Real Talk 26th January 2020 by Hannah Hillyer

Louise McSharry Talks Body Positivity And Acceptance

"I deserve to live, no matter what my body looks like."

Here at Stellar we love Louise McSharry for her straight-forwardness on almost any topic.

The radio DJ has just started a new show on 2FM after coming back from maternity leave and she’s already killing it.

On this weekends schedule she has been talking about the rent crisis, Leo Varadkar avoiding ‘that question’ in last weeks debate as well as how to handle your credit card like a grown-up. No subject is off-limits.

One topic she frequently discusses on social media is body positivity. Louise has always been open about her own struggles with self-acceptance and today she shared something that we think would resonate with any woman.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Apologies, this is going to be a long one. SO. Part of my job is promoting what I do, which means going on tv and getting my photo taken. I had a shoot last week (results above) and have two this week plus a tv appearance. I don’t usually mind, but at the moment I’m having a hard time looking at myself. My body has changed since having Ted, and an autumn and winter inside snuggling him has understandably resulted in an increase in size. I’m struggling with it. It’s a familiar feeling, a struggle I had for thirty years before I found a way to appreciate my body for things other than the way it looks and the way clothes look on it. I know now that my value is not my size. But I’m still struggling. I’m wondering again if people are looking at me thinking ‘oh she’s gained weight’. Or ‘she’s just TOO big now’. The truth is, some people probably are. I’m not giving myself a hard time over thinking these things. We live in a society which does not like or approve of fat bodies. It makes sense that I’d worry about it. What I AM doing is fighting against the urge to let those fears change the way I live my life. My instinct today is to avoid this photo, and to avoid the mirror, but I’m not going to let that frightened instinct win. I’m not going to turn down opportunities to promote a show I’m delighted is finally real, despite the fact that I’m scared and a little uncomfortable with them right now. I deserve to live, no matter what my body looks like. That’s what I would tell you, so that’s what I have to tell myself. It’s ok to struggle. This will pass. But I can’t let it stop me. 💖 (Thank you @liadanhynes for the lovely interview in the Sunday Independent today.)

A post shared by Louise McSharry (@louisemcsharry) on

Starting a new show as she has, comes with publicity, which includes interviews and photographs. For someone who is such a pro at make-up selfies, we were surprised to hear that Louise struggles with a photoshoot.

She has shared that her body has changed since having her second child and she is still getting used to how she looks, so a photoshoot exacerbates those negative thoughts.

“I don’t usually mind, but at the moment I’m having a hard time looking at myself. My body has changed since having Ted, and an autumn and winter inside snuggling him has understandably resulted in an increase in size.”

This honesty is something we so rarely see, especially on Instagram but this is exactly what Louise does best. Opening up and being vulnerable is not easy but the way she handles topics like this make it less difficult for others struggling with their own self-acceptance.

To literally say that you are struggling is so brave and to share with so many people? The bravest;

“I’m struggling with it. It’s a familiar feeling, a struggle I had for thirty years before I found a way to appreciate my body for things other than the way it looks and the way clothes look on it. I know now that my value is not my size. But I’m still struggling. I’m wondering again if people are looking at me thinking ‘oh she’s gained weight’. Or ‘she’s just TOO big now’.”

We think she looks as stunning as always, but we applaud her for sharing her insecurities and opening up about them. She closed off her post with a powerful message;

“I deserve to live, no matter what my body looks like. That’s what I would tell you, so that’s what I have to tell myself. It’s ok to struggle. This will pass. But I can’t let it stop me. 💖”

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