1 00:00:09,925 --> 00:00:14,125 Speaker 1: You're listening to a Mom and me a podcast. Mama 2 00:00:14,205 --> 00:00:16,965 Speaker 1: MEA acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters that 3 00:00:17,005 --> 00:00:18,525 Speaker 1: this podcast is recorded on. 4 00:00:18,845 --> 00:00:21,245 Speaker 2: It takes a certain space in someone's life. 5 00:00:21,285 --> 00:00:27,445 Speaker 3: Surely to be being horrible to someone like it has 6 00:00:27,525 --> 00:00:30,245 Speaker 3: to be that classic tear them down so that you 7 00:00:30,285 --> 00:00:33,685 Speaker 3: feel better. It baffles me every time I open comments 8 00:00:33,685 --> 00:00:35,365 Speaker 3: and it's just people being nasty. 9 00:00:35,085 --> 00:00:37,325 Speaker 2: Because you can say it off a fake account. 10 00:00:37,365 --> 00:00:40,205 Speaker 3: I don't mind, but can you just if you're someone 11 00:00:40,245 --> 00:00:43,845 Speaker 3: that leaves hate on people's pages, comment down below your age, 12 00:00:43,845 --> 00:00:48,205 Speaker 3: your occupation, and like what you like to do, because 13 00:00:48,285 --> 00:00:49,685 Speaker 3: what where are these people? 14 00:00:58,085 --> 00:01:01,445 Speaker 1: Like most young girls growing up in today's media driven world, 15 00:01:02,005 --> 00:01:05,165 Speaker 1: there comes a moment when you realize that your body 16 00:01:05,805 --> 00:01:09,885 Speaker 1: is being compared to others, and often it's you doing 17 00:01:09,925 --> 00:01:13,605 Speaker 1: the comparison. I remember when it happened to me when 18 00:01:13,605 --> 00:01:16,165 Speaker 1: I was fourteen and I'd saved up to buy this 19 00:01:16,325 --> 00:01:20,565 Speaker 1: crocheted bikini from Cama that I really wanted, and then 20 00:01:20,605 --> 00:01:24,445 Speaker 1: I spent the whole summer wearing a T shirt over 21 00:01:24,525 --> 00:01:31,125 Speaker 1: it because I was too embarrassed. Was I ashamed? I 22 00:01:31,125 --> 00:01:35,805 Speaker 1: don't know, too self conscious to actually wear the bikini 23 00:01:35,845 --> 00:01:40,045 Speaker 1: that I had wanted so badly well for today's guest, 24 00:01:40,605 --> 00:01:46,365 Speaker 1: Riley Hemson. That comparison moment came at just ten years old, 25 00:01:46,805 --> 00:01:50,685 Speaker 1: when she first believed that her worth was entirely tied 26 00:01:51,285 --> 00:01:55,165 Speaker 1: to how her body looked. Ironically, her journey to realizing 27 00:01:55,325 --> 00:02:00,005 Speaker 1: that wasn't true came through social media, the very thing 28 00:02:00,045 --> 00:02:04,085 Speaker 1: that often has the opposite effect, leaving us doom scrolling 29 00:02:04,125 --> 00:02:11,085 Speaker 1: through endless accounts feeling quite frankly unworthy. Riley started out 30 00:02:11,125 --> 00:02:17,165 Speaker 1: in paramedicine, but unexpectedly she found herself becoming an Instagram influencer. 31 00:02:18,125 --> 00:02:21,885 Speaker 1: It might seem like an unlikely career shift, but it 32 00:02:21,965 --> 00:02:27,645 Speaker 1: was through sharing her life online, particularly her realistic running diaries, 33 00:02:28,445 --> 00:02:31,005 Speaker 1: that she stayed accountable to the version of herself she 34 00:02:31,085 --> 00:02:35,605 Speaker 1: wanted to be. Instead of retreating inward, she chose to 35 00:02:35,605 --> 00:02:41,045 Speaker 1: be open, proving that self worth is not defined by size. 36 00:02:42,205 --> 00:02:45,485 Speaker 1: That message has shaped everything she's done since, from launching 37 00:02:45,525 --> 00:02:48,965 Speaker 1: her brand Remy by Riley, to becoming an ambassador for 38 00:02:49,045 --> 00:02:53,645 Speaker 1: Laurels Talk Their Worth campaign, which encourages women to embrace 39 00:02:53,685 --> 00:02:58,685 Speaker 1: their self worth and share it unapologetically. Her journey has 40 00:02:58,725 --> 00:03:02,085 Speaker 1: built a beautiful connection with her followers, who have watched 41 00:03:02,085 --> 00:03:06,725 Speaker 1: her learn to love herself, and in turn, they've learned 42 00:03:06,765 --> 00:03:10,005 Speaker 1: to do the same. Riley is the epitome of self 43 00:03:10,045 --> 00:03:14,485 Speaker 1: love and body confidence, showing that true worth has nothing 44 00:03:14,525 --> 00:03:18,645 Speaker 1: to do with size and everything to do with how 45 00:03:18,685 --> 00:03:26,285 Speaker 1: we see ourselves. Here's Riley Hempson. Riley Hempson, welcome to 46 00:03:26,405 --> 00:03:27,005 Speaker 1: No Filter. 47 00:03:28,365 --> 00:03:30,245 Speaker 2: Thank you. I'm excited to chat. 48 00:03:30,885 --> 00:03:34,805 Speaker 1: You know your journey and it is a proper journey. 49 00:03:34,845 --> 00:03:37,045 Speaker 1: And I know that's an expression that people use and 50 00:03:37,245 --> 00:03:41,325 Speaker 1: make some people roll their eyes. But take me back 51 00:03:41,445 --> 00:03:47,125 Speaker 1: to who you were before, people like me knew you 52 00:03:47,325 --> 00:03:48,365 Speaker 1: as who you are now. 53 00:03:50,365 --> 00:03:50,885 Speaker 2: Yeah. 54 00:03:50,965 --> 00:03:56,525 Speaker 3: So I started Instagram posting on Instagram, I guess my 55 00:03:56,605 --> 00:03:59,165 Speaker 3: platform which was called healthy Check one oh one all 56 00:03:59,205 --> 00:04:02,605 Speaker 3: these years ago. I started that in about twenty fifteen, 57 00:04:02,605 --> 00:04:08,485 Speaker 3: twenty sixteen. So before that, I was always a confident person. 58 00:04:09,325 --> 00:04:12,005 Speaker 3: Grew up doing speech and drama. It was one of 59 00:04:12,045 --> 00:04:16,125 Speaker 3: my top sideets in school. I was always an active kid. 60 00:04:16,565 --> 00:04:19,925 Speaker 3: But I have always been the bigger girl. 61 00:04:20,245 --> 00:04:22,605 Speaker 2: I have always been a plus size girl. 62 00:04:23,165 --> 00:04:25,165 Speaker 3: I was always the fat funny friend as I like 63 00:04:25,205 --> 00:04:29,005 Speaker 3: to call it, and my whole life has been in 64 00:04:29,045 --> 00:04:32,605 Speaker 3: a bigger body. However, it never sort of stopped me 65 00:04:32,765 --> 00:04:35,965 Speaker 3: from doing the things that I wanted to do. Of course, 66 00:04:36,005 --> 00:04:40,205 Speaker 3: there were times where I felt like I needed to 67 00:04:40,205 --> 00:04:44,565 Speaker 3: be smaller, and I don't think I ever growing up, 68 00:04:44,605 --> 00:04:46,725 Speaker 3: had a point in my life where I didn't think 69 00:04:46,765 --> 00:04:49,245 Speaker 3: that would make me a better person and more successful. 70 00:04:49,845 --> 00:04:52,565 Speaker 3: Growing up, that's all I knew that to be successful 71 00:04:52,605 --> 00:04:54,805 Speaker 3: and to be worthy, you had to be smaller. So 72 00:04:54,885 --> 00:04:57,605 Speaker 3: that was always going on, thanks to the media, thanks 73 00:04:57,605 --> 00:05:00,125 Speaker 3: to you know, the school, the kids at school that 74 00:05:00,805 --> 00:05:04,485 Speaker 3: jump at any opportunity to call me fashion. 75 00:05:05,445 --> 00:05:09,085 Speaker 2: But I sort of and I think that's the funny thing. 76 00:05:09,085 --> 00:05:12,165 Speaker 3: I where sort of go back to, why didn't that 77 00:05:12,285 --> 00:05:15,645 Speaker 3: make me shy away from everything? Ah? 78 00:05:15,925 --> 00:05:19,765 Speaker 1: Yes, this is the question, isn't it. Because you can 79 00:05:19,885 --> 00:05:24,765 Speaker 1: see in the world that some people are crushed like 80 00:05:24,845 --> 00:05:30,005 Speaker 1: a flower by those precious societal or for meilial or 81 00:05:30,845 --> 00:05:34,645 Speaker 1: or internal, those worst pressures of all, and they never 82 00:05:34,725 --> 00:05:39,045 Speaker 1: come back from it. And yet somehow you've been like 83 00:05:40,205 --> 00:05:44,565 Speaker 1: the water lily in the dirty pond, that there's this 84 00:05:44,685 --> 00:05:48,045 Speaker 1: blooming beauty about you. And do you tell me about 85 00:05:48,045 --> 00:05:50,525 Speaker 1: your family? What was the structure of your family? 86 00:05:51,765 --> 00:05:54,805 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I'm the second oldest, I have an older brother. 87 00:05:55,565 --> 00:05:59,805 Speaker 3: Mom and dad still together, grew up with so it 88 00:05:59,845 --> 00:06:01,645 Speaker 3: was my older brother, me younger sister. 89 00:06:01,725 --> 00:06:02,205 Speaker 2: She's a couple of. 90 00:06:02,245 --> 00:06:04,205 Speaker 3: Years younger than me, and then there was about an 91 00:06:04,205 --> 00:06:05,965 Speaker 3: eight year gap and a surprise little brother. 92 00:06:06,325 --> 00:06:10,365 Speaker 1: Aha, surprise, so surprised. 93 00:06:11,685 --> 00:06:15,045 Speaker 2: Yeah, we love them. It was definitely a shock to mom. 94 00:06:15,045 --> 00:06:17,165 Speaker 3: But my sister and I were obviously very excited to 95 00:06:17,165 --> 00:06:18,245 Speaker 3: have a little baby. 96 00:06:18,245 --> 00:06:20,525 Speaker 2: You know how girls just obsessed with having you know. 97 00:06:20,445 --> 00:06:22,965 Speaker 3: The little little baby toys, and finally we've got a 98 00:06:23,005 --> 00:06:23,445 Speaker 3: real one. 99 00:06:23,525 --> 00:06:28,165 Speaker 2: So I grew up sort of. I guess. 100 00:06:28,405 --> 00:06:33,925 Speaker 3: My mum's one of four girls and her mum, my Grammy, 101 00:06:33,965 --> 00:06:37,565 Speaker 3: is still alive, and we recently lost my nana, who's 102 00:06:37,765 --> 00:06:41,365 Speaker 3: my great nana, and so I come from a family 103 00:06:41,405 --> 00:06:44,965 Speaker 3: of strong women. And don't get me wrong, there was 104 00:06:45,045 --> 00:06:48,525 Speaker 3: always sort of I mean my mum sort of and 105 00:06:48,605 --> 00:06:52,045 Speaker 3: her sisters grew up in that generation of weight watchers, 106 00:06:52,085 --> 00:06:55,005 Speaker 3: sure slim, all of the things. So there was always 107 00:06:55,005 --> 00:06:57,445 Speaker 3: that talk, and there was always talk about. 