Body Talk
In June, we brought together storytellers from a variety of backgrounds and industries to present oral histories of their bodies. This was our first in our storytelling event series BODY TALK, which focuses on highlighting alternative perspectives to the mainstream wellness narrative. We heard from writers, activists, comedians, and wellness professionals about the ways wellness intersects with race, sexuality, ability, class, culture, and much more. We started off the night at New Women Space with a short wine reception, and then headed downstairs to hear from our storytellers!
Our eight storytellers included Laura Delarato, writer, creative producer, nude model, body image activist, and sex educator; Lorena Russi, comic and member of Nike's NYC soccer team; Xian Horn, beauty/disability advocate; Cari Sekendur, boxer and designer; Sara R. Radin, writer and mental health advocate; Dom Chatterjee, founder of QTPoC mental health and EIC of Rest for Resistance; Phi Thi Thach, poet, producer, and songwriter; and Melanie Testa, breast cancer survivor.
We heard from Laura Delarato on dating while fat, and Dom Chatterjee on seeking out mental health resources as a PoC in overwhelmingly white spaces. Lorena Russi had us crying with laughter at her period-inspired stand-up, and Melanie Testa enlightened us all about the stigmas surrounding "flat reconstruction" after a double mastectomy.
“IN RECENT YEARS, I WITNESSED MANY OF MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS STRUGGLE WITH SELF-ESTEEM, BODY IMAGE, DEPRESSION, AND DISABILITY. RECOGNIZING THE DEEP NEED FOR HONEST, POSITIVE DIALOGUE, I SET OUT TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY AND THE LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SEARCH OF POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. SPECIFICALLY, THE UNREPRESENTED BEAUTIES WITH DISABILITIES. IT IS SAID, THAT IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, YOU’VE GOT TO DO IT YOURSELF. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I HAVE CHOSEN TO STAND UP (DESPITE STAGE FRIGHT AND ALL POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS) AND SERVE - SHARING WHAT I BELIEVE - THAT ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL. PERIOD.”
— XIAN HORN, BEAUTY AND DISABILITY ADVOCATE