so-many-misadventures-await:Nina Zenik is So ImportantI’ve struggled with body dysmorphia and...

so-many-misadventures-await:

Nina Zenik is So Important

I’ve struggled with body dysmorphia and weight anxiety for years, and Nina meant so much to me, as a character who is canonically chubby, and also is gorgeous and unapologetic and full of life.

Now on days when I feel bigger or not cute and my anxious mind is screaming, “You’ve gained weight! You’ve probably gained weight and you look chubby,” I stop. And I take a breath. And I think about what Nina Zenik would have to say to that.

And I think Nina Zenik would tell that voice to f*** right off. She would say, “So what?” She would put on her favorite outfit, and do her makeup, and think about how charming and funny and fabulous she was going to be that day. I can’t tell you that it makes it all better, or that the struggle goes away. But it helps. Thank God for Nina. She may be fictional, but she sure does help me on my bad days.

My beautiful Heartrender queens, being good to yourself and practicing body positivity is a hard thing, an ongoing process for most of us, so please do not ever beat yourself up on the difficult days. Nina Zenik would want you to be kind to yourself above all else.

And yes, Nina is fictional but women like Ericka Hart, Megan Jayne Crabbe (BodyPosiPanda), Audrey Little, Rainbow Chatman and countless others are real, gorgeous, and out there being honest and glamorous and brilliant every day. Fill your IG feeds with varied bodies, with diverse bodies, with non binary bodies. I can’t tell you the impact it can have on your head and your heart to reject the LIE that only one kind of person is allowed to have fun or be sexy or kick ass or succeed. Go get it.