108 00:06:57,285 --> 00:07:01,365 Speaker 2: You're looking good, you've lost way, you lost ways. 109 00:07:01,125 --> 00:07:04,725 Speaker 3: That was always there, so I was always aware of it. However, 110 00:07:05,045 --> 00:07:10,365 Speaker 3: I feel like my successes were celebrated in you know, 111 00:07:10,525 --> 00:07:14,965 Speaker 3: the grades i'd get in school or how well I 112 00:07:14,965 --> 00:07:18,365 Speaker 3: did it in my drama production or the way that 113 00:07:18,485 --> 00:07:19,845 Speaker 3: you can light up a room and. 114 00:07:19,765 --> 00:07:20,725 Speaker 2: Make people laugh. 115 00:07:21,325 --> 00:07:22,725 Speaker 3: And when I sort of look back on it, I 116 00:07:22,725 --> 00:07:25,765 Speaker 3: feel like being built up like that is sort of 117 00:07:26,525 --> 00:07:30,165 Speaker 3: the only way that I didn't just go Okay, Actually, 118 00:07:30,205 --> 00:07:33,525 Speaker 3: i am fat, and I'm never going to be successful, 119 00:07:33,645 --> 00:07:36,885 Speaker 3: and I'm not worthy, and I'm just going to completely shut. 120 00:07:36,645 --> 00:07:40,805 Speaker 1: Down because there was a period in your life in 121 00:07:40,845 --> 00:07:42,765 Speaker 1: which you weren't happy. 122 00:07:44,205 --> 00:07:46,205 Speaker 2: Yes, so. 123 00:07:47,845 --> 00:07:50,085 Speaker 3: My whole life, I'd sort of always been bigger, but 124 00:07:50,165 --> 00:07:53,765 Speaker 3: I was always really active, and I was always great 125 00:07:53,845 --> 00:07:56,285 Speaker 3: at sport, and I was always going out with friends, 126 00:07:56,285 --> 00:07:59,125 Speaker 3: and all of these things went through sort of a 127 00:07:59,165 --> 00:08:03,325 Speaker 3: bad relationship ended, and I found myself not doing all 128 00:08:03,325 --> 00:08:05,205 Speaker 3: of the things that used to make me happy. I 129 00:08:05,245 --> 00:08:08,605 Speaker 3: wasn't exercising anymore. I was using every excuse under the 130 00:08:08,645 --> 00:08:13,405 Speaker 3: sun to not be looking after myself. And so at 131 00:08:13,445 --> 00:08:16,525 Speaker 3: the time, because I wasn't doing all of these things 132 00:08:16,525 --> 00:08:20,605 Speaker 3: and I didn't have, I guess a good balance in life. 133 00:08:21,205 --> 00:08:23,805 Speaker 3: I had put on a lot of weight in a 134 00:08:23,845 --> 00:08:27,765 Speaker 3: short period of time. Looking back, it wasn't about the 135 00:08:27,765 --> 00:08:30,125 Speaker 3: weight at all. It was about the way I was 136 00:08:30,165 --> 00:08:32,645 Speaker 3: living my life. But at the time, that's the thing 137 00:08:32,685 --> 00:08:35,325 Speaker 3: that stuck up to me obviously, and that was you know, 138 00:08:35,565 --> 00:08:37,965 Speaker 3: I'd look in the mirror and go, I don't like 139 00:08:38,005 --> 00:08:40,045 Speaker 3: the way that I am. I've always been bigger, but 140 00:08:40,165 --> 00:08:42,165 Speaker 3: you know, I've put on weight in a short period 141 00:08:42,205 --> 00:08:44,405 Speaker 3: of time. My life doesn't feel good at the moment, 142 00:08:44,525 --> 00:08:47,125 Speaker 3: I'm going to once and for all make an Instagram page. 143 00:08:47,125 --> 00:08:48,685 Speaker 3: I'm going to lose the weight and I'm going to 144 00:08:49,725 --> 00:08:52,845 Speaker 3: become successful and worthy. 145 00:08:53,205 --> 00:08:57,085 Speaker 1: Right, And even that is interesting because those periods in 146 00:08:57,125 --> 00:09:00,005 Speaker 1: your life where everybody has them and they're not always 147 00:09:00,045 --> 00:09:03,605 Speaker 1: associated with your body image or what you think about 148 00:09:03,605 --> 00:09:06,885 Speaker 1: your physicality, but often for women, they are. In that 149 00:09:07,005 --> 00:09:11,445 Speaker 1: moment which was your kind of lower StEB you still 150 00:09:11,485 --> 00:09:15,485 Speaker 1: went't oh, I'm going to make an Instagram page, and 151 00:09:16,405 --> 00:09:19,205 Speaker 1: instead of retreating into yourself, went, I'm going to share 152 00:09:19,245 --> 00:09:20,245 Speaker 1: these with people. 153 00:09:22,005 --> 00:09:24,485 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I guess I've always sort of lint on 154 00:09:24,565 --> 00:09:28,045 Speaker 3: my friends and family for support and. 155 00:09:28,165 --> 00:09:31,245 Speaker 2: I think also holding myself accountable that. 156 00:09:32,845 --> 00:09:35,765 Speaker 3: Has and looking back, you know, I was always trying 157 00:09:35,805 --> 00:09:36,405 Speaker 3: to lose weight. 158 00:09:36,765 --> 00:09:38,125 Speaker 2: It was always in the back of my mind. 159 00:09:38,285 --> 00:09:41,605 Speaker 3: Yes, I was confident, and no matter what size I was, 160 00:09:41,645 --> 00:09:45,125 Speaker 3: I still was confident, or people would say that I 161 00:09:45,165 --> 00:09:48,605 Speaker 3: was confident. I'd sometimes just fake it. Yeah, that's what 162 00:09:48,645 --> 00:09:52,405 Speaker 3: you have to do sometimes. Yeah, I sort of I 163 00:09:52,445 --> 00:09:55,965 Speaker 3: think making that Instagram, I thought, once I do that, 164 00:09:56,045 --> 00:09:58,845 Speaker 3: I sort of can't go back on what I'm doing here. 165 00:09:59,085 --> 00:10:01,165 Speaker 3: It was a private page, though, so I only let 166 00:10:01,205 --> 00:10:02,925 Speaker 3: my friends join it. 167 00:10:03,045 --> 00:10:04,205 Speaker 2: However, within the. 168 00:10:04,205 --> 00:10:06,485 Speaker 3: Space of a couple of months, I already had you know, 169 00:10:06,565 --> 00:10:10,685 Speaker 3: guys that I knew from school making accounts making. 170 00:10:10,445 --> 00:10:13,205 Speaker 2: Fun of me about it, and it still didn't stop me. 171 00:10:13,245 --> 00:10:14,125 Speaker 2: So I really don't know. 172 00:10:14,445 --> 00:10:17,845 Speaker 1: Obviously, you could separate shame so you weren't happy with it. 173 00:10:17,885 --> 00:10:19,965 Speaker 1: You don't have to be happy with your body, but 174 00:10:20,285 --> 00:10:24,085 Speaker 1: it's shame that makes you retreat and you are obviously like, look, 175 00:10:24,125 --> 00:10:24,885 Speaker 1: I'm going to do this. 176 00:10:25,645 --> 00:10:28,965 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I think, yeah, touching on shame. I don't 177 00:10:28,965 --> 00:10:33,365 Speaker 2: think at any size or any point in my. 178 00:10:33,365 --> 00:10:37,125 Speaker 3: Life, I sort of ever let that affect what I 179 00:10:37,165 --> 00:10:37,725 Speaker 3: want to do. 180 00:10:38,485 --> 00:10:40,845 Speaker 2: Like I never would. 181 00:10:40,685 --> 00:10:42,645 Speaker 3: Go, oh, I hate the way that I look, I'm 182 00:10:42,845 --> 00:10:45,165 Speaker 3: I'm not going to go to that event, right, or 183 00:10:45,205 --> 00:10:47,485 Speaker 3: I'm not going to, you know, take a photo with 184 00:10:47,525 --> 00:10:48,205 Speaker 3: my friends. 185 00:10:49,645 --> 00:10:52,765 Speaker 2: I sort of I think every size. 186 00:10:52,445 --> 00:10:55,125 Speaker 3: That I've been, yes, you know, I can be unhappy 187 00:10:55,125 --> 00:10:56,485 Speaker 3: with the way that I look, but I just never 188 00:10:56,565 --> 00:10:58,245 Speaker 3: let it hold me back and never let it stop 189 00:10:58,285 --> 00:11:00,845 Speaker 3: me from doing things. And I think that's sort of 190 00:11:00,845 --> 00:11:04,845 Speaker 3: the key when we talk about body image and self image. 191 00:11:05,165 --> 00:11:06,445 Speaker 3: I don't think I'm ever going to get to a 192 00:11:06,485 --> 00:11:09,165 Speaker 3: point where I'm one hundred percent. 193 00:11:09,925 --> 00:11:12,005 Speaker 2: Never going to look, you know, at a photo mysself. 194 00:11:11,685 --> 00:11:14,125 Speaker 3: And go, oh, could look better there, or I don't 195 00:11:14,165 --> 00:11:16,765 Speaker 3: like the way I looked today, or looking back on something, Wow, 196 00:11:16,805 --> 00:11:18,045 Speaker 3: I look good there, what's happened? 197 00:11:18,285 --> 00:11:19,645 Speaker 2: You know? I don't think I'm ever going to get 198 00:11:19,645 --> 00:11:21,205 Speaker 2: to a point where I never do that. 199 00:11:21,565 --> 00:11:24,645 Speaker 3: But what I decided was, I'm not going to let 200 00:11:24,645 --> 00:11:26,885 Speaker 3: it stop me from living my life and doing what 201 00:11:26,965 --> 00:11:28,805 Speaker 3: I want to do, no matter what size I am. 202 00:11:29,085 --> 00:11:32,005 Speaker 1: And were you a paramedic then you were working as 203 00:11:32,005 --> 00:11:33,245 Speaker 1: a paramedic. 204 00:11:33,725 --> 00:11:38,325 Speaker 3: Yes, I was studying right, yes, And so I think 205 00:11:38,565 --> 00:11:42,045 Speaker 3: going from school where you're in a structure, you know, 206 00:11:42,285 --> 00:11:44,725 Speaker 3: you've got your lunch breaks, you're walking to school, going 207 00:11:44,725 --> 00:11:47,245 Speaker 3: from that to then getting my license driving to class, 208 00:11:48,045 --> 00:11:50,365 Speaker 3: walking into class, doing that, and then you know, all 209 00:11:50,405 --> 00:11:52,565 Speaker 3: of a sudden could just drive wherever I wanted to. 210 00:11:52,685 --> 00:11:54,805 Speaker 3: And I didn't have the sort of structure. I stopped 211 00:11:54,805 --> 00:11:57,525 Speaker 3: going to the gym. I actually had an ankle injury, 212 00:11:57,525 --> 00:11:59,125 Speaker 3: but I played on that for years and news there 213 00:11:59,125 --> 00:12:01,445 Speaker 3: as an excuse not to be playing. 214 00:12:01,245 --> 00:12:02,405 Speaker 2: Sport and doing all of the things. 