Meet The Models: Sara Hardman

Name: Sara Hardman

Short Bio: Sara loves writing, travel, photography & promoting amazing places. Former news journalist working in digital marketing and owner of blog Sara Hardman Travels.

Is a picture worth a thousand words? Sometimes. I like photos that capture a real depth of feeling, I particularly like shots in monochrome. I'm not a fan of selfies and continual posing though, it really makes me cringe.

The best part of waking up is… Looking forward to all the possibilities. I'm quite optimistic in life and usually find plenty to enjoy or at least laugh about.

What story does your best friend always tell about you? After graduating I went to work on a Camp America programme as a tennis coach. I could vaguely hit a ball but might have slightly over-estimated my skill potential at the interview when I suddenly found out that applicants were supposed to be 'sporty'. I'm not.

After referring to my racket as a "bat" the coach rumbled me and I was sent to work at the camp lake helping children get on and off the banana boat; it couldn't possibly have worked out better, I loved being in the water.

What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? I did a solo backpacking trip and ended up spending two years in Australia and travelling home via Asia. It was the most incredible and fun experience. Being alone and having to make all my own decisions and looking after myself with occasional language barriers or culture changes was definitely good for me. I hope I'm stronger for it.

What would you name your autobiography? Backpacking in Heels (My friends were often laughing at me for attempting to maintain style standards whilst in the Outback or putting make-up on to go skydiving)

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would love to speak more languages. I can get by in French and exchange pleasantries in German but I'd love to add Spanish to the list. I should also learn to cook properly at some point...

What’s stopping you?! Time. I know it's a terrible excuse. 

Why do you want to be a part of the Every Body’s Beautiful project? Encouraging body positivity and helping people to see past superficiality is really important. I did a lot of research into eating disorders for my degree and I think the media has a huge part to play in changing perceptions. I would love to see an end to airbrushing in advertising. It's really important to get the Every Body's Beautiful message out to people from a young age. The emphasis needs to be on health and wellbeing not looks and dress sizes.

Meet The Models: Carly Peart

Now that I've introduced myself, I want you all to find out a little more about some of the fantastic women who will be appearing in the calendar. First up is Carly, a wonderful woman who has inspired so many people to find out what their bodies are capable of.

Name: Carly Peart

Company: CarlyRowena

Short Bio: 27 year old Body Coach by day and Fitness Blogger online, Forever trying to make food go to boobs!

Is a picture worth a thousand words? Hell yes, you can take so much more from a picture, it can make you feel good, bad, reminisce, make you want to make yourself better, so many responses! 

The Best part of waking up is... Hearing my heartbeat and knowing I’m alive.

What story does your best friend always tell about you? I was part of a naughty threesome when I was younger, when I say threesome - I mean a group of three friends, I was only 5 and while playing hairdressers I got bored of cutting with my fingers so picked up a pair of scissors and chopped off my friends hair, I had to write a sorry poem and EVERYTHING.

What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? Starting my own YouTube Channel and Business was probably the scariest and most intimidating thing i have ever done, YouTube was horrible as I have always hated my face and squeaky voice and presumed people would hate me, to start my own business I had to leave the comfort of a very good job and start completely fresh, I didn't know if it was going to work but thank heavens it has!

What would you name your autobiography? Forever trying to make food go to my boobs.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Yoga, Im trying but I’m about as flexible as a bowling ball. 

What’s stopping you?! - I actually just started Bikram Yoga, so I will make it happen!

Why do you want to be a part of the Every Body’s Beautiful project? I’ve tried every diet under the sun and treated my body badly, I used to pick on myself on a daily basis but now I’ve grown up and started my career in fitness I understand, I don’t think my body's perfect but I absolutely love it, it’s my home and it lets me do and be whatever I want - its pretty amazing, we all need to realise this. 

