Chelsea Bonner: Children need to re-wire their brains when it comes to body image
Plus-size model and body image warrior Chelsea Bonner says kids today think being attractive is more important than being kind, as she calls on them to see her as an inspiration.
Manly
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Body image warrior Chelsea Bonner has a message for youths on the northern beaches this Australia Day: “What you look like does not define who you are”.
The plus-sized model and CEO of a multimillion-dollar business said she grew up thinking she did not belong because she was not graced with the same favourable genes as her cover girl model mum Nola Clark or actor dad Tony Bonner.
“My family are in the entertainment industry and celebrities and I felt I was under more pressure than most to look a certain way,” Ms Bonner, of Fairlight, 44, said.
“It felt like people thought of me as ‘poor Chelsea’ because I did not get blessed with the best genes like everyone else in my family.”
She said the rise of Instagram, coupled with the beach culture on the peninsula, has left increasing numbers of young people feeling like they were not good enough.
She said poor body image was contributing to the youth mental health crisis.
“These days people think it’s more important that you are attractive than you are a nice or kind human being, educated or intelligent,” Ms Bonner said.
“That’s an illness.
“We need to re-wire kids’ brains.”
Ms Bonner said she would encourage young people to look at her for inspiration as a successful female CEO of a global multimillion-dollar model agency for all sized, genders and colours.
And although she said she does not have an Instagrammable bikini body, she wears a bikini all the time on the beach and on her boat.
“I really don’t care what people think of me in a bikini,” Ms Bonner said.
“My success is living proof that whatever you look like does not define the outcome of your life.
“You are more than the body you are born with.”
Ms Bonner will be performing duties on Australia Day and will give an address at Dee Why Beach main stage at 9.15am.
There will also be barbecue breakfasts from 8am at Ted Jackson and James Meehan Reserves at Dee Why Beach; Lakeside Park at North Narrabeen and Bert Payne Reserve at Newport Beach, as well as thong throwing, face painting and live entertainment.
The Warringah Aquatic Centre and Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre will host pool parties with a kids DJ, inflatable thong racing competitions and roving entertainment.
The official Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony will be held at Glen Street Theatre.