215 00:12:02,445 --> 00:12:04,925 Speaker 3: So I got into this really bad routine and then 216 00:12:04,925 --> 00:12:08,165 Speaker 3: obviously the breakup and it's sort of all just compiled together, 217 00:12:08,845 --> 00:12:11,365 Speaker 3: and yeah, I just got into a place where I 218 00:12:11,445 --> 00:12:15,605 Speaker 3: wasn't living a balanced lifestyle. And that's when I decided 219 00:12:15,685 --> 00:12:19,485 Speaker 3: I'm going to make my Instagram and document my weight loss. 220 00:12:19,525 --> 00:12:23,005 Speaker 3: And I did lose a lot of weight. I sort 221 00:12:23,045 --> 00:12:27,445 Speaker 3: of honed in and I was posting all my workouts, 222 00:12:27,445 --> 00:12:30,445 Speaker 3: posting my meals. There were lots of times there where 223 00:12:30,485 --> 00:12:33,525 Speaker 3: I would unfortunately. I remember when I on a trip 224 00:12:33,605 --> 00:12:37,325 Speaker 3: with my friends and I was doing protein shake for breakfast, 225 00:12:37,325 --> 00:12:39,125 Speaker 3: protein check for lunch, and I'm having dinner. 226 00:12:39,245 --> 00:12:42,445 Speaker 1: Oh so grant, Yeah it got toxic. 227 00:12:42,725 --> 00:12:43,605 Speaker 2: Yeah, got toxic. 228 00:12:44,005 --> 00:12:47,285 Speaker 1: Often. I think people need to explore those areas to 229 00:12:47,405 --> 00:12:51,645 Speaker 1: know that that that ain't it. Chief as we enjoyed 230 00:12:51,685 --> 00:12:54,085 Speaker 1: saying three years ago, you know what I mean? 231 00:12:55,565 --> 00:12:58,045 Speaker 3: Absolutely, Yeah, And I look back on that now and 232 00:12:58,045 --> 00:12:59,285 Speaker 3: my friends we talk about it. 233 00:12:59,285 --> 00:13:03,805 Speaker 2: We're just like, that's just diabolical, Like how what was 234 00:13:03,845 --> 00:13:05,365 Speaker 2: going on there? But you know, a. 235 00:13:05,245 --> 00:13:07,125 Speaker 3: Young girl growing up with all of these pressures, and 236 00:13:07,365 --> 00:13:09,565 Speaker 3: you're constantly seeing all of you know, the this is 237 00:13:09,605 --> 00:13:11,205 Speaker 3: what I did to do this, and of course I'm 238 00:13:11,245 --> 00:13:12,885 Speaker 3: going to try any any quick fix. 239 00:13:13,165 --> 00:13:13,405 Speaker 1: Yes. 240 00:13:13,805 --> 00:13:17,485 Speaker 2: So, yeah, I sort of lost a lot. 241 00:13:17,285 --> 00:13:22,485 Speaker 3: Of weight, and on that journey, I realized that I 242 00:13:22,525 --> 00:13:25,245 Speaker 3: am still the same person. I still had the same values, 243 00:13:25,285 --> 00:13:29,245 Speaker 3: I still have the same friends. I still that's it's. 244 00:13:29,125 --> 00:13:31,845 Speaker 2: Who I am. And I actually, I'm. 245 00:13:31,685 --> 00:13:33,205 Speaker 3: Not going to get to a point where I lose 246 00:13:33,245 --> 00:13:36,445 Speaker 3: twenty five kilos and go, well, I've just got a 247 00:13:36,485 --> 00:13:39,165 Speaker 3: million times better, right, I'm you know, all of a 248 00:13:39,165 --> 00:13:42,125 Speaker 3: sudden worthy, That's just not how it works. 249 00:13:42,605 --> 00:13:46,885 Speaker 1: But also, you were losing weight, yeah, something about you 250 00:13:47,005 --> 00:13:51,845 Speaker 1: was resonating with people and you were gaining followers. Yes, 251 00:13:52,405 --> 00:13:55,605 Speaker 1: so how is that transition happening? And what sort of 252 00:13:55,645 --> 00:13:57,285 Speaker 1: feedback were you're getting at the time. 253 00:13:58,605 --> 00:14:02,365 Speaker 3: Yeah, so lots of my following grew from doing sort 254 00:14:02,365 --> 00:14:05,325 Speaker 3: of like before and after photos and transformations. 255 00:14:05,725 --> 00:14:07,485 Speaker 2: And when I. 256 00:14:06,845 --> 00:14:10,885 Speaker 3: Stopped doing that and came to the point where I realize, 257 00:14:10,925 --> 00:14:14,205 Speaker 3: you know, that weight loss isn't the ball end all 258 00:14:14,245 --> 00:14:15,765 Speaker 3: of my life and I'm not going to be this 259 00:14:15,805 --> 00:14:18,765 Speaker 3: completely different person and you know, I no matter what 260 00:14:18,805 --> 00:14:20,405 Speaker 3: size A, my body's going to change and I'm going 261 00:14:20,405 --> 00:14:23,085 Speaker 3: to embrace who I am. I did get messages from 262 00:14:23,125 --> 00:14:26,485 Speaker 3: people saying this, you know, isn't what I followed you for. 263 00:14:27,005 --> 00:14:30,725 Speaker 3: You know, you're pushing an unhealthy lifestyle now, which to me. 264 00:14:30,885 --> 00:14:34,325 Speaker 2: Was wild because you know, the shake shake dinner can 265 00:14:34,365 --> 00:14:35,725 Speaker 2: be the healthy part. 266 00:14:35,805 --> 00:14:39,285 Speaker 3: But you know now that I'm telling people that just 267 00:14:39,645 --> 00:14:42,005 Speaker 3: love yourself and look after yourself and that's what you 268 00:14:42,085 --> 00:14:44,405 Speaker 3: need to do in this life and just get on 269 00:14:44,485 --> 00:14:44,725 Speaker 3: with it. 270 00:14:44,845 --> 00:14:46,565 Speaker 2: That now, it doesn't resonate. 271 00:14:46,845 --> 00:14:49,365 Speaker 3: So I had a few messages like that, and my 272 00:14:49,485 --> 00:14:52,445 Speaker 3: response to that was that's fine. 273 00:14:52,565 --> 00:14:55,245 Speaker 2: If you're not there yet, you do you. 274 00:14:55,405 --> 00:14:57,805 Speaker 3: I'm not going to try battle with someone about why 275 00:14:57,805 --> 00:15:00,285 Speaker 3: they should follow me. Now, that's their life and they 276 00:15:00,325 --> 00:15:02,365 Speaker 3: can deal with it. But the beautiful thing was so 277 00:15:02,445 --> 00:15:05,085 Speaker 3: many people came on the journey with me. They followed 278 00:15:05,085 --> 00:15:09,165 Speaker 3: me for weight loss initially and then sort of came 279 00:15:09,405 --> 00:15:13,365 Speaker 3: on this whole journey and their own body image and 280 00:15:13,405 --> 00:15:17,405 Speaker 3: self love journey happened as mine happened. And I still 281 00:15:17,405 --> 00:15:19,885 Speaker 3: have people following there that followed me from the very beginning, 282 00:15:20,005 --> 00:15:21,845 Speaker 3: which is crazy because I've been doing it for so 283 00:15:21,845 --> 00:15:24,245 Speaker 3: many years now that sort of watched me grow up. Yes, 284 00:15:24,325 --> 00:15:27,285 Speaker 3: so watched me meet Vita, who's my fiance now and 285 00:15:27,965 --> 00:15:29,925 Speaker 3: my favorite person in the world. And they've just seen, 286 00:15:30,525 --> 00:15:33,685 Speaker 3: you know, buy a house and get my two little 287 00:15:33,685 --> 00:15:36,525 Speaker 3: French bulldogs and it's yeah, it's so cool that we 288 00:15:36,565 --> 00:15:39,165 Speaker 3: can have all of these people that have the same 289 00:15:39,205 --> 00:15:42,925 Speaker 3: interests and you'll probably never meet them. Some you might, 290 00:15:43,085 --> 00:15:48,165 Speaker 3: but they just you have a friendship group online. 291 00:15:48,045 --> 00:15:51,605 Speaker 1: Well, because it's the capacities to show your true self. 292 00:15:52,445 --> 00:15:55,365 Speaker 1: That means that other people can properly connect with you. 293 00:15:55,445 --> 00:15:58,725 Speaker 1: And I know people talk about connection a lot, and 294 00:15:58,805 --> 00:16:02,525 Speaker 1: often I think it's actually disconnection. But there's equality in 295 00:16:02,565 --> 00:16:08,525 Speaker 1: you that is very attractive and it is I think 296 00:16:08,565 --> 00:16:13,445 Speaker 1: that genuine self love and so people appreciate that in you. 297 00:16:13,525 --> 00:16:15,565 Speaker 1: But also they want to know what that secret is 298 00:16:15,725 --> 00:16:19,645 Speaker 1: for themselves. They want to know what that capacity you 299 00:16:19,765 --> 00:16:22,965 Speaker 1: have that, even at your lowest deb to be confident 300 00:16:23,085 --> 00:16:25,285 Speaker 1: enough to go, look, I'm going to show myself. Have 301 00:16:25,365 --> 00:16:26,685 Speaker 1: a look at me, come join me. 302 00:16:28,645 --> 00:16:29,765 Speaker 2: Yeah, And. 303 00:16:31,165 --> 00:16:34,525 Speaker 3: On that note, since I've started running, actually that's sort 304 00:16:34,565 --> 00:16:38,725 Speaker 3: of showing a whole new side and the raw moments 305 00:16:38,765 --> 00:16:41,525 Speaker 3: where you know it's ridiculous that I'm running and crying. 306 00:16:41,525 --> 00:16:47,245 Speaker 1: But I'm crying. I don't think that's ridiculous. I believe 307 00:16:47,325 --> 00:16:53,685 Speaker 1: running and crying go together, so do I Yeah, yeah. 308 00:16:53,445 --> 00:16:54,725 Speaker 2: And so I think. 309 00:16:55,925 --> 00:16:58,925 Speaker 3: For people to see, you know, that that journey and 310 00:16:58,965 --> 00:17:01,925 Speaker 3: that real raw, I'm going to give something a crack 311 00:17:01,965 --> 00:17:04,365 Speaker 3: that I've always been terrible at and I've always hated. 312 00:17:04,805 --> 00:17:06,525 Speaker 2: That's really resonated with a lot of people. 313 00:17:06,965 --> 00:17:09,445 Speaker 3: There's obviously people that have loved running, so they a 314 00:17:09,525 --> 00:17:11,725 Speaker 3: loving seeing me fall in love with it, fall in 315 00:17:11,765 --> 00:17:12,125 Speaker 3: love with them. 316 00:17:12,245 --> 00:17:13,485 Speaker 2: Some areasier than others. 317 00:17:14,005 --> 00:17:16,285 Speaker 3: And then there's people that might want to try it, 318 00:17:16,725 --> 00:17:20,245 Speaker 3: you know from that they're just like me, have hated 319 00:17:20,285 --> 00:17:21,605 Speaker 3: it and aren't good at it, but they're going, you know, 320 00:17:21,645 --> 00:17:24,365 Speaker 3: I'm going to give it a crack, and that's done. 321 00:17:24,725 --> 00:17:26,965 Speaker 3: Running's done. Wonders for my self confidence? 