As a fellow plus-sized woman, I absolutely resonate with the way Olivia Summers addressed comments about her weight. I’ve been following Olivia, a talented dancer, entrepreneur, and star of a popular reality show, on social media for years. She’s incredibly inspiring, with her vibrant personality and her dedication to body positivity through her No Body Shame initiative. As someone who also navigates life with PCOS, I find her content relatable. Let’s be real: it’s empowering to see women in larger bodies thrive, regardless of society’s narrow beauty standards.
The Challenges of Living as a Visible Fat Person
Living as a visible fat person can be challenging. While I don’t have a massive social media following like Olivia, my job allows me to discuss issues surrounding body image. Yet, even as someone who enjoys a degree of anonymity, I still face unsolicited opinions about my size. I remember receiving harsh critiques from some men on an article about a completely different topic! It seems that when people see a fat body, they feel entitled to voice their thoughts, often in hurtful ways.
Olivia’s Experience with Unsolicited Comments
Recently, Olivia was simply sharing her joyful summer moments, including a trip to the Louvre and fun times with friends. But, of course, that wasn’t enough. She posted a picture of herself in a cute bikini, and immediately, the comments flooded in. One user remarked, “You still haven’t lost any weight, huh?” while another cheerily noted, “Girl, you lost weight! Looking good.” Olivia’s response was spot-on: “This — on everything I post, always. So tired of it, exhausted by it, annoyed with it. Can we please find something else to talk about? Suggest good topics in the comments.”
In her comments, some people argued that she shouldn’t expect different conversations simply because she chose a public life—utter nonsense. Others, however, offered alternative topics, which I truly appreciated.
The Exhaustion of Constant Commentary
To Olivia, I can’t help but shout, YES! It’s exhausting when living your life means confronting constant commentary about your weight. When your body is larger and you choose to exist openly, especially online, it seems like people feel justified in sharing their opinions.
The first comment? Clearly rooted in shame, as society often equates fatness with failure. The second comment, while seemingly positive, reflects the misconception that all fat people secretly desire to be thin. Both types of comments can detract from conversations that could be about so much more than just weight.
What Would Be Commendable?
What would truly be commendable? Simply ignoring the size of Olivia’s body altogether. Fat individuals should not have to constantly navigate discussions about their size. We deserve to share our experiences without feeling like our bodies are the focal point. It would be refreshing to be recognized for our talents, personalities, and everything that makes us unique, rather than being reduced to our weight.
Eliminating Body Commentary
In an ideal world, we could eliminate the habit of commenting on others’ bodies, particularly when they are strangers. If your close friend has been on a weight loss journey and would appreciate the feedback, that’s different. But when someone feels compelled to bring up a fat person’s size in a conversation that has nothing to do with it? That’s just odd. Fat people should be allowed to share photos without the expectation of commentary on their bodies.
There’s no level of fame that makes body-shaming acceptable. Everyone should have the right to engage on social media without facing relentless scrutiny regarding their bodies. In the words of a well-known artist, “Let us exist in peace.”
Further Reading
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Summary
Olivia Summers eloquently addressed the unsolicited comments she receives about her weight, emphasizing the fatigue and frustration that comes with being a visible fat person. Her call for people to focus on topics beyond body size resonates deeply, reminding us that everyone deserves to share their experiences without facing scrutiny about their appearance. Fat individuals should be able to live freely, without their bodies constantly being a subject of discussion.
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