The importance of Every Body's Beautiful

My daughter is seven years old and she worries about how she looks. Do my clothes go together? Is this skirt cool? I wore this last week I can't wear it again! That's how it always starts. Soon enough she'll be worrying that her boobs aren't big enough or her legs are too skinny or that her hair looks limp. She'll go on diets and wear makeup to try and make people accept her. She'll beat herself up about failing at fitting in and she'll feel crap a lot of the time.

How do I know? Because that's what happens to pretty much every girl. I though it was just me who felt like that as I was growing up, but talk to anyone woman honestly about the subject of body image and self confidence and you will hear the same story.

We're all guilty of perpetuating this misery, even if we do it subconsciously. We teach our children that looks are the most important. Think about last time you saw a little girl. Did you compliment her on such a pretty dress or tell her that her hair looked cute? What about last time you saw a little boy? Did you talk about his image, his clothes? Or did you tell him what a cool toy car he had?

We are all subjected to false images on a daily basis. Even if you don't read magazines you still see all those front covers with models photoshopped to 'perfection' and the red-top tabloids highlighting every little 'flaw'. TV, film, billboards - they're all the same. We are tricked into believing fame is the same as success, and we don't see anyone 'successful' who isn't slim, toned, tanned and 'perfect'. This association is dangerous because the 'success' we are aiming for is unattainable, it's false.

A calendar isn't going to change our attitudes and habits, but it's a start. By supporting this campaign you will help to raise awareness of an issue which is affecting everyone. You will show the world that you can be happy and beautiful without conforming to the media stereotypes of those words.

And hey, you'll also get a pretty cool calendar too!

Please, please share this campaign with your friends and hit the contribute button so we can make it happen.

Ali. x

Meet The Team: Creator Ali Bunn

Name: Ali Bunn

Bio: Every Body's Beautiful is the brainchild of Ali Bunn and she's the one behind the scenes getting quotes and organising the shoots & production of the 2015 calendar. She's a 30 year old Healthcare Assistant at a local hospital & soon to be a student nurse. She's Mum to a fiesty seven year old girl and in her spare time skates, refs and helps out local roller derby league The Norfolk Brawds.

Is a picture worth a thousand words? No! Pictures can be so full of lies that I don't feel they're worth much anymore. And I love to read a good novel, picture books just don't do it for me!

The best part of waking up is… Tea. I absolutely love tea. I usually work nights in my job so often wake up at 5 in the afternoon gasping for a cuppa.

What story does your best friend always tell about you? Well, that would be my husband, and since I accidentally reminded him of this story the other day I think it's going to be his new intro for me: We went camping a few years ago and I had bought a SheWee to try and make my life a bit easier. Essentially it's a plastic funnel you wee through so you can do it standing up, like a man. The box suggests you practice, but I figured it couldn't be too hard. So, first night of the holiday I slip out of the tent in the pitch black and head towards the bushes where I managed to pee all over myself and then trip over a tent peg and land upside down in a patch of five foot tall nettles. I trudged back to the tent, wet, smelly, sore and crying to get some sympathy and all my husband could do was laugh at me. He made me sleep in the porch bit that night too.

What was the last experience that made you a stronger person? I joined The Norfolk Brawds Roller Derby league last year and, before I'd even really learnt to skate, I fell over and broke my arm. It was bad enough to need surgery and a lot of morphine. Going back to skating after that was really, really tough. I was terrified it would happen again and if it did I knew how much strain that would put my family under. I have such a great amount of support from the rest of the league, they are what makes me stronger. They have taught me to believe in myself.

What would you name your autobiography? Bunny Boiler. (Because it's funny.)

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I can't drive and really wish I could!

What’s stopping you?! Procrastination and fear. I have the form for a provisional licence and the photos and everything sitting on the side in my kitchen, I just need to send it all off!

Why do you want to be a part of the Every Body’s Beautiful project? Because I want my daughter to grow up in a world where she can be proud of who she is without worrying what she looks like. Already at seven years old she worries that people will think she looks stupid or ugly and I hate that.