322 00:17:27,765 --> 00:17:31,005 Speaker 1: Why? Why do you think? Is it the is it 323 00:17:31,005 --> 00:17:34,205 Speaker 1: the psychological of taking on something that you hated and 324 00:17:34,205 --> 00:17:38,085 Speaker 1: thought you could never do, or is it the actual 325 00:17:38,205 --> 00:17:42,525 Speaker 1: shep grinding about physicality of it? Or is it everything? 326 00:17:43,685 --> 00:17:47,085 Speaker 3: I mean, lots of people say running is mind over body, 327 00:17:47,285 --> 00:17:49,925 Speaker 3: which I agree with to an extent, because my body 328 00:17:49,965 --> 00:17:52,445 Speaker 3: is in pain, my body is in pain. 329 00:17:52,525 --> 00:17:53,605 Speaker 2: It's not just your mind. 330 00:17:53,645 --> 00:17:55,805 Speaker 3: You can't just completely block up the actual pain that 331 00:17:55,845 --> 00:17:56,525 Speaker 3: you're wishing. 332 00:17:56,525 --> 00:18:00,365 Speaker 1: A bit in particular, because I'm very uncomfortable about boobs 333 00:18:00,405 --> 00:18:03,085 Speaker 1: when I'm running, I feel like that's a message from 334 00:18:03,125 --> 00:18:06,845 Speaker 1: God I shouldn't be running, and I've got these bouncing things. 335 00:18:06,965 --> 00:18:09,245 Speaker 1: Like what bit is the hard? 336 00:18:11,845 --> 00:18:13,525 Speaker 2: It actually varies, it depends. 337 00:18:13,565 --> 00:18:15,765 Speaker 3: Sometimes I can get out there and I start and 338 00:18:15,805 --> 00:18:19,765 Speaker 3: I feel really good. Other times my body can depend 339 00:18:19,845 --> 00:18:21,645 Speaker 3: on what other exercise I've done. You can just feel 340 00:18:21,685 --> 00:18:24,045 Speaker 3: really stiff and you just sort of know straight away 341 00:18:24,045 --> 00:18:25,845 Speaker 3: it's not going to be a good one. Sometimes two 342 00:18:25,925 --> 00:18:28,965 Speaker 3: minutes into the and I'm still going very slow. I 343 00:18:29,005 --> 00:18:31,965 Speaker 3: can I'm already out of breath, and lots of It's 344 00:18:31,965 --> 00:18:34,725 Speaker 3: linked to your cycle as well as a woman, of 345 00:18:34,885 --> 00:18:36,805 Speaker 3: where you are at, what sort of energy levels you have, 346 00:18:36,965 --> 00:18:38,925 Speaker 3: and that's really interesting. 347 00:18:38,925 --> 00:18:41,205 Speaker 1: Which doesn't get a lot of attention paid to it 348 00:18:41,245 --> 00:18:42,685 Speaker 1: in women's sport generally. 349 00:18:43,325 --> 00:18:47,925 Speaker 3: No, it's yeah, I professional athletes, I just. 350 00:18:49,565 --> 00:18:52,125 Speaker 2: Eve begame and you're in your luteel. 351 00:18:51,725 --> 00:18:55,405 Speaker 1: Face perfect you know, yeah, yeah, what. 352 00:18:55,325 --> 00:18:57,205 Speaker 2: Do you do there? So? Yeah, I think. 353 00:18:59,525 --> 00:19:04,885 Speaker 3: Pushing myself so far doing something that I just never 354 00:19:04,925 --> 00:19:08,365 Speaker 3: thought I was capable of doing. Then when things get hard, 355 00:19:08,405 --> 00:19:10,165 Speaker 3: you know, like I'll do a run in couple of weeks. 356 00:19:10,405 --> 00:19:13,525 Speaker 3: I always think back to certain really hard moments and 357 00:19:13,565 --> 00:19:16,285 Speaker 3: I go, I got through that, so I can I 358 00:19:16,325 --> 00:19:19,405 Speaker 3: can do this. I know how far I can push myself. 359 00:19:20,525 --> 00:19:23,765 Speaker 3: Something about that feels really special to me. But yeah, 360 00:19:23,845 --> 00:19:28,285 Speaker 3: I mean the endolphins just they do their thing, and 361 00:19:28,765 --> 00:19:31,525 Speaker 3: some runs are amazing and some runs aren't. 362 00:19:31,605 --> 00:19:33,605 Speaker 2: But that's kind of the beauty of running. And I 363 00:19:33,645 --> 00:19:34,965 Speaker 2: guess like it sort. 364 00:19:34,805 --> 00:19:37,485 Speaker 3: Of reflects on life as well, like sometimes you do 365 00:19:37,565 --> 00:19:39,485 Speaker 3: wake up and you feel a million bucks, and sometimes 366 00:19:39,485 --> 00:19:41,565 Speaker 3: you don't, but you still get out there and you 367 00:19:41,605 --> 00:19:43,365 Speaker 3: go to work and you do the thing you go, 368 00:19:43,605 --> 00:19:45,045 Speaker 3: I go on see it, and I do the shoot 369 00:19:45,045 --> 00:19:46,565 Speaker 3: and you just get on with it. 370 00:19:46,925 --> 00:19:49,325 Speaker 1: And you were a paramedic, so you knew how to 371 00:19:49,405 --> 00:19:51,365 Speaker 1: turn up to things you didn't want to turn up to. 372 00:19:52,325 --> 00:19:58,565 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I guess yeah, and doing paramedicine. So I 373 00:19:58,605 --> 00:20:01,725 Speaker 3: went into parentisine as soon as I left school, straight 374 00:20:01,765 --> 00:20:02,285 Speaker 3: in and I. 375 00:20:02,165 --> 00:20:03,405 Speaker 2: Studied for four years. 376 00:20:03,925 --> 00:20:05,365 Speaker 3: It was actually meant to be a three year degree, 377 00:20:05,365 --> 00:20:08,125 Speaker 3: but I ended up failing one paper at one point, 378 00:20:08,205 --> 00:20:10,165 Speaker 3: which that took a time as well, that was a 379 00:20:10,245 --> 00:20:13,005 Speaker 3: terrible moment of my life. It was by half a 380 00:20:13,085 --> 00:20:16,845 Speaker 3: mark and one section and it was just yeah, it 381 00:20:16,885 --> 00:20:20,365 Speaker 3: was hard and that was yeah. Got through it though, 382 00:20:20,605 --> 00:20:25,325 Speaker 3: finished the degree. Yeah, And I guess, like being in school, 383 00:20:25,645 --> 00:20:32,165 Speaker 3: my top subjects were pe, physical education, art, drama, So 384 00:20:32,245 --> 00:20:36,005 Speaker 3: I was always sort of I loved being on a stage. 385 00:20:36,085 --> 00:20:39,685 Speaker 3: I loved performing, I loved being creative. 386 00:20:40,485 --> 00:20:43,605 Speaker 2: I always loved that part of growing up and that 387 00:20:43,725 --> 00:20:44,885 Speaker 2: was my thing. 388 00:20:44,965 --> 00:20:46,645 Speaker 3: And so to go on to paramedicine, I was sort 389 00:20:46,645 --> 00:20:50,685 Speaker 3: of like, what about that made me sort of gravitate 390 00:20:50,725 --> 00:20:52,405 Speaker 3: towards going and doing that degree. 391 00:20:53,005 --> 00:20:53,645 Speaker 2: I think. 392 00:20:55,685 --> 00:20:59,405 Speaker 3: Being around people, I always felt sort of accomplished when 393 00:20:59,445 --> 00:21:03,045 Speaker 3: I helped people, whether that I used to be the 394 00:21:04,485 --> 00:21:06,525 Speaker 3: makeup artist of our friend group, so you know, we 395 00:21:06,565 --> 00:21:08,765 Speaker 3: would go out, I'd be doing everyone's makeup. So I 396 00:21:08,805 --> 00:21:12,445 Speaker 3: think something about making people feel good made me feel good. 397 00:21:12,845 --> 00:21:16,485 Speaker 3: And yeah, I think the adrenaline and the thrill of 398 00:21:16,925 --> 00:21:18,685 Speaker 3: you know, you go to work and you don't know 399 00:21:18,725 --> 00:21:21,565 Speaker 3: what is going to happen, right, That's what I loved 400 00:21:21,605 --> 00:21:24,365 Speaker 3: about the job as well. But obviously very different to 401 00:21:24,405 --> 00:21:27,205 Speaker 3: what I sort of grew up like in school and 402 00:21:27,245 --> 00:21:30,045 Speaker 3: then now very different to what I'm doing now, which 403 00:21:30,085 --> 00:21:31,205 Speaker 3: I enjoy as well. 404 00:21:34,085 --> 00:21:37,325 Speaker 1: Coming up after the break, we talk about the dark 405 00:21:37,445 --> 00:21:41,685 Speaker 1: side of the online world and how to move past 406 00:21:42,045 --> 00:21:53,885 Speaker 1: toxic comments, and the evolution of you is kind of 407 00:21:53,925 --> 00:21:56,165 Speaker 1: like watching you step into yourself. 408 00:21:56,685 --> 00:21:58,525 Speaker 2: That's a cool way to put it. I love that. 409 00:21:58,885 --> 00:22:01,005 Speaker 1: Also because you're bringing in the people that you love 410 00:22:01,125 --> 00:22:01,525 Speaker 1: with you. 411 00:22:02,685 --> 00:22:06,725 Speaker 3: Yeah, and recently I have sort of been thinking about 412 00:22:06,765 --> 00:22:10,325 Speaker 3: how obviously what I'm doing now, I never of imagine 413 00:22:10,325 --> 00:22:12,685 Speaker 3: in a million years that this would be my job, 414 00:22:13,645 --> 00:22:13,965 Speaker 3: but it. 415 00:22:13,925 --> 00:22:16,885 Speaker 2: Feels right like looking back on how I. 416 00:22:16,725 --> 00:22:19,885 Speaker 3: Was growing up, I'm like, this just feels like it's 417 00:22:19,965 --> 00:22:22,725 Speaker 3: meant to be where I am, and it's meant to 418 00:22:22,725 --> 00:22:26,925 Speaker 3: be my job. But if you ask anyone in high school, 419 00:22:27,045 --> 00:22:30,085 Speaker 3: yes especially me, with a like what are you going 420 00:22:30,165 --> 00:22:30,805 Speaker 3: to do when you grow up? 421 00:22:30,805 --> 00:22:34,565 Speaker 2: What's your perfect job? This wouldn't even be the. 422 00:22:34,565 --> 00:22:36,925 Speaker 1: Bottom of the list. Well not, But if you ask 423 00:22:36,965 --> 00:22:39,645 Speaker 1: girls in high school now, I think a lot of 424 00:22:39,685 --> 00:22:44,485 Speaker 1: them would say what you do would be perfect. 425 00:22:44,205 --> 00:22:45,965 Speaker 2: Which is actually really cool. 426 00:22:46,445 --> 00:22:51,805 Speaker 3: I love that now we can set our sights further 427 00:22:51,885 --> 00:22:54,725 Speaker 3: than just doing a degree. And of course, if that's 428 00:22:54,725 --> 00:22:56,285 Speaker 3: what people want to do, and that's what's going to 429 00:22:56,285 --> 00:22:58,445 Speaker 3: get them to their dream job. Then do the degree 430 00:22:58,485 --> 00:23:01,565 Speaker 3: one hundred percent, go to university, do the thing. 