be celebrated, not discriminated against. When employees can turn up to work in a way that makes them feel comfortable and included, they will be more productive and engaged. 

Supporting workers to build a better body image is good for the employee, good for the business and good for the entire Australian economy. Goldman Sachs found that bridging the gap between male and female employment rates could provide an additional $114 billion each year to the Australian economy.

How to support new parents returning to work:

1. Regularly check in with staff who are on parental leave to help them maintain a connection with their colleagues.
2. Provide practical support for parents who return to work by getting them up to speed on any changes while they’ve been away (like new technology, different processes and people changes).
3. Rather than acting like they’ve been on holidays, recognise the skills they’ve built while they’ve been parenting — agility, resilience, creative thinking and problem solving are some typical skills that new parents develop
4. Ask parents how they would like to mark their return to work after a new baby. Some parents might appreciate a morning tea or lunch, while others may prefer something more low key.  
5. Be mindful of language — the number one thing we can do is stop commenting on other people’s bodies. Even phrases that are intended as a compliment, like “wow you’ve got your figure back already” and “you don’t look like you had a baby” can place unintentional pressure on new mums.  

Embrace @Work is a revolutionary offering for proactive companies at the forefront of building employee productivity, engagement, and wellbeing. We know that 70% of women and 60% of men are dissatisfied with their bodies and spend time and energy worrying about their appearance. Imagine if we could harness this collective energy in solving the world’s greatest problems? Embrace@Work helps unlock your people’s potential by removing the invisible barrier to productivity in your workplace.

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My speaking career started in a community hall presenting to a small circle of people. Now, I’ve delivered more than 250 keynote speeches all over the world. I’ve spoken from some of the world’s largest stages, including TED, SXSW, Disney and L’Oreal. I was General Electric’s highest rated speaker, and my leadership talk at Google HQ in Silicon Valley was live streamed to every Google office in the world. 

How did I get to this point? I ask myself that question a lot, and honestly, it’s for one simple reason: 

I have something really important to say.

I want to tell the entire world — every single person — not to waste their life by being at war with their body. Our bodies help us have amazing experiences — we need to focus on what they allow us to feel and do, not what they look like.  

Of course, it’s not all glitz and glam! In true me style, I’ve had one or two facepalm moments along the way. Once, I bounced onto stage with such gusto that my microphone pack dislodged from my pants and awkwardly swung through the middle of my legs and hit me in my lady parts. Just last year, I was speaking for Pinterest when I got a pretty severe cramp on stage and had to do some stretching live on stage! Never a dull moment, I can promise you that. 

My keynote speaking career has taken me on a wild adventure. But without a doubt, the highlight is the incredible people I’ve met on my journey. I feel so lucky to have shared the stage with amazing advocates like Sam Bloom, Turia Pitt, Yemi Penn, Janine Allis, and Layne Beachley. I’m passionate about sharing the mic and the spotlight, so please check out these incredibly inspiring speakers because I know you will love them too!

If you’d like to invite me to speak at your event, please email hello@bodyimagemovement.com

The post How I became a keynote speaker appeared first on Body Image Movement.

And just like that, I was thrust onto the stage, in front of the camera and under the spotlight.

Was it terrifying? Exhilarating? Humbling? Overwhelming? Yes. All of that and much, much more!  

I had to quickly get over any hang-ups I had, like imposter syndrome and the unconventional path that led me to this stage. I knew I had bucketloads of passion, drive and commitment that helped me get here. But most importantly, I had one hell of an important message to share. 

So, I took a deep breath and grabbed the moment with both hands.   

That night, I told Australia that we were facing a paediatric emergency, with 70% of Australian school kids considering body image to be their number one concern. It’s a truly awful statistic, and our kids deserve better.  

I’d been dreaming about being awarded this title for months. I had so many plans bubbling away for how I would use this moment to lead a national conversation on body image. I wanted to inspire and educate every Australian about the importance of fuelling, moving, appreciating and being kind to their bodies. To learn how to embrace them.

