Lifestyle and Fitness While Being Body Positive
Hello my friends, Miss Middleton here! My platform is entitled “Every Body is Beautiful” and it’s about being body positive, changing media attitudes towards fat acceptance, and combatting eating disorders. I struggled with body image and anorexia for the majority of my teen years but because I became body positive and realized my worth wasn’t equated to a number on a scale or the size of my waist, I was able to let go of my issues. This was a major process for me, one that I am still undergoing. Getting healthy was all in my mind and my mind still fights me every day to go back to my bad habits.
This brings up the question of how I’m getting ready for the swimsuit portion of Miss Idaho?
My preparation is to live my life! It’s called “Lifestyle and Fitness” for a reason! I can’t let my past obsessions with chasing a thin ideal overcome my life and preparation in other parts of the competition. I eat healthfully and enjoy all types of food (even dessert and pizza) and I work out doing things I love (my pup and I love going on walk/jogs, and I enjoy swimming at the pool I lifeguard at).
When I walk that stage, I will be the biggest I’ve ever been. But I’ll also be the healthiest I’ve ever been.
Last year at Miss Idaho, I was chasing my Thin Ideal. I worked out religiously and I cut out all “bad” foods. I didn’t have a good time last year because I resented myself for thinking I didn’t look as good as the other girls. I hated them and I hated myself. Swimsuit was terrifying and I was not the nicest person to be around. Even though I felt and acted the way I did, I was still accepted into the sisterhood, which is why I am back this year (but with a new perspective!).
I am so excited for Miss Idaho this year! Because I value myself more, I can value others more! Every single girl is gonna rock swimsuit!
“You can't rely on how you look to sustain you, what sustains us, what is fundamentally beautiful is compassion; for yourself and for those around you.”~ Lupita Nyong'o
Getting ready for Miss Idaho I am tempted to focus solely on how I look for the competition-wardrobe, makeup, fitness, the list goes on and on. But this quote reminds me of where my priorities are: being compassionate for others and developing my platform so that I can be an inspiration for young girls who are like how I was-hating my body and only accepting my worth if I was a certain size. Looks fade and go away but a compassionate heart stays beautiful forever
