Rosanna Davison has warned how the modelling industry can leave young girls with crippling body issues.
The former Miss World has lifted the lid on how it can be so easy to become “extremely self-critical and low in self-esteem if you let it”.
She said: “The modelling industry can be tough on your self-confidence and I was so unaware of my body and appearance before I began modelling, but content in it.
“The industry can make you extremely self-critical and low in self-esteem if you let it.
Worry: Rosanna knows the modelling industry can hit people badly | BRIAN MCEVOY
“But I always try to remind myself that these are other people’s perceptions and opinions and do they really matter in the grand scheme of things?”
It comes the week that Lynn Kelly has been targeted for the way she looks, after a selfie was judged to be too skinny.
And Rosanna said it all comes down to refusing to believe you are “physically imperfect”.
She added: “It can be easy to let your mind believe that you’re physically imperfect, and media, advertising, and the internet can profoundly affect how we feel about our bodies.
“I try to avoid being sucked in as much as possible. Once I put effort into my health and fitness, I will always feel happy with my body and appearance. It’s very much psychological, in my case anyway.”
Empowering: Rosanna said Playboy gave her a lot of confidence | PLAYBOY
But Rosanna told the Sunday Independent that posing nude for Playboy was the thing that empowered her.
She said: “Doing Playboy was so empowering, because I felt happy in my own skin, and baring my body like that forced me to face my own insecurities. I loved being naked for it!
“I also worked hard to get in shape for it, so I felt confident. The vast majority of women were extremely positive and supportive. At least, they certainly didn’t say it to my face if they weren’t!
“I think that we are forced into believing that there is a level of perfection that we all need to achieve to be happy, successful, human beings, but the truth is, ‘perfection’ doesn’t exist.”