What followed was a 365-day whirlwind adventure. I did hundreds of media interviews and events, took 87 flights, and even scored an invitation to The White House. 

But it certainly wasn’t all glitz and glamour. I had some critics who’d clearly never seen up-close the heartbreak and distress of living with body image issues and eating disorders, or experienced the immeasurable harm they cause to sufferers and their loved ones.

In these moments, I focussed on the fact that my message was important. I knew exactly who I was there to help, so I focussed on them and blocked out the noise. 

I’m proud to have used the opportunity to shake things up. With this platform, we’ve been able to reach one million kids around the country and started a national conversation about body image that will make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of our young people — now, and for generations to come.

The driving force behind each keynote, project launch or media interview was the importance of preventing the issue at the start. Yes, we’ve reached more than one million kids, but the work has only just begun. 

When I look back on this year, it won’t just be about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and fancy events. It will be about the conversations I had with Australians everywhere — from school kids in the Australian outback, teachers in South Australia to nurses in Tasmania — and the stories they shared about how important it is to treat our bodies with kindness, compassion and gratitude. 

We built an incredible momentum for change in 2023, and I’m working my heart out to keep it moving. We have millions more people to reach all around the world, with stories and resources that will change their lives. Let’s go! 

The post What it’s like to be Australian of the Year appeared first on Body Image Movement.

That’s why I had to make the Embrace film. I wanted to travel the world and find out why so many of us hate our bodies, and how we could change it. 

I had passion and drive in bucketloads, but unfortunately they aren’t the only ingredients that go into making a film. You also need a pretty considerable amount of cash! 

I’ve always hustled to get my projects off the ground, and this opportunity called for the biggest hustle of my life. I rolled up my sleeves and got to work creating an Embrace film trailer and launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund it. 

Well, it turned out that I wasn’t the only person who thought this was a story that had to be told.  

An incredible 8,909 people from all around the world wanted this film to make it to the big screen, and they answered my plea to help fund production. 

Our supporters raised a massive $200,000 in just 12 days — that’s nearly $700 every hour! Within 60 days, we’d raised $331,000 and become Australia’s most successful crowd-funded documentary — ever.

Our community came together across the globe — from university professors in New York City to dinner party guests in Scotland, and body-painting events in Germany. I was absolutely blown away by the response.

As you know, we went on to make the Embrace film a global, box-office smash hit. What we achieved — and the lives that we changed — in such a short time is still one of my proudest achievements. There’s absolutely no way we could have accomplished even half of it without the wonderful people and organisations who invested their faith and hard-earned dollars to see this movement come to life.

An enormous amount of views later, (like millions and millions!) it remains my hope that each and every person who watches the Embrace film learns how to love and accept themselves. 

In return, I will continue my crusade towards a healthier and more accepting society — for the sake of our happiness and for our children’s happiness.

The post One of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns in Australia appeared first on Body Image Movement.

Ok, that’s a little complicated so let me take a step back. After I released the Embrace film, I had dozens of people telling me they wished they’d been exposed to the messages in it when they were a kid. Maybe then, they wouldn’t have spent so much of their lives hating their body. 

Of course, I couldn’t agree more, so I set to work creating the Embrace Kids film for 8 to 14 year olds. That film inspired Melbourne teachers-turned-acclaimed-musicians Pevan & Sarah to co-write the Embrace song with me, to help kids find the joy in what their body can do. And THEN, yep, we turned the song into a beautiful book! 

Embrace Your Body is a joyful storybook packed with positive messages about our amazing bodies. I have absolutely loved sharing this book with thousands of little legends to help them find the joy they have inside. 

Many thanks to @sineadhanley__ for your beautiful illustrations, and my book publisher @penguinbooksaus for backing us all the way. 

Get your copy of Embrace Your Body.  

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