Promoting positive body image by baring it all
Mildred Gonzalez
Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: News
On Monday, the Greek Panhellenic Council presented Embracing Real Beauty, a talk by motivational speaker Stacy Nadeau. The event was co-sponsored by The Association of Lafayette Feminists and Student Government.
Nadeau was one of the original models for the 2005 Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. According to Nadeau, the goal of the campaign was to alter media's artificial representation of women. This was the first time that any advertising campaign had attempted to portray real women and Dove was unsure if it would be accepted by the public, said Nadeau.
Nadeau was initially hesitant to be a one of the models, especially since it required that she pose in her underwear on billboards that would be seen from New York to Los Angeles. This, however, did not prevent her from finally deciding to take part in a campaign that would change her life.
"She was brilliant and exuded confidence even before she began her speech. Hopefully she can serve as a role model for a number of students here at Lafayette," Executive Vice President for Panhellenic Council Jennifer Cotennec '11 said.
"I grew up a confident woman. The campaign made me more proud to be a curvy, strong woman. It increased my self esteem and definitely empowered me," Nadeau said.
The campaign presented women of different color, age and dress sizes. When the billboard was first released in Times Square it caught the attention of ten blocks worth of New Yorkers and the eye of television shows like "Dr. Phil," "The Tyra Banks show," and "Oprah."
According to Nadeau, some news outlets considered the women unattractive and a shame to the advertising industry. These complaints were met by a backlash of men and women who commented that the campaign allowed them to be more confident and accepting of their own body image.
"I never realized before how much of a problem body image is. When I saw how big it was it made me passionate and I wanted to make a difference. With the campaign, people were finally talking; they were paying attention," Nadeau said.
Nadeau was one of the original models for the 2005 Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. According to Nadeau, the goal of the campaign was to alter media's artificial representation of women. This was the first time that any advertising campaign had attempted to portray real women and Dove was unsure if it would be accepted by the public, said Nadeau.
Nadeau was initially hesitant to be a one of the models, especially since it required that she pose in her underwear on billboards that would be seen from New York to Los Angeles. This, however, did not prevent her from finally deciding to take part in a campaign that would change her life.
"She was brilliant and exuded confidence even before she began her speech. Hopefully she can serve as a role model for a number of students here at Lafayette," Executive Vice President for Panhellenic Council Jennifer Cotennec '11 said.
"I grew up a confident woman. The campaign made me more proud to be a curvy, strong woman. It increased my self esteem and definitely empowered me," Nadeau said.
The campaign presented women of different color, age and dress sizes. When the billboard was first released in Times Square it caught the attention of ten blocks worth of New Yorkers and the eye of television shows like "Dr. Phil," "The Tyra Banks show," and "Oprah."
According to Nadeau, some news outlets considered the women unattractive and a shame to the advertising industry. These complaints were met by a backlash of men and women who commented that the campaign allowed them to be more confident and accepting of their own body image.
"I never realized before how much of a problem body image is. When I saw how big it was it made me passionate and I wanted to make a difference. With the campaign, people were finally talking; they were paying attention," Nadeau said.