431 00:23:01,885 --> 00:23:03,325 Speaker 2: But I love that now we. 432 00:23:03,245 --> 00:23:06,845 Speaker 3: Have options and we can sort of dream big. I 433 00:23:06,845 --> 00:23:08,645 Speaker 3: feel like that never was a thing when I was 434 00:23:08,685 --> 00:23:11,045 Speaker 3: in high school and was going, I'm going to go 435 00:23:11,085 --> 00:23:11,685 Speaker 3: and do that. 436 00:23:12,005 --> 00:23:19,405 Speaker 1: No, especially back then, I think you created you created 437 00:23:19,645 --> 00:23:22,805 Speaker 1: a pathway that didn't exist. But you didn't even know 438 00:23:22,845 --> 00:23:24,845 Speaker 1: what you were doing. You were just thrashing your way 439 00:23:24,885 --> 00:23:29,805 Speaker 1: through the undergrowth with you know, some likera in one 440 00:23:29,885 --> 00:23:36,965 Speaker 1: hand and a protein shake in the other, you know, absolutely, 441 00:23:37,165 --> 00:23:39,045 Speaker 1: And then where were you at in your life when 442 00:23:39,085 --> 00:23:41,885 Speaker 1: you met when you met your shugs, when you met Veda. 443 00:23:42,045 --> 00:23:43,045 Speaker 2: We met Wellington. 444 00:23:43,045 --> 00:23:46,645 Speaker 3: Actually he just came back and he's from Hawk's Bay 445 00:23:46,685 --> 00:23:50,325 Speaker 3: in New Zealand. He had moved to Australia to sort 446 00:23:50,325 --> 00:23:52,205 Speaker 3: of pursue a career in rugby league. 447 00:23:52,445 --> 00:23:52,885 Speaker 1: AH. 448 00:23:52,925 --> 00:23:54,725 Speaker 3: He did a little bit a bit of high school 449 00:23:54,885 --> 00:23:58,685 Speaker 3: and Australia and then went into a development team, I 450 00:23:58,725 --> 00:24:02,085 Speaker 3: believe for one of the league teams, an under twenties situation, 451 00:24:02,205 --> 00:24:04,245 Speaker 3: and then he went back to Hawks Bay for a 452 00:24:04,285 --> 00:24:07,565 Speaker 3: holiday to go and see his family and he injured 453 00:24:07,645 --> 00:24:12,085 Speaker 3: himself while doing sprints, so he went through sort of 454 00:24:12,125 --> 00:24:14,445 Speaker 3: a low point with that injury and then decided he 455 00:24:14,525 --> 00:24:16,685 Speaker 3: was going to go to Wellington to study accounting. 456 00:24:17,205 --> 00:24:18,805 Speaker 2: And we met in Wellington the. 457 00:24:18,765 --> 00:24:22,125 Speaker 3: Clubbing scene and met one night and then went on 458 00:24:22,165 --> 00:24:23,045 Speaker 3: a date and. 459 00:24:22,885 --> 00:24:23,845 Speaker 2: The rest was history. 460 00:24:23,885 --> 00:24:27,565 Speaker 3: And we basically have never spent more than a few 461 00:24:27,645 --> 00:24:30,445 Speaker 3: days apart. And I was very much in my gym era, 462 00:24:30,765 --> 00:24:32,645 Speaker 3: so we used to go on little gym dates. 463 00:24:32,725 --> 00:24:35,285 Speaker 2: And he is very much into his health and fitness 464 00:24:35,285 --> 00:24:35,565 Speaker 2: as well. 465 00:24:35,645 --> 00:24:39,365 Speaker 3: So at that point though, I was finishing my degree 466 00:24:39,405 --> 00:24:42,565 Speaker 3: and then lining up a job to go into paramedics, 467 00:24:42,685 --> 00:24:47,365 Speaker 3: so and I did. I got an internship and I 468 00:24:47,405 --> 00:24:48,525 Speaker 3: worked for six months. 469 00:24:48,565 --> 00:24:52,845 Speaker 2: So he was He's always. 470 00:24:52,485 --> 00:24:54,845 Speaker 3: Made my biggest support from you know, the moment I 471 00:24:54,885 --> 00:24:59,765 Speaker 3: met him. He just it's like he just knows whenever 472 00:24:59,845 --> 00:25:02,365 Speaker 3: I need anything, like he'll be, you know, picking up 473 00:25:02,405 --> 00:25:04,765 Speaker 3: the pieces when I'm upset. He'll be the first one 474 00:25:04,805 --> 00:25:08,565 Speaker 3: to say, you know, that's an incredible opportunity. He is 475 00:25:08,605 --> 00:25:13,245 Speaker 3: always the voice of reason. I am a risk taker. 476 00:25:13,325 --> 00:25:15,445 Speaker 3: I will just jump at anything. I get really excited 477 00:25:15,445 --> 00:25:17,485 Speaker 3: by something and go I want to do that now. 478 00:25:17,845 --> 00:25:19,765 Speaker 3: He is always the one that takes a step back 479 00:25:19,805 --> 00:25:21,645 Speaker 3: and goes okay that we need to actually think about this. 480 00:25:21,885 --> 00:25:22,805 Speaker 2: What could go wrong? 481 00:25:23,645 --> 00:25:25,845 Speaker 3: What's your ultimate goal? Where do you actually want to be? 482 00:25:26,005 --> 00:25:28,605 Speaker 3: Is this getting you any closer? Does this job. 483 00:25:28,445 --> 00:25:31,245 Speaker 2: Align with what you what you stand for? 484 00:25:32,085 --> 00:25:36,245 Speaker 3: He is a huge part of the success that I've 485 00:25:36,285 --> 00:25:40,565 Speaker 3: had in my job. He's just yeah, we are almost 486 00:25:40,645 --> 00:25:43,965 Speaker 3: like opposites in the way that we are with people. 487 00:25:44,005 --> 00:25:46,925 Speaker 3: He's definitely more reserved and shy, and I'm you know, 488 00:25:47,045 --> 00:25:48,805 Speaker 3: the one in the room making a scene. 489 00:25:48,925 --> 00:25:52,925 Speaker 1: The Yin and yang balance. But then when you when 490 00:25:52,965 --> 00:25:57,445 Speaker 1: you're you have someone who's so integral and enmeshed in 491 00:25:57,485 --> 00:26:01,245 Speaker 1: your is your life, is your personal life, and then 492 00:26:01,445 --> 00:26:04,485 Speaker 1: when you bring them into what is also your professional life, 493 00:26:04,805 --> 00:26:07,765 Speaker 1: even though your lines are so sort of blurred and seamless, 494 00:26:08,445 --> 00:26:12,125 Speaker 1: do you ever think, ah, we have to have separation 495 00:26:12,285 --> 00:26:15,125 Speaker 1: or is there ever a time where it feels like 496 00:26:15,485 --> 00:26:17,405 Speaker 1: it's too many eggs in one basket. 497 00:26:17,965 --> 00:26:21,245 Speaker 3: Look, he works for my brand, Remy as well. He 498 00:26:21,365 --> 00:26:23,325 Speaker 3: does all of sort of the moving parts on the 499 00:26:23,325 --> 00:26:29,205 Speaker 3: website and supplier stuff and logistics. So we are together 500 00:26:29,365 --> 00:26:32,765 Speaker 3: all the nice you know, we wake up together. He'll 501 00:26:32,965 --> 00:26:36,085 Speaker 3: go out and do his gym thing, and so when 502 00:26:36,485 --> 00:26:39,205 Speaker 3: the only time we'll sort of either have disagreements. I 503 00:26:39,405 --> 00:26:41,165 Speaker 3: like in business, we have to make a decision with 504 00:26:41,325 --> 00:26:43,645 Speaker 3: a collection, or you know, he really loves the color 505 00:26:43,685 --> 00:26:44,125 Speaker 3: and I'm. 506 00:26:43,965 --> 00:26:45,245 Speaker 2: Like, oh, I don't know if I like that. 507 00:26:45,445 --> 00:26:49,325 Speaker 3: And we'll often have little situations like that which we 508 00:26:49,365 --> 00:26:52,485 Speaker 3: have to remind ourselves like that's not essentially normal for 509 00:26:52,525 --> 00:26:52,925 Speaker 3: a couple. 510 00:26:54,885 --> 00:26:56,645 Speaker 2: No, you sort of only see each other in the 511 00:26:56,645 --> 00:26:57,605 Speaker 2: morning and then at night. 512 00:26:57,685 --> 00:27:01,885 Speaker 3: But to us, we often say how lucky we are 513 00:27:02,285 --> 00:27:05,485 Speaker 3: we get this one life with each other, and we 514 00:27:05,565 --> 00:27:08,365 Speaker 3: could just get to spend so much time with each other. 515 00:27:08,805 --> 00:27:11,485 Speaker 2: That feels really special to us. Definitely at the. 516 00:27:11,485 --> 00:27:13,845 Speaker 3: Start of our relationship, you know, like bringing in sort 517 00:27:13,885 --> 00:27:16,245 Speaker 3: of other traumas from past relationships, we had to work 518 00:27:16,285 --> 00:27:16,645 Speaker 3: through that. 519 00:27:16,605 --> 00:27:17,165 Speaker 2: We were young. 520 00:27:17,765 --> 00:27:20,005 Speaker 3: But yeah, we sort of obviously had to work through 521 00:27:20,045 --> 00:27:22,405 Speaker 3: that when we were super young. But now we're just 522 00:27:22,445 --> 00:27:25,045 Speaker 3: at a really great place where we know each other. 523 00:27:25,205 --> 00:27:27,805 Speaker 3: We know when you know, we need space. He definitely 524 00:27:27,885 --> 00:27:30,325 Speaker 3: needs more space than I do. I'd happily be with 525 00:27:30,405 --> 00:27:33,285 Speaker 3: them basically four see then, so he has his own 526 00:27:33,645 --> 00:27:36,165 Speaker 3: his own things that he loves to do. But for 527 00:27:36,205 --> 00:27:39,565 Speaker 3: the most part, yeah, where we just make it work, 528 00:27:39,685 --> 00:27:44,445 Speaker 3: and we obviously have those little moments, but the good 529 00:27:44,805 --> 00:27:47,085 Speaker 3: outweighs the bad tenfold. 530 00:27:47,525 --> 00:27:50,125 Speaker 1: It was funny. I was watching a video of you. 531 00:27:50,125 --> 00:27:52,565 Speaker 1: You were actually shooting a campaign for something, and you 532 00:27:53,085 --> 00:27:59,245 Speaker 1: just looked so beautiful but full on like corset and 533 00:27:59,605 --> 00:28:02,485 Speaker 1: you know, mesh and stunning. And I was watching him. 534 00:28:02,605 --> 00:28:05,325 Speaker 1: He was videoing you, but he'd keep turning the camera 535 00:28:05,445 --> 00:28:09,045 Speaker 1: back to himself so you could see his expression, which 536 00:28:09,085 --> 00:28:16,045 Speaker 1: was like bavo, like he was just so there. And 537 00:28:16,085 --> 00:28:19,125 Speaker 1: I thought, that's interesting. He must have seen in the 538 00:28:19,125 --> 00:28:26,205 Speaker 1: course of your relationship also how your confidence has grown 539 00:28:26,285 --> 00:28:27,725 Speaker 1: and blossomed in that time. 540 00:28:29,645 --> 00:28:33,885 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think there's something really special about sharing 541 00:28:34,005 --> 00:28:39,165 Speaker 3: our relationship online too, I mean conventionally, and I'll get 542 00:28:39,165 --> 00:28:41,645 Speaker 3: comments about it sometimes if something goes viral and it 543 00:28:41,685 --> 00:28:44,205 Speaker 3: hits the wrong wrong audience. 