Model and activist Liza Golden-Bhojwani hopes that, by sharing her personal journey, she can help others overcome issues with body image. Golden-Bhojwani began modeling simply to earn a living and maintain her independence. Before long, though, she came face-to-face with the harsh reality of sacrificing her health and well-being in order to make a living as a professional model. Her natural shape was different from the fashion industry ideal, as she had a wider waistline and fuller hips than the supposedly ideal female figure.

To succeed as a model, Golden-Bhojwani resorted to the crash diets and extreme exercise popular among the models with whom she worked. Because of her body’s natural shape, she could only achieve the “ideal” 34-inch waist by starving herself and restricting her diet to a mere 500 calories a day. This extreme deprivation made her lose nearly 20 pounds in two weeks, but the dangerous diet caused her to feel miserable, shaky, emotionally unstable, and constantly on edge. Her face sunk, she had black circles under her eyes, and one night she fainted, a terrifying experience that made her realize her obsession with being unnaturally thin was damaging her body and putting her in danger. Mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted from the strain of striving to achieve unrealistic body expectations, Golden-Bhojwani took a break from modeling before re-entering the spotlight to speak out as an advocate for body positivity. She hopes that, by sharing her message with others, she can inspire other women to feel comfortable and accept themselves for who they are.

Source: Instagram