We got a lot of letters, texts and calls about the images of Natalie Benson in the free sample issue and issue 3 of Bellafit Magazine. We realized how many people dont know why we started Bellafit or what our purpose is. Its a womans fitness magazine, for ALL women. I hope this helps to explain better. If you like we have posted some images of Natalie on our website, just follow this link: bellafitmagazine/women-love-stretch-marks/ Women LOVE Stretch Marks By Terry Goodlad In the free sample issue of Bellafit Magazine we published a training shot of legendary figure pro Natalie Benson standing by the dumbbell rack. She has some stretch marks on her body and you could see them in the picture. Those simple, common, stretch marks that many women have but few magazines, if any, have allowed to be published before have set off an avalanche of emails, texts and calls. Some feel it was disrespectful of Bellafit Magazine to “forget” to remove them from the picture. Some were simply confused as to why they were there and politely reminded us that they saw stretch marks on a fitness model in our magazine. Then there were some that cheered us on for having the courage to do something so radical as publish a fitness model in a magazine and show her stretch marks. And then there were a few women who have stretch marks, most of them from having children, some from women who had struggled with their weight. Most of their messages were heart-wrenching. The theme was similar. They felt self-concious of their stretch marks and did their best to keep them covered in public. Their messages indicated that they felt stretch marks made their bodies ugly, disfigured, and unappealing. For them, seeing a beautiful fitness model like Natalie Benson in a magazine with stretch marks on her body was shocking. While each story was unique, there was one sentiment each woman shared. They thought the picture of Natalie Benson was beautiful and they thanked us for publishing it. More importantly, they all felt more accepting of their own stretch marks because we published that picture. We all possess a need to belong. As we journey through life we pick up scars along the way, physical and emotional. Each scar is an experience and for many, a hope not realized. While others may have similar scars, ours are unique to us and for that reason, we can often feel alone. Perhaps the pursuit of perfection then is not about perfection at all. Perhaps it’s been a pursuit of fantasy perpetuated throughout the world by those selling something they believe will sell better if its attached to a fantasy. Real women get stretch marks and real women get wrinkles and bruises. They struggle with things, get scars, and feel alone more often than not. We don’t help anyone as a magazine if we don’t tell the truth, present the truth, and speak the truth about, and for, women and fitness. We feel that presenting a fantasy as an ideal to aspire to will help you get through your day or build you up and help you feel like you belong. Publishing Natalie Benson’s image wasn’t a statement, it was just another picture we routinely publish in the issues of our magazine. We know the truth. We know the models we work with now and have worked with in the past for other publications. We know the process that went into making those images look the way they did, the stories we didn’t tell so we could tell the “better” ones. Those advertisements, layouts and magazines did and still do look beautiful. We just wanted Bellafit to be beautiful in a different way. Not neccesarily better, you get to say that if you feel that way, we don’t. This is just what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it. So yes, you will see models with their stretch marks in Bellafit. You’ll read the honst truth about their lives and struggles and how they overcame. You can expect us to be real and truthful. We realize what we publish in Bellafit may not be what you want and we understand. But if you want to be a part of something that is intended to help women love and accept themselves just as they are, and give them a home here among others like them, we publish Bellafit Magazine for you. We offer a magazine and a community of friends where you can find motivation, new ideas, knowledge, experience, and of course many beautiful pictures of real people we would like you to meet. Download the APP: https://itunes.apple/us/app/bellafit-magazine/id909481109?mt=8
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 19:16:24 +0000
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