Beautiful (Picture: NowToronto.com)

It can be hard to love your body.

It’s especially hard to love it when you rarely see people that look like you celebrating their bodies in the media.

This is something Now Toronto try to address in their annual Body Issue, where they ask activists, writers and performers to bare all and talk about the complicated relationships they have with their bodies.

People of different races, genders, disabilities and trans experiences share their stories as they strip for the camera.


And each and every one is flawless.

Drummer Stephen Bowles broke his back when he was 26.

‘It basically changed everything. It entirely blew my perspective out of the water. I was very dependent on those around me, and that made me a lot more empathetic and able to take time with people in a way that I wouldn’t have before.’



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Performer and writer Katie Sly says nudity is not a vulnerability, but a strength.

‘My body has been possessed and owned by people without my permission on so many occasions – and f*ck it, I’m taking my body back. You can do what you can do to me, but I will still be here, and in this body, and totally unashamed.’

Activist Biko Beauttah discusses learning to love herself as a trans woman.

‘Finally one day I looked in the mirror and saw myself as myself: a woman. To my surprise, the body I hated met the idealized standards of Western feminine beauty.

‘Let’s just say that I have weighed the same since my late teens and love my body; it’s my temple. It’s amazing the positive impact that going through life as your authentic self can have – not only on yourself, but on others around you.’

Co-captain of Canada’s wheelchair basketball team Bo Hedges wants to challenge the assumptions about people with disabilities.

‘I hope I’m bridging the gap and helping [people] understand the capabilities of people with disabilities. My hope is that people will think, “If this person with a disability can perform at such an elite level on the court, why can’t those with disabilities perform the tasks of daily life just like everyone else?”‘

Human rights activist Akio Maroon fights so her kids can live in a more accepting world.

‘My skin colour and my body represent so much negativity. It’s really important for me not only to show my body in a positive light, but also to use the tools I have to make a difference.’

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Burlesque performer and stewardess Xica Ducharme has faced danger and discrimination for simply being herself.

‘It doesn’t matter how much the world tries to put me down. I will stand on those heels, naked, in front of anyone, holding a fan to cool myself off from all the struggles. Making myself beautiful. Standing tall.’

Youth coordinator and fitness trainer Adam Benn overcame low self-esteem from being an overweight teen.

‘I always tell my clients to accept the realities of the holidays. This is a time when things are more social and you’re going to be eating more. Enjoy that. Don’t stress yourself out if you’re going to eat or have a few drinks at a party, but do still maintain your routines and get some exercise. It’s about balance.’

Chiamaka Umeh, Esther Jun and Rebecca Perry from Next Stage Theatre Fest explore the difficulties of accepting your body with conflicting views from religion, media and entertainment.

‘Recently I said to [my daugher], “I love your cute little belly.” And then she touched my belly and said, “I love your belly, too, Mom!” I almost died. She loves it the way it is; she doesn’t know anything different. I figure I should probably learn to love it the way she does.’



Journalists and activists Tiq Milan and Kim Milan try to show the world to not be ashamed of who you are.

‘There isn’t a lot of diverse representation of black queer couples loving each other and celebrating each others’ bodies and beauty. We want to give an example to our communities. For many people involved with trans people, it’s a hidden thing, and we want to challenge that narrative. There’s nothing secret about the way we love each other: we love each other out loud.’

(Picture: Kim Milan)

All the photos are engaging, moving and portray that there’s more than one way to find beauty.

But there’s still a long way to go until the rest of the world catches up.

The Milans’ photo, alongside Katie Sly’s, was removed from Facebook and their accounts were suspended for 24 hours.

Kim Milan had the perfect response, which she shared on Instagram:

No one can censor love between two grown ass people. In a culture where a woman’s body can be used to sell products but should not be used to promote love and acceptance of all bodies, where heavily airbrushed is more acceptable than stretch marks and scars, there are always a few among many who are trying to change that. This is why we have to own our platforms in addition to occupying all the other spaces that we want to. We deserve it all.

Metro.co.uk have contacted Facebook for comment.

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