British model Olivia Campbell is embracing the word “fat” in a personal and emotional video where she talks about body image.
Campbell filmed an episode of the What’s Underneath Project and named it “I’m Not Curvy, I’m Fat.” In the video, we see Campbell telling a story about herself as she sheds her clothes in a physical display of shedding the emotional weight she’s had to carry. With this, she teaches women to find empowerment within the term “fat,” as opposed to being ashamed of their bodies or sugarcoating things by using terms like “curvy” and “thick.”
“I describe myself to people as fat and they say, ‘You’re not fat, you’re curvy,'” she explains. “I think: ‘No… I’m fat.’ Why is it such a bad word?”
Her story is just as powerful as it is emotional and it’s very inspiring to see someone embracing the term, especially when you consider her journey to self-acceptance. Campbell faced bullying at the hands of her classmates and a battle with depression before she gained a sense of confidence and decided to claim the word “fat” instead of letting it offend her.
“Suddenly, I went from being this insecure little bird to being this ferocious eagle of confidence,” she said. “When it comes to my personal appearance, the only person’s opinion I really care about is myself. Now, when I walk in front of the mirror, I think: ‘I look amazing… look at that roll.'”