The second part of this months WOW Woman duo is Natasha Devon, co-founder of Body Gossip with Ruth Rogers…Here she shares her side of the story…
Natasha how did you get involved with Body Gossip?
In 2008, I was trialling this ‘insane’ (my then-colleagues, helpfully, informed me) idea I had to teach body confidence classes to teenagers, in two schools on the Hertfordshire/Essex border. I causally mentioned this on Facebook, which was when I got a message from Ruth, who I’ve known since we were 11 (we actually went to school together, ironically), saying “I’m doing this thing called Body Gossip and I think you might love it. Can we meet up?”.
Over dinner at our now favourite haunt, Giraffe in Waterloo, I realized I did, in fact, LOVE the Body Gossip concept and we made the decision to ‘smoosh’ our ideas together. I started helping with the publicity for Body Gossip and my little, nameless project became the Body Gossip Education Programme, Gossip School.
So really I have Mark Zuckerberg to thank for my involvement in the campaign, my wonderful friendship with the awesomeness that is Ruth Rogers and the path my life has taken over the past 4 years. (Cheers, Mark!)
Body Image is a subject close to my heart Natasha, why does this matter so much to you?
I’m fairly sure that what you would like me to say here is that body image became close to my heart because I suffered from an eating disorder in my late teens and early twenties. As much as I wish I could indulge you on that one, it’s actually because my passions are feminism and education (and David Bowie, but he is not really relevant, here) and body image is absolutely crucial in both of those spheres.
It frightens me that we are a society increasingly ploughing all our time, money and energy into conforming to increasingly narrow beauty ideals. And then we wonder why depression, suicide rates, self-harm, eating disorders etc are at a historical high. I believe our obsession with aesthetics also has a role to play in the ‘Broken Britain’ phenomenon – It’s that important. Think what we could achieve if we weren’t counting calories, getting botox, staring wistfully at airbrushed pictures in glossy magazines and fretting about our cellulite. Women could have taken over the world by now. Easily.
We’ve always said at Body Gossip that our aim is for people to think ‘initially about our bodies more so that ultimately we can think about them less’. We’re in the business of allowing people to identify their body issues, deal with them and get on with their lives.
Where my own story does come into play is that I have experienced first-hand how a body image/food issue can permeate every area of a life, robbing someone of all their potential, depriving them of any fun, achievement, motivation or meaningful relationships – That’s not something I’d wish on any young person – Which is why Gossip School was born.
Natasha how do you feel about living in your skin now?
I think I’m pretty foxy! The biggest thing reading and listening to the thousands of stories sent into Body Gossip will teach you is that, whatever you think about yourself, chances are, no one is looking at you and thinking the same. I hear people say “yeah, I have a gigantic stomach”, as though it’s a commonly acknowledged fact, when in actuality it’s the last thing I’d ever look at them and think.
Living in London also helps. I grew up in a small village in Essex, half-Jewish, in a mixed-race family, a foot taller than everyone else my age. I grew accustomed to being stared at (not in the good way). I remember coming to London aged 15 on a trip and marvelling at all the different types of people on the Tube – the variances in colours and races and shapes and sizes and styles. There were people dressed so outlandishly they practically had a shoe on their head and no one paid them any heed at all. It was beautiful. Now I live here, I know if people stare at me it’s for the right reasons. And, in a truly cosmopolitan environment, where diversity is celebrated, being an Amazonian, giant bosomed redhead is only ever perceived as a positive thing.
Most of all, though, I’m just happy to be healthy – After so many years having not been – I’m so grateful to my body for functioning so brilliantly.
What plans do you have for 2012 and beyond Natasha for you and Body Gossip?
I am ridiculously excited about our book, which will be published this year. It’s a collection of real body stories ‘for the nation, by the nation’. Ruth and I sat and read every single story which was submitted to Body Gossip in order to put the book together and it just reminded me how creative, sincere, witty and perceptive people can be. I love that the book will encapsulate Body Gossip in one, tangible thing you can hold in your hand (which might finally stop people saying “I know that Body Gossip is amazing but having said that I’m still not sure what it is”). The book contains stories from people of a wide spectrum of different ages, races, sexualities, shapes, sizes and situations – Everyone will be able to find something to relate to. I hope this book is the first of many.
