BODY SHAMING

I have a gorgeous cousin who is a beautiful size 12. Curvy, toned and smart. Did I mention she is the best dancer of us all? She's that flexible with the sweetest disposition ever. I tell her how cute she is all the time. Like every young person; she is still figuring out her style. Now being stylish most times doesn't necessarily mean being trendy because not all trends suit all body types. You have to adapt style to your taste and personality. That knowledge however does not come to everyone at the same time. It takes years for some. That being said; every body can be stylish and fashionably trendy regardless of their size. It's offensive then to hear the way some folks talk to some big bodied ladies as if their size is a disease. I remember once when someone said to my very beautiful friend "this your baka too much for church o". My friend in her characteristic no holds barred answered "I for cut some keep for house? No be God give me?" Recently a relative was chastizing my big cousin harshly for wearing a turtle neck top with a Jean bodycon skirt. Her words and the tone of her voice somehow made it seem that my cousin's body was a sin. I have seen this too often to be comfortable with it. Yes! People should work out and be healthy which is the important thing, not being thin. By the way there are very thin people who are not healthy. Some is just genetic. It is time to stop body shaming and appreciate people for whom they are. Anyone that has ever tried to lose weight will tell you it's not as easy as you see in adverts on Television. It's a lot of sacrifice, tears and sweat. Body shaming can cause young people who are still very impressionable to harm themselves. Depression,bulimia nervosa and suicide are not uncommon