Amy Hunter | Being Big, Brunette and Beautiful in a Skinny-Minded World

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. As women, we all grow up with insane, impossible expectations as lots of you will already know fine and well. There is very much such thing as 'skinny privilege': when you are not subdued to the same public shame, guilt and judgement than people a larger size than you. Today, even thin women get shamed for not being slim enough.

I decided to interview my very good friend, make up connoisseur, health advisor, and recent public bodi-posi activist, Amy Hunter. During lockdown she started to post on Instagram about weight, insecurities, stretch marks, and more in the hopes to inspire others to feel comfortable in their own skin. Amy had started uploading make-up tutorials, something I class her as a top tier expert in, and followed was her first body positive post reading 'Reminder that clothes sizes are bullshit and it doesn’t matter if you're a size 2 or 28'. From then on she has been consistently blessing our timelines with inspiration, self-fulfillment and glory.

The interview is as follows.

S: You started to post bodi-posi pictures during lockdown. Why did you decide to start doing it in the first place? How did it feel the first time?

A: I remember walking around town a few weeks into lockdown after being inside for so long, I was in a clothes shop and I just looked around and thought 'I'm the biggest person in here'. After that I just decided to start losing weight and focused on my stomach so much, and then I just realised one day that I didn’t want to hide it anymore. It's exhausting! The first time I posted; sure I was anxious, but more than anything it just felt like this massive weight had been lifted. It was so freeing.

S: What kinds of reactions have you gotten?

A: A ton of people felt the same as me. There have been people, some that I hadn't spoken to before, that have messaged me thanking me, even sometimes sending me pictures of their bodies, and talking about things they never would have before. It's been amazing. Unfortunately I have gotten negative reactions too. I've had a lot of men unfollow me, mostly ones with girlfriends. And I've gotten a lot of unsolicited dick pics. It's as if showing your body in a confident way translates to some men as something sexual and that you must want it.

Not only do revealing images of women sometimes translate to men as an invitation to sexualisation, but sometimes seeing women feel good about their bodies and own themselves can be threatening. Men often want women, especially in our society, to look like their idea of good, but to not brag about it or own it ourselves, to always be slightly self-hating and insecure so that they feel big. As soon as we are both radiant and beautiful and also completely know it, we are seen as over-confident, full of it slags.

S: When you were growing up, when did you first start to feel judged or like you were different in the eyes of others due to your body type?

A: I remember starting to feel different when I was around 10 years old. I was in primary school running around with my friends and I'd just started to go through puberty already. I remember looking at everyone around me and feeling so much bigger, so I started to walk behind because I felt so awkward.

S: What has your journey with loving yourself been like? What has personally helped you?

A: I think the journey has been completely ongoing, I'm not where I used to be but I'm not where I need to be yet! I still post photos and criticise myself, but it's important to realise why you're doing it - you owe it to yourself! And on those days where you don’t feel great within yourself, think about others who may need to see or hear it.

S: You've spoken about how we shouldn’t stray from dating people just because they're shorter or slimmer than us. How has your body affected your relationships?

A: I'm taking a break from relationships at the moment. I simply don’t have the energy to actively work on myself and be with someone. In the past I've been confident in relationships. It's strange that I've never felt overly self-conscious around a partner! I think that comes from setting boundaries in what you're comfortable with, and communicating with the person you're with. I'd advise others that they should speak with their partners about what they are and aren't comfortable with. I have dated men smaller than me, and I have felt uncomfortable when walking down the street with them. Talking about it is a way that I can overcome it.

S: Finally, can you recommend some brands for womens clothing and underwear with flexible sizing?

A: Unfortunately, I don’t have many suggestions for brands and especially underwear brands. There is so much that needs to be done, and there are only a handful of brands that cater to my bra size. I love ASOS and have been shopping on Shein (hit and miss but fabulous for plus size fashion!) They aren't the most ethical brands but until there is more inclusivity in ethical clothing brands, what are us plus size girls supposed to do? I'm also gonna finish by mentioning Rainbow Dropz and their gorgeous hand made crochet pieces!

(Amy wearing a Rainbow Dropz custom made piece).

Thank you so much to Amy for taking the time to talk about this stuff with me. We need to continue talking about uncomfortable taboos until they are comfortable and part of the norm! Be sure to check out the link below to support our girl Amy, the gorgeous Rainbow Dropz, and most importantly support and love yourself.

- Sionna

Amy Hunter's Links

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/hunter.amy/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1MJwMx_mTiCOpZ8T5qAyIg

Rainbow Dropz Links

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowdropz_/

Etsy Official: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Rainbowdropzcrochet

Depop: @graceforster97