What This Cuddly Cat Can Teach Us About Body Acceptance

A model is using a chubby, cuddly feline to get people talking about body image. (Photo: Getty Images)
A model is using a chubby, cuddly feline to get people talking about body image. (Photo: Getty Images)

A curvy model is using a cuddly cat to spread self-acceptance.

Khrystyana, a self-described “body-positive model and poet” from San Francisco, regularly posts inspiring messages promoting health and self-acceptance on her Instagram account, which has 55,000 followers.

Echoing past sentiments such as “Healthy is not the new skinny” and “Have a strong day,” the size-10 model recently shared a nude shot of herself cuddling an orange-and-white cat named Mr. Cute and damning “cruel beauty standards.”

When we see rolls on cats or babies or adult humans , st what point does the thought of cute chub of a healthy adorableness turn into unattractive get-out-my-sight scarecrow? What turns on this mass mental obsessive looks focused disorder? I meet way too many UNDER 13 year olds who are already trying to look thin, and follow so many diets and call out others negatively on being other than that 'mystical perfection' they already got sold in their heads. What happened to us? Who's fault is this? Last thing you want to see up close is a 12 year old with a custom made waist trainer… May your hearts be broken if you see, but I dare you to wake up and do everything you can to revise cruel beauty standards. Our lives are not meant to live in a self hating rally, but the opposite. We are meant to be born so we can LIVE in THESE bodies, so we can LOVE ourselves and others. I used to passionately hate all of me for too too long as a kid and a teen and in adulthood, don't waste your time doing the same please .. please. Wake up and help others to do the same. You are really damn beautiful, I swear to God. if I see it in you, you better see it too (daily) — Khrystyana and Mr. Cute chunk of healthy adorableness @_bertopia_ photo by @duyschmoo and @thaofromtheinternet #allBodiesAreGoodBodies #bodypositive#effyourbeautystandards#iamsizesexy#teamcurvy#embraceyourcurves#beautybeyondsize#noshame#bodypositivity#honormycurves#curvymodels#ilovemybody#bodylove#bodyacceptance#selfconfidence#bodyimage#curvymodel#bopo#thisbody#bopowarrior #boldncurvy#celebratemysize#goldenconfidence#alternativecurves

A post shared by BodyPositive Model | Poet (@khrystyana) on Jul 16, 2017 at 7:21am PDT

“When we see rolls on cats or babies or adult humans, at what point does the thought of cute chub of a healthy adorableness turn into unattractive get-out-my-sight scarecrow?” Khrystyana asked in the post. “What turns on this mass mental obsessive looks focused disorder?”

The model described how she meets many tweens attempting to lose weight and singling out their peers who don’t meet standards of “mystical perfection.” She wrote, “What happened to us? Whose fault is this? Last thing you want to see up close is a 12-year-old with a custom-made waist trainer.”

Khrystyana added, “May your hearts be broken if you see, but I dare you to wake up and do everything you can to revise cruel beauty standards. Our lives are not meant to live in a self-hating rally, but the opposite. We are meant to be born so we can LIVE in THESE bodies, so we can LOVE ourselves and others. I used to passionately hate all of me for too too long as a kid and a teen and in adulthood. Don’t waste your time doing the same please.”

More than 4,000 people liked the post, and the model even dipped into the comments section to connect with her followers about body image.

In April, Khrystyana also shared a photo reflecting the realities of too-tight shapewear that women routinely squeeze themselves into, writing in part, “Do you really want to stop your blood circulation now…”

A COMFORT of DISCOMFORT (Scroll to see all images) Woman. Oh how we love our shapers, our tight jeans, Bras that obsessively embrace us so much to only suffocate our natural form. Oh why woman, why? I can't go a day without seeing an Ad of these new body shaping suits, because apparently small waist, thick butt and large DD's are what we should ALL look like. The ads that literally tell you "Self hate is cool, wear this, this makes you look hot an appealing to the masses because you aren't, for only $24.99!". Woman, oh how we love a little pain here and there, waxing, tweezing, tanning/burning, bleaching, scrubbing… that's fine. Nothing against what we want, but tell me woman, is that what you really truly want? Or you are sold to want it? Tell me woman, is your body not the most magnificent fascinating universe that could use your compassion? Do you real want to stop your blood circulation now with those tight shapers to become media's dream?… on one of the images see my BLUE legs, poor babies from wearing a shaper for few hours. How do you like the reality of impeded blood circulation, infertility, digestive problems, nerve damage and more. Yes these images of me today are terrifying to many of you, especially that scar (I have them on both feet), from wearing VERY SEXY high heels. I bled.. and now this scar but BOY, MY FEET LOOKED SEXY THAT ONE DAY! Sure, wear your shapers, heels, I love them all too, that short term comfort for a long term discomfort…just please take the responsibility of what your poor lovely body will potentially experience. I ask for awareness only. Not asking for too much. Mental and physical health..health is a beauty. I love you. Sorry for a strong message, you know I'm lovingly. – yours, KhrystyAna #allBodiesAreGoodBodies #bodypositive#effyourbeautystandards#iamsizesexy#teamcurvy#embraceyourcurves#beautybeyondsize#noshame#bodypositivity#honormycurves#curvymodels#ilovemybody#bodylove#bodyacceptance#selfconfidence#bodyimage#curvymodel#bopo#thisbody#bopowarrior #boldncurvy#celebratemysize#goldenconfidence#alternativecurves

A post shared by BodyPositive Model | Poet (@khrystyana) on Apr 18, 2017 at 12:29pm PDT

And on July 18, she shared another candid photo and post about body acceptance. “This is a lingerie fashion pose commonly accepted among straight size models and not commonly accepted amongst the curve models,” she wrote. “‘Make sure you suck that in,’ especially when shooting lingerie I heard so so many times… Oh well, let’s revise the beauty standards ONE belly at a time.”

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