544 00:28:43,965 --> 00:28:46,925 Speaker 2: About you know, like oh, he's he's definitely cheating on 545 00:28:47,005 --> 00:28:50,005 Speaker 2: her like that just. 546 00:28:51,365 --> 00:28:51,965 Speaker 1: Thanks. 547 00:28:52,405 --> 00:28:53,005 Speaker 2: Yeah. 548 00:28:53,085 --> 00:28:58,365 Speaker 3: So I mean visually, he's you know, very clearly goes 549 00:28:58,365 --> 00:29:03,045 Speaker 3: to the German he's you know, in terms of society's 550 00:29:03,445 --> 00:29:05,605 Speaker 3: ideal of an attractive person. 551 00:29:06,245 --> 00:29:10,245 Speaker 2: He's there because I'm a bigger girl and plus size. 552 00:29:10,525 --> 00:29:11,805 Speaker 2: Often that's not the case for me. 553 00:29:12,565 --> 00:29:15,805 Speaker 3: People, I guess look at our relationship and go, you know, 554 00:29:16,125 --> 00:29:20,445 Speaker 3: how did she get someone like that? So I love 555 00:29:20,485 --> 00:29:25,645 Speaker 3: to share our relationship and show that, you know, you 556 00:29:27,045 --> 00:29:27,685 Speaker 3: can be. 557 00:29:27,725 --> 00:29:29,365 Speaker 2: In love with whoever you want to be in love with. 558 00:29:29,485 --> 00:29:33,565 Speaker 3: And not only is it you're more than your body, 559 00:29:33,885 --> 00:29:39,045 Speaker 3: but you're actually amazing at whatever size you are and 560 00:29:39,325 --> 00:29:42,645 Speaker 3: whoever you are. It's not just you look at someone 561 00:29:42,645 --> 00:29:44,645 Speaker 3: and go, oh, they're hot, I'm going to marry them 562 00:29:44,645 --> 00:29:47,525 Speaker 3: and be with them for eighty years. 563 00:29:47,845 --> 00:29:48,805 Speaker 2: It's not like that. 564 00:29:49,005 --> 00:29:53,885 Speaker 1: Why do you think it is that people still, I mean, 565 00:29:54,085 --> 00:29:56,645 Speaker 1: there is a whole thing with socials now that we 566 00:29:56,725 --> 00:29:59,445 Speaker 1: do feel that what we do we see things that 567 00:29:59,525 --> 00:30:01,885 Speaker 1: normally you never would have seen in someone's life, or 568 00:30:02,245 --> 00:30:05,245 Speaker 1: intimacy or whatever. But what do you think it is 569 00:30:05,285 --> 00:30:10,245 Speaker 1: in people that they feel the need to diminish, to 570 00:30:10,325 --> 00:30:14,645 Speaker 1: diminish others, And particularly to me, it often seems that 571 00:30:14,725 --> 00:30:19,205 Speaker 1: it happens to people who are happy with themselves, that 572 00:30:19,365 --> 00:30:23,125 Speaker 1: people the people that are that do the diminishing obviously 573 00:30:23,165 --> 00:30:25,925 Speaker 1: are not happy with themselves, but they hone in on 574 00:30:26,005 --> 00:30:29,045 Speaker 1: someone's happiness and they're like a bird flying over and 575 00:30:29,085 --> 00:30:32,045 Speaker 1: they have to take a shit on it. Where do 576 00:30:32,085 --> 00:30:33,285 Speaker 1: you think that comes from? 577 00:30:35,005 --> 00:30:38,445 Speaker 3: It has to come from a place of unhappiness. Like 578 00:30:38,485 --> 00:30:46,045 Speaker 3: you said, I don't know anyone who is comfortable and happy. 579 00:30:46,405 --> 00:30:49,725 Speaker 3: And actually I don't know anyone at all that does 580 00:30:49,765 --> 00:30:50,405 Speaker 3: any sort of. 581 00:30:50,325 --> 00:30:53,485 Speaker 2: Hate messages or anything like that. I wouldn't be speaking 582 00:30:53,485 --> 00:30:58,365 Speaker 2: to them, but I think it takes a. 583 00:30:58,325 --> 00:31:03,445 Speaker 3: Certain space in someone's life. Surely to be being horrible 584 00:31:03,445 --> 00:31:07,405 Speaker 3: to someone like it has to be that classic tear 585 00:31:07,445 --> 00:31:10,365 Speaker 3: them down so that you feel better. Yep, don't you 586 00:31:10,405 --> 00:31:16,165 Speaker 3: think like picking apart someone that is clearly doing great? 587 00:31:16,765 --> 00:31:22,645 Speaker 2: Yes? And yeah, I it baffles. 588 00:31:22,205 --> 00:31:24,685 Speaker 3: Me every time I open comments and it's just people 589 00:31:24,725 --> 00:31:28,765 Speaker 3: being nasty because I genuinely, and I spoke about this 590 00:31:28,885 --> 00:31:31,485 Speaker 3: not long guy, I wanted to do a TikTok and just. 591 00:31:31,445 --> 00:31:35,245 Speaker 2: Say, like, look, you can say it of a fake account. 592 00:31:35,285 --> 00:31:38,125 Speaker 3: I don't mind, but can you just if you're someone 593 00:31:38,165 --> 00:31:41,765 Speaker 3: that leaves hate on people's pages, comment down below your age, 594 00:31:41,765 --> 00:31:46,125 Speaker 3: your occupation, and like what you like to do? Because 595 00:31:46,485 --> 00:31:50,205 Speaker 3: where are these people? What kind of people like? It 596 00:31:50,405 --> 00:31:53,645 Speaker 3: actually intrigues me because I just can't quite wrap my 597 00:31:53,685 --> 00:31:55,685 Speaker 3: head around it. I've not met anyone that does that. 598 00:31:56,205 --> 00:31:58,325 Speaker 3: They just have to be in some sort of place 599 00:31:58,365 --> 00:32:03,325 Speaker 3: where they're just so unhappy, like focus on something else. 600 00:32:03,485 --> 00:32:07,765 Speaker 1: The counter to that is how do you keep yourself 601 00:32:08,005 --> 00:32:11,165 Speaker 1: able to share yourself with people, but at the same 602 00:32:11,205 --> 00:32:18,005 Speaker 1: time have enough armor to protect yourself from those barbs 603 00:32:18,005 --> 00:32:19,965 Speaker 1: so that you don't shut down? Like, how do you 604 00:32:20,005 --> 00:32:23,325 Speaker 1: find the confidence to navigate that middle ground? 605 00:32:25,325 --> 00:32:25,925 Speaker 2: I think it. 606 00:32:25,845 --> 00:32:29,805 Speaker 3: Comes from knowing who I am and being comfortable with 607 00:32:29,885 --> 00:32:38,045 Speaker 3: who I am, Because essentially, whatever someone says, I decide how. 608 00:32:38,005 --> 00:32:39,485 Speaker 2: Much of an impact that has. 609 00:32:40,405 --> 00:32:42,605 Speaker 3: Like I don't know this person, I don't value their 610 00:32:42,645 --> 00:32:45,885 Speaker 3: opinion because I value the opinions of people that I 611 00:32:45,965 --> 00:32:47,645 Speaker 3: care about and that know me and love me want 612 00:32:47,685 --> 00:32:52,165 Speaker 3: the best for me. Someone random that actually clearly doesn't 613 00:32:52,165 --> 00:32:53,725 Speaker 3: want the best for me, I'm. 614 00:32:53,565 --> 00:32:55,805 Speaker 2: Not going to let their opinion have any weight. 615 00:32:56,405 --> 00:32:59,765 Speaker 3: Another thing that I do as well is I use 616 00:32:59,885 --> 00:33:02,765 Speaker 3: tools to limit certain things. So on Instagram, I don't 617 00:33:02,765 --> 00:33:04,685 Speaker 3: actually have comments turned on for anyone. 618 00:33:04,765 --> 00:33:07,765 Speaker 2: You have to follow me to come right right. So 619 00:33:07,845 --> 00:33:09,965 Speaker 2: that's just like logistics of. 620 00:33:09,845 --> 00:33:14,405 Speaker 3: Like protecting myself, you can block certain words. I learned 621 00:33:14,405 --> 00:33:18,085 Speaker 3: to never read Facebook comments on an article that's about me, 622 00:33:18,445 --> 00:33:20,165 Speaker 3: any forums I don't read. 623 00:33:20,445 --> 00:33:23,445 Speaker 1: That's a hard lesson to learn, too, because there's something 624 00:33:23,805 --> 00:33:27,165 Speaker 1: in the human psyche that's drawn to like not the 625 00:33:27,165 --> 00:33:28,245 Speaker 1: top of a scab. 626 00:33:28,565 --> 00:33:32,365 Speaker 2: Yes, I know you sort of. And the way I 627 00:33:32,405 --> 00:33:34,765 Speaker 2: sort of think about it is, I actually. 628 00:33:34,405 --> 00:33:40,165 Speaker 3: Have my own world here and if I, let's say, 629 00:33:40,605 --> 00:33:45,725 Speaker 3: around the corner, someone's really upset about something, which if 630 00:33:45,765 --> 00:33:47,725 Speaker 3: I knew about it, that would make me really upset 631 00:33:47,765 --> 00:33:49,725 Speaker 3: as well. I'd probably feel really empathetic about it, and 632 00:33:49,765 --> 00:33:50,925 Speaker 3: I want to try and help them. 633 00:33:51,085 --> 00:33:52,965 Speaker 2: But if I don't actually know about. 634 00:33:52,645 --> 00:33:58,445 Speaker 3: It, it's not affecting my life, and I can't let's say, 635 00:33:58,445 --> 00:34:00,645 Speaker 3: I can't actually help them, I can't do anything about it. 636 00:34:00,845 --> 00:34:02,845 Speaker 3: So that's sort of how I feel about reading comments 637 00:34:02,885 --> 00:34:06,245 Speaker 3: or reading forums. If I don't read it, it doesn't exist. 638 00:34:06,885 --> 00:34:10,565 Speaker 3: It actually doesn't even exist in my in my brain 639 00:34:10,925 --> 00:34:13,685 Speaker 3: because it's not there, and so I've just gone I'm 640 00:34:13,685 --> 00:34:15,645 Speaker 3: blocking it out because it's not actually going to change. 641 00:34:16,325 --> 00:34:17,805 Speaker 2: Is all it's going to do is make me upset. 642 00:34:18,045 --> 00:34:21,325 Speaker 3: But like, let's go before social media, when I would 643 00:34:21,365 --> 00:34:26,045 Speaker 3: get called fat by someone at school, Now I'm comfortable 644 00:34:26,125 --> 00:34:31,565 Speaker 3: with saying yeah, I am fat, Like next, next, what 645 00:34:31,605 --> 00:34:34,205 Speaker 3: else have you got? Like is that such a bad thing? 