Editor’s Perspective: May 23 2019

It seems that I’m at that age now where, as cool as I think my new clothes are, my daughter doesn’t. In fact, she may even have referred to one of my favourite stores as ‘dowdy’. Ouch, the cutting words of a teenager!

But actually I’m OK with it. Georgia and I have very distinct tastes – distinctly different that is. But fact is, it’s never been my role to micromanage what she wears, nor to tell her what sports she should play or what friends she should hang out with. I’ve always viewed my role as helping her become the young lady she should be, in a safe and supported environment.

The world is full of different people – that’s the beauty of it and slowly, but surely, our young people are starting to recognise this. As social media comes under increasing scrutiny for contributing to poor mental health and body image, there are a growing number of young women who are using online platforms to empower and educate.

Locally, Kiwi influencers too are embracing the trend towards body positivity and empowerment. Whether it’s Auckland DJ and filmmaker Shaki Wasasala, aka Half Queen, showing off her body hair, writer and fat activist Ally Garrett proudly posing in a plus-size bikini, Sophia Malthus sharing the realities of life in a wheelchair, or wrestler and trans activist Leilani Tomoniko working to normalise transgenderism, it’s time for us all to get on the #bodypositivity bandwagon.

After all, in the words of Maya Angelou, “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength”.