Dear Body, by Arielle Estoria
Sharing her true passion as a poet, our campaign model Arielle Estoria celebrates and glorifies the body in all its manifestations, whether tugged, pinched or neglected. She composed a poem dedicated to the Body in which it's meant "to exist, to be unique, to be flaunted and praised for all that it is".
THESE BODIES
DEAR BODY,
I am sorry that I did not pull you closer,
that I let everyone around me tell you who you should and should not be
I am sorry that I did not hold you or whisper that you were beautiful without having to be different first
DEAR BODIES-
Sweet and patient temples that we have often neglected,
that we have compared to everyone around us
We are sorry it has taken us so long to say enough is enough
And you, body are enough
you are gold etched into our skin reminding us that we have always been glorious
You are the whispers we needed when the lies screamed at us
You have let us pinch and pull
Tug and burn
Starve and neglect you
And you have stayed faithful
Present, strong and resilient
These warrior bodies belonging to victors and not victims
These bodies filled with grace and wonder
For too long the worth of these bodies have been defined by everyone around us
They have been shaped by society, shattered by media and confused by those who have hurt us
BUT THESE BODIES- were always meant to be celebrated,
to be shown radiantly and not hidden
Instead every dimple, mole and curve given a chance to shine
Captured in all their wonder,
given permission to exist, to be unique, to be flaunted and praised for all that they are
These unapologetic bodies
No longer making excuses for their existence
living and breathing
Freely, fully and beautifully