I have this little fantasy about Body Gossip, which I indulge in frequently, in which it becomes part of the common vernacular. You know how two years ago, no one said ‘amazeballs’ and now suddenly it’s on everyones’ lips? I envision a time when someone says “I just had a Body Gossip moment” or “I just tweeted some Body Gossip”. At the moment this dream appears to be confined to my flat, in which every time I say something like “what are those trousers all about?” when flicking through vogue or “my thighs really hurt today for NO REASON” my flatmate will point at me and shout “BODYGOSSIP!” at the top of her voice. I am yet to discover what the neighbours think of this.
You both work tirelessly, what or who motivates you?
Here are a few of the things which motivate me:
Getting a ‘thank you’ email from a student I’ve taught.
Motivational rage: Usually arising from something I’ve read or watched which sensationalizes body image issues, or presents them as trivial.
Inspiration from amazing women who say brilliant things, like Susie Orbach, Jo Swinson, Caitlin Moran, Emma Thompson, Sharon Haywood and my Mum.
Inspiration from amazing men who say brilliant things like Eddie Izzard, David Bowie, Sir Ken Robinson, the team at Men Get Eating Disorders Too and my Uncle Andy.
My Step-Dad (who reminds me a bit of Alan Sugar) saying “well done, love”.
Comments on articles or blogs I have written which say something along the lines of “thank GOD! Someone speaking some sense on this issue at last”.
The little “squee” noise someone does when you phone them to tell them their story has been selected to be performed in a Body Gossip live event or film.
And perhaps most importantly, and without wishing to sound too much like an X Factor VT here, what motivates me is the fact that I simply cannot imagine myself doing anything else.
Natasha tell us about your work with young people?
To date, Gossip School has worked with around 6,000 students aged 14-18, of both genders, in schools and colleges all over the UK. It’s a 1 hour self-esteem class, designed to increase general confidence and empower students, as well as encourage them to feel comfortable in their own skins.
Gossip School has been shown to help with the specific issues of bullying, self-harm, body image dissatisfaction and problems surrounding food. Gok Wan described Gossip School as ‘exactly what the UK is crying out for!”. (In a not-at-all biased way, I agree!)
The class is all about tackling what can be very difficult and taboo topics with sensitivity and occasionally humour (above-all the lesson must be entertaining!), without patronizing and in a way that teenagers will respond to. It is, without question, the most challenging and rewarding thing I have ever done.
What are the best bits of Body Gossip to date
Of course working with Gok and our fabulous celebrity cast, our various theatre productions, making our films and meeting the other members of the Body Gossip team were all magnificent moments in time. A personal highlight for me, though, was when I took Gossip School to a notoriously ‘rough’ area of East London. It soon became clear to me that all the various ways I’d presented my lesson previously (I always tailor the class to the students) were going to have no effect on these young people whatsoever. They were jumping on each other, shouting, punching one another, playing on their smart phones, laughing maniacally for no apparent reason, hoodies covering most of their faces. Their teacher had long since made a dash for it. So I invented a class totally on the spot. I delivered 4 lessons throughout the day and I’ve never worked harder. A teacher came running up to me at the end of the day and said “what did you do? All I can hear in the corridors is the kids saying ‘Body Gossip!’ – And they all want to work for you when they leave school!”. That memory will always stay with me!
Finally tell us about your Gok Wan experience, sounds so exciting
Gok is wonderful. I’m a bit in love with him. We helped him to make his documentary Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth, which is on Channel 4 at 8pm on 7th February. We can’t reveal any details of the show but I CAN tell you that Ruth and I nearly wet our respective knicker(ses) when Gok came dashing up to us at the beginning of filming and said “so, when am I going to record MY Body Gossip story, then?”. Stay tuned!
Natasha what a wonderful and inspiring interview, thanks so much! Your absolute dedication to this Campaign really shows and I just know you and Ruth have so far to take this, I am sure my guests will be with you all the way. You know you have my support!
You can follow Natasha on Twitter and share her tweets, she’s @BodyGossipTash
Until next time
Jayne x
