Blogger Brooke Birmingham lost a whopping 172 pounds and was contacted by Shape magazine to be a part of their "Success Stories" feature.
However, once the magazine received the photograph of Birmingham donning a bikini, which showed her weight loss, things took an ugly turn with the writer asking Birmingham to send in a picture of her in a shirt. Birmingham, refused to compromise on her stance and declined to be a part of the feature.
"Many of you know that I was asked to be a part of the Success Stories on Shape magazine's website. I have since decided not to go forth with that feature. I'm a firm believer in standing up for what I believe in. When they asked me send a fully clothed picture when there's women in bikinis all over their site, it was compromising what I believed in," revealed Brooke in a Facebook post on May 2.
So why did Shape magazine deem Birmingham's post-weight loss picture in a two-piece bathing suit unfit and ask her to send a fully-clothed one owing to "editorial policy", especially when it perseveres to promote a healthy lifestyle? The photograph of Birmingham showed her loose skin which is quite common post a substantial weight loss. Birmingham took the magazine's stance to reflect that it did not want to publish a picture of how people's bodies actually look post a significant loss in weight.
"I spent MANY years hating and hiding a body I was ashamed of because it wasn't society's ideal of beautiful. Being asked to send a photo of myself with a shirt on made me feel like I again should be ashamed of my body. That since I have the loose skin, I shouldn't be in a bikini," says Birmingham, echoing the sentiments of many.
Individuals who lose an incredible amount of weight often tackle stretch marks and loose skin which does not go back into place. This is a reality people live with and not something which can be airbrushed by magazines in images or photoshopped to create a fabricated notion of beauty and healthiness to inspire people.
"This is the type of body they should have featured because it can give people hope. Hope that they can lose weight healthfully and even if they don't end up with airbrushed abs of steel, they're gorgeous and shouldn't be ashamed of whatever imperfection they believe they have," says Birmingham in her blog "Brooke: Not On a Diet." Birmingham's Facebook page is replete with messages of gratitude, thanking her for being an inspiration.
A spokesperson for Shape magazine reveals that "this is a result of a misunderstanding with a freelance writer" and the incident is not representative or indicative "Shape's editorial values." Moreover, the comments that were made with regard to the magazine's editorial policies are "absolutely untrue."
