Get Ready to Applaud This Bride-to-Be Who Shut Down the “Wedding Body” Trend SO Hard
Every Body celebrates inclusivity and the representation of human beings in every shape and form.
If the modern body-positivity movement has taught us one thing, it’s that a person’s worth is not determined by their body shape or size. But sometimes society forgets that — and it takes a real boss to step up and remind us. Enter Cassie Young and her EPIC bride-shaming shutdown.
Young is a radio personality and podcast host from Atlanta, GA. She recently got engaged, and when she shared the good news on Twitter, a personal trainer reached out about getting in shape for her upcoming wedding. She was, understandably, not having it.
Our ten year anniversary is a heartbeat away but we just signed up for forever. 💍
Ps. I totally won #Cassopoly pic.twitter.com/mhLPjS8Y1E— Cassie Young (@CassandraYoung) August 13, 2017
Young didn’t have a problem with the initial pitch, explaining to the trainer that she was already happy with the way she looked and thanking them for their offer. That’s when the conversation took a turn for the inappropriate.
The trainer, whose name Young did not reveal, started shaming Young for not wanting to look her “best,” and all but called her a liar about being happy with her body.
Young was quick to articulately shut them down. “I’m constantly shamed or reminded that I’m heavy and I should be embarrassed,” she wrote. “Health is one thing, and it’s something I’m working hardcore on. But the idea of me being embarrassed by my wedding pictures because I might be ‘fat’ in them? F**k that noise!”
She shared screencaps of the conversation — equal parts infuriating and inspiring — on social media with the important message that your appearance does NOT define your self-worth. The post went viral, and Young says the support she received has been overwhelming (in a good way!)
“It’s SO easy to be an anonymous keyboard troll online,” Young told Brit + Co in an email. “The fact that complete strangers were showing up from all over with kind comments, with similar struggles, with positivity — it was not only eye-opening, but really uplifting.”
Many people struggle with body image issues. While the cultural tides are turning and all body types are being increasingly celebrated and represented, there is still a lot of work to be done. Young knows that the journey to self-acceptance is not an easy one, but she says it’s worth putting in the work.
“You have to keep coming back to the notion that you are enough,” she says. “In the grand scheme of life, you are the one who is by your side through EVERYTHING. You have to be your own cheerleader. Once you start to find your validation within yourself, the rest is a piece of cake.”
“Also,” Young continued, “haters are miserable people who are unhappy with themselves. So whenever you see nasty comments from them, feel bad for them, because they are miserable, and you have something they don’t: true self-confidence and happiness.” Truer words.
What do you think of Cassie’s response to the pushy personal trainer? Let us know @BritandCo!
(Featured photo via @cassandrayoung/Instagram)