646 00:34:34,605 --> 00:34:37,325 Speaker 3: Obviously at the time, that was like the worst thing 647 00:34:37,445 --> 00:34:40,685 Speaker 3: someone could call me. It felt very embarrassing, but now 648 00:34:40,765 --> 00:34:43,645 Speaker 3: I can be comfortable with that, and I think I 649 00:34:43,725 --> 00:34:44,405 Speaker 3: must have just. 650 00:34:44,365 --> 00:34:49,925 Speaker 2: Known back then that there's more to me than what 651 00:34:50,525 --> 00:34:51,165 Speaker 2: I look like. 652 00:34:51,485 --> 00:34:55,045 Speaker 3: And yes, it's going to make me upset for a minute, 653 00:34:55,045 --> 00:34:56,965 Speaker 3: and I'll probably go home and cry to Mum about 654 00:34:56,965 --> 00:35:00,765 Speaker 3: someone calling me fat at school. But I then would 655 00:35:00,805 --> 00:35:02,645 Speaker 3: get on with it and I'd be having fun with 656 00:35:02,685 --> 00:35:08,725 Speaker 3: my friends, and I guess, yeah, I honestly I don't. 657 00:35:08,805 --> 00:35:14,445 Speaker 3: I can't pinpoint what made me not be sightset and 658 00:35:14,525 --> 00:35:15,365 Speaker 3: let it consume me. 659 00:35:18,365 --> 00:35:21,725 Speaker 1: That's not all of my conversation with Riley coming up. 660 00:35:21,965 --> 00:35:24,885 Speaker 1: She reflects on what her younger self would make of 661 00:35:24,925 --> 00:35:29,285 Speaker 1: her now and how it feels to finally see herself 662 00:35:29,605 --> 00:35:38,525 Speaker 1: represented in the media and online. You know, it's interesting 663 00:35:38,565 --> 00:35:43,285 Speaker 1: because what you've done, it's had such an organic genesis. 664 00:35:43,645 --> 00:35:45,005 Speaker 1: You know that you wanted to be able to wear 665 00:35:45,085 --> 00:35:47,445 Speaker 1: active wear that looked like your girlfriend's active wear, but 666 00:35:47,485 --> 00:35:49,365 Speaker 1: you needed a larger size and no one made it. 667 00:35:49,445 --> 00:35:54,325 Speaker 1: So you started making it right. And now a lot 668 00:35:54,365 --> 00:35:59,845 Speaker 1: of companies have embraced you know, body positivity and you know, 669 00:36:00,205 --> 00:36:04,885 Speaker 1: size inclusivity, et cetera. Do you think that it's a 670 00:36:05,165 --> 00:36:11,045 Speaker 1: genuine movement or do you think it's a it's bottom line. 671 00:36:12,965 --> 00:36:19,085 Speaker 3: I think for some brands it is genuine and for 672 00:36:19,165 --> 00:36:22,325 Speaker 3: some it's not. But I find it very easy to tell. 673 00:36:22,845 --> 00:36:23,565 Speaker 1: How do you tell? 674 00:36:23,765 --> 00:36:29,765 Speaker 3: Well, if a brand is just using a curve model 675 00:36:30,125 --> 00:36:34,005 Speaker 3: but their sizing stops at a at a sixteen, right, 676 00:36:36,205 --> 00:36:36,605 Speaker 3: it's not. 677 00:36:36,645 --> 00:36:39,245 Speaker 2: A part of their brand. They don't care. It's not 678 00:36:39,325 --> 00:36:40,485 Speaker 2: who who they are. 679 00:36:41,165 --> 00:36:45,485 Speaker 3: Just like if a makeup brand has a very limited 680 00:36:45,525 --> 00:36:49,885 Speaker 3: shade range, yet they have you know, an array of 681 00:36:49,885 --> 00:36:50,965 Speaker 3: models in a campaign. 682 00:36:51,325 --> 00:36:55,885 Speaker 2: Yeah, straight away you know that they don't value it. 683 00:36:55,965 --> 00:36:59,325 Speaker 3: They're doing it to tick a box. And that's very 684 00:36:59,365 --> 00:37:02,725 Speaker 3: important to me with who I work with. Obviously, there's 685 00:37:03,045 --> 00:37:06,845 Speaker 3: some amazing inclusive brands that I am very honor too 686 00:37:06,845 --> 00:37:09,805 Speaker 3: w ITK with, like Laurel Paris who It's it's part 687 00:37:09,805 --> 00:37:12,365 Speaker 3: of who they are and it's you know, diversity is 688 00:37:13,285 --> 00:37:17,925 Speaker 3: literally their one of their core values. Nike, they I 689 00:37:17,965 --> 00:37:19,925 Speaker 3: remember they were one of the first brands to use 690 00:37:19,965 --> 00:37:24,365 Speaker 3: a curve mannequin in the store. Fashion, however, I will 691 00:37:24,405 --> 00:37:28,405 Speaker 3: note on this fashion for me is and has sort 692 00:37:28,405 --> 00:37:34,285 Speaker 3: of been something that I I like to give brands 693 00:37:34,285 --> 00:37:38,925 Speaker 3: an opportunity. So I mean when I moved to Australia, 694 00:37:38,965 --> 00:37:42,765 Speaker 3: I started buying from brands that I would be squeezing. 695 00:37:42,285 --> 00:37:43,445 Speaker 2: Into their bigger size. 696 00:37:43,685 --> 00:37:45,365 Speaker 3: But I thought, you know what, I'm going to do it, 697 00:37:45,445 --> 00:37:47,405 Speaker 3: and I'm going to take photos and this stuff, and 698 00:37:47,445 --> 00:37:49,725 Speaker 3: then we're going to have the conversation of. 699 00:37:51,245 --> 00:37:51,725 Speaker 2: Do better. 700 00:37:52,445 --> 00:37:54,925 Speaker 3: You know, there's many other people that would love to 701 00:37:54,925 --> 00:37:57,245 Speaker 3: wear your clothing, but they can't fit it because you 702 00:37:57,325 --> 00:38:00,685 Speaker 3: only go to an Excel. Let's you know, let's do 703 00:38:00,805 --> 00:38:04,645 Speaker 3: something here. So I'd often if I worked with a 704 00:38:04,645 --> 00:38:06,645 Speaker 3: brand that would only go to an Excel or to EXCEL, 705 00:38:06,765 --> 00:38:09,045 Speaker 3: I would sometimes get comments saying, you know, like this 706 00:38:09,125 --> 00:38:10,605 Speaker 3: brand isn't size inclusive. 707 00:38:10,885 --> 00:38:13,285 Speaker 2: But I think maybe not so much now. 708 00:38:13,405 --> 00:38:16,605 Speaker 3: But back a few years ago, there was an opportunity 709 00:38:16,645 --> 00:38:19,085 Speaker 3: to go, let's actually have that conversation. 710 00:38:19,165 --> 00:38:21,965 Speaker 2: Give them that chance and go, why aren't you doing 711 00:38:22,005 --> 00:38:25,245 Speaker 2: the sizing. You know I'm wearing it, I look really good. 712 00:38:26,325 --> 00:38:27,525 Speaker 2: Let's get the ball rolling. 713 00:38:28,165 --> 00:38:29,845 Speaker 3: A couple of years ago there was like a massive 714 00:38:29,885 --> 00:38:32,885 Speaker 3: push I think it was just after COVID or in COVID, 715 00:38:33,245 --> 00:38:35,245 Speaker 3: where everyone sort of went, you know what if you're 716 00:38:35,245 --> 00:38:39,525 Speaker 3: not going to show an array of sizing and you're advertising, 717 00:38:40,125 --> 00:38:43,285 Speaker 3: we're not buying from you anymore, and brands started to 718 00:38:43,325 --> 00:38:45,965 Speaker 3: do much better. And I definitely think that's sort of 719 00:38:45,965 --> 00:38:47,805 Speaker 3: taken a bit of a plummet recently. 720 00:38:47,925 --> 00:38:52,405 Speaker 1: Right, And well, that's interesting because I wonder if there's 721 00:38:52,445 --> 00:38:56,605 Speaker 1: a correlation between that and the rise of oz pic. 722 00:38:57,565 --> 00:38:57,925 Speaker 2: Well. 723 00:38:59,525 --> 00:39:02,845 Speaker 3: I think everything sort of comes in like a cycle, right, 724 00:39:03,005 --> 00:39:06,325 Speaker 3: in terms of trends that comes in fashion, that comes 725 00:39:06,365 --> 00:39:10,365 Speaker 3: in body types, that comes in every thing. There's there's 726 00:39:10,445 --> 00:39:13,965 Speaker 3: a cycle with what's call in the media. And yeah, 727 00:39:14,165 --> 00:39:16,525 Speaker 3: I definitely think that would go hand in hand. And 728 00:39:18,205 --> 00:39:21,485 Speaker 3: it's a real shame to see brands, you know, that 729 00:39:22,605 --> 00:39:26,205 Speaker 3: stood for something when they had that pressure on them, 730 00:39:26,245 --> 00:39:28,005 Speaker 3: and then as soon as that pressure kind of goes away, 731 00:39:28,045 --> 00:39:30,565 Speaker 3: they go cool, We're off the hook. 732 00:39:31,085 --> 00:39:34,125 Speaker 1: Well, it's also interesting because there were the people that 733 00:39:34,165 --> 00:39:39,445 Speaker 1: we used to seeing embracing their size, which might not 734 00:39:39,565 --> 00:39:44,805 Speaker 1: be sample size obviously, but now you're like, oh, I 735 00:39:44,885 --> 00:39:47,965 Speaker 1: think I think they're taking a zampic. You know, it's 736 00:39:47,965 --> 00:39:51,125 Speaker 1: a really it's a really common thing in that quest. 737 00:39:51,525 --> 00:39:54,885 Speaker 1: I understand. I don't judge the quest, but the knock 738 00:39:54,925 --> 00:39:59,965 Speaker 1: on effect of it for women that are trying to 739 00:40:00,205 --> 00:40:03,565 Speaker 1: love their body as it is makes it hard. 740 00:40:04,685 --> 00:40:07,885 Speaker 3: Yes, And I think this is why it's so important 741 00:40:07,925 --> 00:40:10,805 Speaker 3: that we use social media and all of the tools 742 00:40:10,805 --> 00:40:11,445 Speaker 3: that we have. 743 00:40:12,965 --> 00:40:14,285 Speaker 2: In a very specific way. 744 00:40:14,405 --> 00:40:17,685 Speaker 3: If something isn't making you feel good, you can reduce 745 00:40:17,685 --> 00:40:20,165 Speaker 3: the way you see that content. You can follow the 746 00:40:20,165 --> 00:40:22,365 Speaker 3: people that do make you feel good. You can be 747 00:40:22,445 --> 00:40:25,285 Speaker 3: around people that support the way that you want to 748 00:40:25,285 --> 00:40:27,565 Speaker 3: live your life. And I think that's that's where we 749 00:40:27,645 --> 00:40:31,885 Speaker 3: sort of can be on a slippery slope with how 750 00:40:31,925 --> 00:40:37,285 Speaker 3: we find validation from other people. Yes, you know, if 751 00:40:37,325 --> 00:40:40,285 Speaker 3: we're putting someone on a pedestal of like, this person 752 00:40:40,485 --> 00:40:44,165 Speaker 3: is everything that you know, what they stand for is 753 00:40:44,205 --> 00:40:47,205 Speaker 3: what I stand for, and this is the reason I'm. 754 00:40:47,045 --> 00:40:49,645 Speaker 2: The way I am, and then all of a sudden 755 00:40:49,685 --> 00:40:55,125 Speaker 2: that goes away. Who are you? What do you stand for? 756 00:40:55,925 --> 00:40:58,165 Speaker 1: What do you stand for? You know you said you've 757 00:40:58,165 --> 00:41:00,845 Speaker 1: always been really sure of who you were and your values, Like, 758 00:41:00,925 --> 00:41:02,725 Speaker 1: how would you define them? 759 00:41:05,325 --> 00:41:09,845 Speaker 3: I think my values are be someone and that people 760 00:41:09,885 --> 00:41:15,765 Speaker 3: want to be around, m be kind, and also don't 761 00:41:15,805 --> 00:41:16,885 Speaker 3: take life too seriously. 