Graphic created by Sofja Skworcowa
When your life is constantly analysed under a microscope and anything you do undergoes public scrutiny, it’s easy to lose track of the damage and consequences that come with that. Celebrities are told that it’s normal, feeling anxiety, getting panic attacks and not having control over what you do is the reality of fame. However, with decades, people have opened their eyes to everything that happens backstage and how inhumane and wrong it is.
Thankfully with the 2020s being much more inclusive, accepting and open-minded people have started reinventing and modernising the meaning behind beauty and how it should be perceived. For example, the iconic glamorous Victoria’s Secret show that was cancelled in November 2019 for lack of diversity and other problematic controversies, came back this year with a new image, showcasing a range of beautiful people of all shapes, sizes and nationalities.
With that being said, it’s important to note the severity of struggling with an eating disorder, anorexia is the mental disorder with the highest mortality rate. Healing from that takes a lot of perseverance, determination and faith in yourself. When someone is in such a vulnerable position, especially when working towards recovery, it’s important to surround that person with a lot of love and support, as easy as that may sound, it’s a crucial part of progress.
The main goal of this article isn’t to gossip about stars and their problems, but on the contrary, aiming to promote healing and improvement. When looking at celebrities people tend to criticise and compare themselves to flawless photos of stars, but here you can find comfort and relate to somebody, who may seem so out of touch with reality.
Zayn Malik
Some may know him from his One Direction days (crying in 18 months), others from his solo career, nonetheless, he is an incredibly talented singer with a voice so powerful haters would have nothing left to say after hearing it. Zayn Malik developed a tricky relationship with food, because of how controlled and constantly on the move his life was in 1D, from show to interviews and back on stage again, there was barely any time to eat or sleep. So as much as it hurt the fandom to see Zayn go off on his own in the middle of their 2015 tour, it was for his own good. He managed to regain balance in life and with the support of his loving mother, he got back on the right track with a healthier mindset. This shows that sometimes when you feel like you are losing control it’s best to stop and check if it’s worth it, additionally finding people who will bring light back into your life always helps.
Princess Diana of Wales
The stunning, loving and incredibly generous feminist and fashion icon, Princess Diana, the queen of people’s hearts, was best known for her charity work and being a member of the royal family. The Princess of Wales struggled with bulimia, which resulted from low self-esteem and an unhappy marriage. Despite the factor which caused her to start recovering, being considered harsh (her friend said that she would tell the press unless Diana got help), it was the motivation she needed. To pursue a healthy lifestyle, the royal started listening to her body and mind, accepting and learning how to love herself for who she is. Diana distanced herself from the toxic environment which the royal family and press caused, starting to prioritise herself and her well-being.
Gabourey Sidibe
American actress, Golden Globes and Best Lead Actress award (Academy Award) nominee Gabourey Sidibe has been in the acting industry since 2009, debuting in Precious, the film earning her the best female lead award (Independent Spirit Award). Gabourey opened up about struggling with depression which led her to develop bulimia because that was her way of coping. With time, the actress realised that she wouldn’t make it out alone, so, through therapy, she grew to accept that depression was just a part of her. Now Gabby is a huge advocate for therapy and believes that it is important to ask for help.
In conclusion, educating our generation and the generations to come about eating disorders is vital, due to this mental disorder being something that takes away a lot of joy, energy and hope, leaving the person feeling defeated and in pain. Recovering takes a lot more than one might think, saying “eat more” will simply do more harm than good.
As cliché as “we should concentrate on what’s on the inside and not the outside” may sound, it’s true, and after all, we are humans who are finding ourselves in a not-so-safe world, the least we can do is realise that we are stronger together. People like Diana, Zayn, Gabourey and many more, including Elton John, Shawn Johnson East, and Taylor Swift, prove that with the right approach and people it’s possible to crawl out of that dark hole victorious.
The Warsaw High School Times 