Body-shamed to Top-Star Model.
F
elistas Mutendi is a young girl on a mission if l might put it that way and have been a model for top brands such as BAZAAR, Crop Clothing among others. Born and raised in the beaming heart of Africa in a country not far away from the bottom of Africa, Zimbabwe. I grew up surrounded by a very large, God fearing and loving family and did my primary and high school education in Zimbabwe. It was during my time in High School that my dilemma began l am naturally a tall and slender person and l might say l received a fair enough moment of body shaming from my fellow girls because of my physical appearance. However, l would always find comfort in my brother who gave me the strength to ignore the negative and look for the positive in that .After finishing my high school l moved on to Poland where l am currently based right now studying Nursing .Just as they always say never plan for a full day ahead for we don’t know how tomorrow might turn out so as l was walking in the street on this particular day a guy approached me’ asked if l had ever done modeling to which l had not and had never imagined of being one .He told me my physical structure was exactly what was lacking in their studios l got an invitation for a photo shoot and the rest followed and here we are today .The same tall and slender image that subjected me the horns of a dilemma has seen me going places and l always carry with me the encouraging words from my brother “ignore the negative and look for the positive in that negativity. “However, in this modern society we should realize that body shaming has been one of the biggest challenges affecting women worldwide and l am very privileged to have come on the International stage of modelling at a time l can be heard, use my
influence to make a difference. Decades ago, modeling was a silent profession, where women were supposed to be seen and never heard, but just like l have alluded before times have changed the world is now embracing the efforts and positive vibes that women spread. It is a fact that cannot be denied that most industries remain overrun with problems that include labor exploitation, sexual harassment and body shaming against women and these problems are not absent as well in the modeling industry as in most cases models are trivialized and our concerns as women are seen as nothing and quickly brushed off all in the name of us being women. I strongly believed it could have been a different issue if this was a male dominated industry then alone people would not turn a blind eye to these inhuman activities. As a young women born and raised in the dust and jungles of Africa, Zimbabwe to be specific full of cultural diversity that is rich l have embraced modeling as a symbol of self-expression, women empowerment and through my social media l try to put across a message of unity ,togetherness and resilience of all women worldwide through fashion. As we embark on the journey to reclaim our position in the world as women lets be inspired by the following songs BROWN SKIN GIRL” ………… Your skin just like pearls the best thing in the world, l never trades you for anybody else.” Favela “As the sun rises she opens up her Hazel beautiful eyes and begins her baby cries she picks him up ……..”. No matter how hard we fall on the journey lets gather our strength” lets rise like a phoenix out of the ashes seeking rather than vengeance retribution you were warned.”
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