762 00:41:17,045 --> 00:41:18,485 Speaker 2: I think that's just one of my big things. 763 00:41:18,485 --> 00:41:22,805 Speaker 3: I'm like, we're all here just trying to get through it. 764 00:41:24,645 --> 00:41:25,925 Speaker 2: We're just here trying to have. 765 00:41:25,845 --> 00:41:27,845 Speaker 3: Fun at the end of the day, like, yes we 766 00:41:27,885 --> 00:41:30,165 Speaker 3: have bills to pay, Yes we have to do the 767 00:41:30,205 --> 00:41:32,685 Speaker 3: things we don't want to do, but we're all going 768 00:41:32,765 --> 00:41:35,845 Speaker 3: to have the same ending. 769 00:41:35,805 --> 00:41:40,805 Speaker 2: Basically, which terrifies me. As I'm sort of start I 770 00:41:41,605 --> 00:41:42,725 Speaker 2: think about that more often. 771 00:41:43,165 --> 00:41:47,925 Speaker 1: Maybe you want to scale back the running. But it's 772 00:41:48,045 --> 00:41:50,805 Speaker 1: interesting now, and you were you refer to the Loureal 773 00:41:50,845 --> 00:41:54,485 Speaker 1: campaign in which you worries, like the company that you're 774 00:41:54,525 --> 00:42:00,365 Speaker 1: keeping is just magnificent. Really, you know, Helen Mirren and 775 00:42:00,565 --> 00:42:05,205 Speaker 1: Jenny's and it's just it's great. It's very interesting if 776 00:42:05,245 --> 00:42:10,925 Speaker 1: you had been able to say to yourself, maybe even 777 00:42:13,085 --> 00:42:15,325 Speaker 1: maybe even when you were coming home and saying to 778 00:42:15,325 --> 00:42:17,645 Speaker 1: your mum or this kid in my class called me fat, 779 00:42:19,205 --> 00:42:24,765 Speaker 1: imagine saying to yourself, then what your future, the future 780 00:42:24,805 --> 00:42:29,325 Speaker 1: that you've crafted would hold for you. How would that feel? 781 00:42:30,765 --> 00:42:35,845 Speaker 3: Oh makes me emotional because I guess there was that 782 00:42:35,965 --> 00:42:40,365 Speaker 3: core piece missing from me growing up, and that I 783 00:42:40,405 --> 00:42:43,245 Speaker 3: didn't see myself represented in. 784 00:42:45,885 --> 00:42:46,205 Speaker 2: TV. 785 00:42:46,965 --> 00:42:50,205 Speaker 3: Whenever I would see a bigger body, it was being 786 00:42:50,365 --> 00:42:52,325 Speaker 3: the one being made fun of in a movie. 787 00:42:52,525 --> 00:42:55,005 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it would be the one on the magazine. 788 00:42:54,525 --> 00:42:56,565 Speaker 3: Cover being ripped to shreds about the cellul like when 789 00:42:56,565 --> 00:42:57,765 Speaker 3: they're just trying to have a nice at. 790 00:42:57,725 --> 00:43:00,845 Speaker 2: The beach with the kids. It was there was only 791 00:43:00,925 --> 00:43:01,725 Speaker 2: ever ridicule. 792 00:43:02,565 --> 00:43:06,605 Speaker 3: So to now not only see myself represented and you know, 793 00:43:07,205 --> 00:43:11,365 Speaker 3: or working with Laurel and walking the runway that we 794 00:43:11,405 --> 00:43:14,205 Speaker 3: walked at the end of last year, not only seeing 795 00:43:14,245 --> 00:43:17,125 Speaker 3: myself represented, but it actually is me and I can 796 00:43:17,205 --> 00:43:22,565 Speaker 3: be that for younger girls or anyone. It's a super 797 00:43:24,485 --> 00:43:27,365 Speaker 3: emotional feeling and super surreal. 798 00:43:28,325 --> 00:43:30,605 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think if I was to tell my younger self, 799 00:43:30,645 --> 00:43:33,045 Speaker 2: she would just laugh. And then I was taking the EPISO, 800 00:43:34,805 --> 00:43:38,205 Speaker 2: she told me to shut up and get on with it. Yeah, 801 00:43:38,285 --> 00:43:40,965 Speaker 2: it's it's crazy, It's yeah. 802 00:43:41,125 --> 00:43:43,325 Speaker 3: I feel like if I think about it too much, 803 00:43:43,325 --> 00:43:46,205 Speaker 3: it actually sort of extruses me out. It's like when 804 00:43:46,245 --> 00:43:49,325 Speaker 3: I think about space, like I think about the planets 805 00:43:49,325 --> 00:43:51,165 Speaker 3: and like with the universe and what is actually. 806 00:43:51,005 --> 00:43:53,925 Speaker 2: Going on at last, my heart rates up. Yeah, it's yes, 807 00:43:53,965 --> 00:43:56,605 Speaker 2: it's too vast, too much. I can't deal with that. 808 00:43:56,805 --> 00:43:59,045 Speaker 1: Does your future feel vast? 809 00:43:59,285 --> 00:44:02,365 Speaker 2: You know what it does? 810 00:44:02,685 --> 00:44:07,765 Speaker 3: And I think it's almost like an uncomfortable feeling to. 811 00:44:10,805 --> 00:44:11,365 Speaker 2: I guess, like. 812 00:44:13,125 --> 00:44:16,765 Speaker 3: Goals or big goals for yourself in this industry, because 813 00:44:17,045 --> 00:44:19,885 Speaker 3: there's an element of me going like I know I can, 814 00:44:20,445 --> 00:44:22,845 Speaker 3: I can do these things, and like I'm so excited 815 00:44:22,845 --> 00:44:25,685 Speaker 3: for what could happen next. But then a lot, a 816 00:44:25,725 --> 00:44:27,525 Speaker 3: lot of it, a lot of the feelings I have. 817 00:44:27,685 --> 00:44:30,085 Speaker 2: Like how are you even doing what you're doing now? 818 00:44:30,245 --> 00:44:33,365 Speaker 2: You know, like you were the one. 819 00:44:33,205 --> 00:44:39,005 Speaker 3: That was not seen by society as beautiful and not 820 00:44:39,165 --> 00:44:42,085 Speaker 3: successful and not worthy, So like what you're doing now 821 00:44:42,205 --> 00:44:46,125 Speaker 3: is absolutely unreal. So how can you even think that 822 00:44:46,445 --> 00:44:48,325 Speaker 3: you're going to, you know, be on a cover of 823 00:44:48,325 --> 00:44:49,845 Speaker 3: a magazine like get a grip? 824 00:44:50,485 --> 00:44:56,645 Speaker 1: Yeah, and guess what, Ronnie Hemson. I think the gift 825 00:44:56,685 --> 00:45:00,045 Speaker 1: that you've given to your followers and to those who 826 00:45:00,085 --> 00:45:04,125 Speaker 1: are new to you is the gift of happiness. Happiness 827 00:45:04,165 --> 00:45:06,965 Speaker 1: in yourself is also a gift for those of us 828 00:45:07,005 --> 00:45:10,565 Speaker 1: who are enjoying your wor can your labors and your 829 00:45:10,605 --> 00:45:14,405 Speaker 1: adventures in your fashion. It's very important. 830 00:45:14,765 --> 00:45:15,285 Speaker 2: Thank you. 831 00:45:15,885 --> 00:45:19,405 Speaker 3: I do genuinely find so much fulfillment and what I do, 832 00:45:20,085 --> 00:45:23,245 Speaker 3: I you know, every photo shoot I'm on to be 833 00:45:23,365 --> 00:45:27,485 Speaker 3: able to represent girls and a curvy body and just 834 00:45:28,445 --> 00:45:32,725 Speaker 3: being yourself and not taking it too seriously and you know, being. 835 00:45:32,565 --> 00:45:35,725 Speaker 2: Able to create the cloning that we. 836 00:45:35,725 --> 00:45:38,765 Speaker 3: Make for rem and getting messages from girls that have 837 00:45:38,845 --> 00:45:41,165 Speaker 3: you know, never worn a bikini ever and it's their 838 00:45:41,165 --> 00:45:43,885 Speaker 3: first time and they're wearing something that we've made for 839 00:45:43,965 --> 00:45:47,445 Speaker 3: that purpose, Like we wanted everyone to feel comfortable and 840 00:45:47,485 --> 00:45:48,645 Speaker 3: their bodies. 841 00:45:48,605 --> 00:45:52,125 Speaker 2: To be on you know, a. 842 00:45:51,485 --> 00:45:55,525 Speaker 3: Campaign shooting a Loreal foundation that I saved up my 843 00:45:55,605 --> 00:45:59,165 Speaker 3: money and you know, I was fourteen buying my first foundation. 844 00:45:59,805 --> 00:46:04,125 Speaker 3: Like it's yeah, it's crazy and it's so special and 845 00:46:04,445 --> 00:46:08,285 Speaker 3: I do genuinely just feel so fulfilled and what I'm 846 00:46:08,325 --> 00:46:10,125 Speaker 3: doing love it. 847 00:46:10,765 --> 00:46:12,725 Speaker 1: Thank you for sharing yourself with No Filter. 848 00:46:13,445 --> 00:46:14,365 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. 849 00:46:17,325 --> 00:46:21,245 Speaker 1: Oh what I loved about this conversation, aside from Riley herself, 850 00:46:22,005 --> 00:46:27,325 Speaker 1: was how real she was about protecting herself online. We 851 00:46:27,445 --> 00:46:31,445 Speaker 1: know social media can be both empowering and toxic, and 852 00:46:31,565 --> 00:46:37,005 Speaker 1: Riley's approach to setting boundaries is incredible. She's intentional about 853 00:46:37,045 --> 00:46:40,805 Speaker 1: what she engages with, she protects her energy, and she 854 00:46:40,925 --> 00:46:45,365 Speaker 1: stays true to her self worth. I also admire how 855 00:46:45,405 --> 00:46:49,645 Speaker 1: she aligns with brands that genuinely champion self worth and inclusivity, 856 00:46:49,965 --> 00:46:53,325 Speaker 1: not just as a marketing trend, but as a real commitment. 857 00:46:54,765 --> 00:46:57,885 Speaker 1: The executive producer of No Filter is Nama Brown, and 858 00:46:58,005 --> 00:47:01,685 Speaker 1: the senior producer is Grace Rufrey. Audio production is by 859 00:47:01,765 --> 00:47:05,645 Speaker 1: Jacob Brown, and I'm your host, Kate lane Brook. Thanks 860 00:47:05,725 --> 00:47:06,285 Speaker 1: for listening.