How has inspiring Canadian youth to practice self-love inspired you?
It’s genuinely an honour to have Canadian girls follow my platform. There aren’t very many self-love Canadian creators, so to be able to show young girls around me how beautiful they’re is such a blessing. I grew up in a small town in Ontario on a farm, so it feels surreal for this to happen to me.
Do you feel that social media affects one’s perception of body image?
Social media can be the best and worst thing. On the one hand, these amazing creators show off their real lives, natural bodies, and insecurities — creating a positive impact. But then we also have the negative side to social media. It has become so easy to edit every photo — with bigger lips, whiter teeth, and a smaller waist. Anything you can think of, there’s an app that can “fix” it.
It’s so hard to love yourself (especially when you’re in high school and your body is constantly changing) when you go on your phone and scroll through pictures of thousands of girls who are “perfect” and portray a perfect life with no insecurities, a perfect relationship with food, and a perfect body.
Why is it important to destigmatize beauty standards for young women?
It’s so important because what even are beauty standards? Why did we let society teach these young girls that one thing is beautiful, but the other thing is ugly? Beauty standards change every single year, and it’s not a young girl’s job — nor should she feel — she has to change herself to fit the mould that society has labelled beautiful. She has always been beautiful and worthy. So rather than teaching girls what they should look like, we should teach them to believe they’re beautiful and smart. Besides, it’s what’s on the inside that matters.
How do you practice self-care when you’re not feeling your best?
I try not to look in the mirror or place any emphasis on what I look like. I’ve achieved so much, overcome so much, and worked so hard. I have an amazing personality, I’m a good friend, and I have a kind heart. So I try to focus on everything I bring to the table that has nothing to do with my appearance. Besides, how I look right now will not be how I look when I’m 50. I will forever change on the outside. But I will always be me.
What advice would you give to Gen Z who struggle with body image standards?
Your body is the least important thing about you. It’s the shell of your beautiful inside. Treat yourself like someone you love. You would never say the mean things you say about yourself to your friend. You love your friends, talk to them with kindness, buy them flowers, and care about their feelings. So why don’t you treat yourself like that?
