If you are an actress, popstar, celebrity or are someone else in the public eye, then you’re going to be increasingly vulnerable to poor body image. It’s not surprising, as you’re likely often in front of a camera or posting photos of yourself on social media. Sadly, in our image obsessed world, people will comment and share opinions about your body, positive and negative. You’ve got to be incredibly thick skinned to cope with this. It is hard not to become obsessed – a lot of pressure to live up to your social media pics and maintain your public image.

It’s a tricky topic to talk about.

People assume that you ‘must be fine’ and can place on you a pedestal, assuming you’re somehow immune to the comments, good and bad. It can be very confusing; if you people are praising your body, but you are feeling deeply insecure.

A Parliamentary report on body image in 2012 estimated that 2/3 of adults suffer from negative body image. If you’re famous, this will undoubtedly be higher. Poor body dissatisfaction is dangerous and impacts mental health and the potential for contributing towards eating disorders.

4 ways to deal with body image pressure.

1. THOUGHTS. Be mindful of your thoughts. How much time are you thinking about your body, comparing to others or noticing your perceived imperfections? We have 60,000 thoughts per day and many repetitive. Are your thoughts in line with your true values? When you’re 90 and looking back on life, how much does a ‘perfect body’ really count?

2. EXPOSURE. Don’t read everything that’s said about you. If media is impacting you, reduce your screen time. Choose wisely the material you expose yourself to.  

3. BE BRAVE AND CHALLENGE. Keep promoting positive body image – antiperfection, real bodies and collaborate with others also doing this too. This movement will gain more power and momentum as people join together. Many people in the public eye are working hard to promote more realistic images and to fight back against perfection. @fearnecotton @demilovato @ emilyafect @jenniferlawrence  @taylorswift to name a few.

4. IT'S OKAY TO GET SUPPORT. Get counselling if you need a space to process your thoughts and feelings. It is no surprise that your emotional wellbeing may be impacted if you’re in the public eye.