It is easy to just hit back on social media and say 'we should do something about it'- but what? So i thought about it for many days and decided to take the first step.
"We live in a day and age when we all want to be perfect! You have put a lot of weight on recently, and a lot of people have commented!... Well I ask you, is there something wrong with that? We all have phases in our lives and this too is a phase!
Why do we have to be perfect all the time? We’ve stopped being comfortable with who we are! And so here I am sharing my imperfections, pictures which show the real me, that is not hiding behind the veil of Photoshop! Are you willing to take off the mask? I’m not perfect and neither is anyone else, so lets share the imperfections! You are beyond your photos!"
And the remaining half?
The remaining half can't get what they are looking for in their women. So... (trails off).
Are you also saying that men who molest and/or rape can't get enough sex and companionship from their partner?
No, I am not saying that. I am saying that we look at beauty in a wrong manner. We have set unnecessary yardsticks and pre-conceived notions about beauty. Everything is beautiful, we are all born beautifully, it is just that we all are different from each other. The most undesirable aspect of this mess is that consequently women too start having unrealistic expectations from themselves,
"Loving oneself isn't hard, when you understand who and what 'yourself' is. It has nothing to do with the shape of your face, the size of your eyes, the length of your hair or the quality of your clothes. It's so beyond all of those things and it's what gives life to everything about you. Your own self is such a treasure." Phylicia Rashad
Yeah, so what did you do next?
This is how the platform was created. I want people, especially women, to interact here and talk about the things which they believe are imperfect in their body. And mind you, I want to eradicate those false notions. They should not spend hours concealing things which are defined as flaws by the society.
Let us all who are offended have a collective voice.
I want even the offenders to look into the mirror and get onto this platform. They seem to look into the mirror and they don't like what they see, and then they become nasty. So why shouldn't they too realise that being perfect is not reaching the moon and the only be-all and end-all of life, and join in constructively to spread the message?
Over to the pictures you posted. How did you zero down on the areas you have highlighted?
Those are the areas which every woman is conscious of- stomach and thighs. Don't dieticians too focus on talking about thigh and belly fat while shouting out their prescribed charts?
"Left profile, right profile, let’s hide the areas which show the fat! But who said curves can’t be beautiful? Body shaming has become a common phenomenon in this day and age where it’s ok for any one to comment on another person’s body! It all stems from insecurities!
Rather than hiding, I choose to highlight my imperfections! The parts of me I was taught to hate, I now choose to show off! I choose to announce that yes I’m not perfect! My question to you is are you willing to share your imperfections with the world?"
Response?
Response is good. A beginning has been made. A bunch of friends have joined in to post their pictures. Over the weekend, I am going to call out to my fans and ask them to join in too.
Doesn't your TV industry too look at women in the same way- they ought to be beautiful, they out to be shapely...?
That's right. A lot happens in the media industry as a whole. People have a whole lot of preconceived ideas. But, in today's times, there is a lot of space for all of us. Gone are the days when only a typical face and figure was required in films and TV. It is getting better, but as I said you are right- abhi tak yeh criterion hai.
Let’s unmask! Lets stop hiding! I have shared my thoughts, I have shared my story! Now its your turn! Share your stories as I want to listen, I want to hear and I want to write back to you! #thisisme#nakedtruth #notsoperfect#whatyoudontsee
And that shortchanges the talent?
I would guess that even that statement of your's is right, but my aim for now is to raise a loud voice- which spreads far and wide- that women come in different shapes and sizes, why harp on perfect 10? Fashion is not just for size zero.
It is terrible to see today's youngsters downloading Apps which will photo-shop their pictures.
Yeah. Parting shot?
For Pete's sake, let's get real.
Image Source: instagram/rochellerao