(1) Vanessa, age 28
"I compete in fitness model talent shows and am constantly striving for the best physique that I am able to achieve. There is an 'off season' where I try to put on more muscle. At that time, I eat more food and hold more body fat. The 'on season' is where I diet harder and try to get as defined as I can."
(2) Erika, age 21
"I've always felt insecure about my body. For me, going out to a club, or a beach or even going to the gym is complicated. I get there and I see all the tall, tiny, beautiful people, all the girls who can wear strapless dresses, bikinis and tight tank tops, and I want to be them."
(3) Rebecca, age 23
"My mom is a beautiful woman with a perfect bird-like Asian body type. I've always been big, and my mom took issue with it so I was always teased by my family. They called me ‘dai fan’ meaning ‘a big chunk’- I never realized how much it hurt until I vocalized it.”
(4) Tamara, age 22
"I am a very big woman. As much as I feel I am a beautiful person, I often fear it does not show through all my layers of fat. On the other hand, I feel blessed that I have a rather clear complexion and a lovely facial structure, and if you take away the fact that I am so heavy, I have nice proportions but that's what it always comes down to: 'I'm hot, as long as everyone ignores that I am fat."
(5) Susannah, age 35
"This pale, freckled body has been unloved as long as I can remember. It has been neglected, raped, bullied, bruised and broken. It has been starved and stuffed, parched, poisoned and pushed to exhaustion. It should be thanked and respected for its persistent strength and resilience to anger, sadness, shame and abuse taken out on it... but it's not."
(6) Christina, age 28
“For over 10 years, I don't even recognize myself at times when I look at the mirror. Dieting and exercise are always things that I turn to, but I lose interest quickly. Excuse after excuse I know that have chosen to hide behind the extra pounds. The reasons are plentiful and mostly for protection. To hide desirability and to test the sincerity of loved ones.”
