Forget Cathryn Li: 5 fitness influencers who defy body shaming and spread positivity
Fitness influencers like Chessie King, Cassie Ho and Jem Wolfie inspire millions around the world to find acceptance, positivity and confidence in their own appearance
Soon after her story went viral, Li issued an apology, noting: “It was never my intention to impose any judgment on anyone with that sweeping statement [that size ‘M = fat’]. The post was intended for my model friends who, like me, despite being of a healthy weight in the past, has previously been unable to secure a modelling job due [to] the size criteria imposed.”
The apology appeased a few of her followers, with one user commenting, “Be yourself, say what you want, but don’t ever feel pressured to apologise just to appease the overly sensitive”.
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) says that, “Negatively commenting about the size or shape of anyone’s body can be extremely damaging to them potentially leading to low self-esteem, anger, self-harm and even mental health disorders, specifically body dysmorphic disorder.”
ANAD estimates that 30 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder.
While Li’s apology may have satisfied some people, there are hundreds of lifestyle and fitness influencers who don’t spread messages of body dissatisfaction and shame, and inspire millions to find acceptance, positivity and confidence in their own appearance.