On a recent trip through the YouTube vortex, I stumbled across the What's Underneath Project video series from StyleLikeU. The project presents a range of one-on-one interviews with females about their bodies and the obstacles they face due to appearance. StyleLikeU describes the project below:
"We've asked a select group of individuals to participate in a project in which they will remove their clothes to honor how style is not the clothes you wear, it is comfort in your skin, it is your spirit, it is What's Underneath"
That description leads me to offer you this warning:
perhaps NSFW - there are bodies presented here in their undergarments; no full nudity. There is some rough language used in some. Some are also about potential triggering subjects like rape.
The other warning is less about safety and more about marketing. As with all media, there is an opportunity to advertise. Before each of these videos, I had to watch an ad for makeup, skin care products, or prescription drugs that deal with your appearance. That gets an eye roll and an "Ugh."
Now that that is cleared up, feel free to check out a couple. I enjoyed The Truth About Self-Acceptance: Lizzo. She is a rapper and she talks about her struggle to accept her natural hair. I also loved The Walls You Put Up Don't Protect You: Jo Equality Lampert who talks about gender identity and intimacy.
No matter what your body issues are, there is a good chance that you will find something in this series that speaks to you. A random sampling can include talk around body hair, androgyny, or scarring; skin color, religion, or gender stereotyping; motherhood, body size, or pimples. With 83 videos (as of this posting) and a whole range of topics, I'm sure you will find something that reflects your insecurities and, hopefully, helps inspire you on your path to self-acceptance.
