Risk Management on the Road

    We were able to attend a conference called Risk Management on the Road this past month. We had some amazing speakers come to talk to us about our upcoming travels and the trails we will encounter. All of the speakers had great messages to share, but there was one that really resonated with me.

Real Beauty

    A woman from Chicago, named Stacey Nadeau, came to share life changing experience with us and remind us that women coming an all shapes and sizes and that is perfectly OK. While Stacey was in college she was scouted to be a model. She thought that was impossible since she is a size 10 and had curvy legs. She decided to go to the model auditions anyways. It turns out, she was being scouted for Dove's "Real Beauty" campaign. This campaign was to change advertising and photo editing forever. They wanted to use women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and ethnicity without editing their images to distort their bodies or faces. This was something that was unheard of in the advertising world, but Stacey was about to be a part of a major change.
   She appeared on TV shows, such as Oprah and the Today Show. They were interviewed and ridiculed, but all of them truly believed in what they were doing. They were changing the image of beauty. They were getting people to talk about what beauty really is and how the media gives women these unrealistic expectations that even movie stars cannot live up to. I wanted to share her message with everyone!
   What Stacey was saying, about insecurity and unrealistic expectations, was something that really hit home for me. I have always felt insecure about my body and have constantly ridiculed myself for not being "perfect". After listening to her speak, I realized it isn't about looking like the women in the magazines or on the billboards, it is about being happy and healthy. It is about eating right and exercising, but understanding that I can enjoy some ice cream every once in a while and not feel guilty. I need to stop "fat talk" and stand to accept who I am. I think that is something that every woman, young and old, should know. That losing that ten pounds to be a size 0 isn't going to make us happy. Another thing is that women need to stop judging each other. We need to help one another in changing the image of beauty to something more realistic. If we judge one another, and expect for women around us to look like models, we will never make change.
   I hope Stacey's message is spread and the Dove campaign continues to be successful in their movement for change. I think every campus should hear her speak! For more information about Stacey and her journey you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter or visit her website: www.staceynadeau.com

Stacey is the woman on the far right. This is the picture that started it all!