Nicole Joy describes herself as a multi-passionate person, which is obvious through the energy in her voice! She is a creator of self-dubbed “healthy-ish” recipes and has published two cookbooks, containing whole foods that simply don’t compromise on taste. We hear all about what inspired Nicole to truly take off in the health and wellness space, through opening up about her own past body issues.

Developing a healthy relationship with your body

A teacher by trade, Nicole discusses how she talks to teenage girls who might be going through their own body issues, and how they can begin to create a healthy relationship with their bodies, and the food they are eating. She encompasses both mindfulness and intuitive eating, both aspects that don’t feature on the school curriculum! She keeps her lessons away from calorie counting, dieting and other strict measures, and rather spreads a message based on a ‘healthy balanced’ approach.

Even models have body issues

We discuss the hard-hitting facts that even models face their own issues surrounding their looks. Nicole opens up about how models may even suffer more, from always being in the limelight. Nicole tells us stories from her swimwear modelling days, and how she’ll never forget walking down the runway, and overhearing a table of men yell out an obscene comment about her appearance, which has stuck with her to this very day.

You’ll hear all the ways in which social media influences our teenagers growing up, and how vastly different it was from when we grew up. Through filters, dazzling Snapchat features and carefully constructed poses, it can be hard to deal with the actual reality of the way you look, when there’s constant pressure from unrealistic images on Instagram and Facebook.

Nicole keeps it real and bravely posts real life photos on her Instagram, to help spread her powerful message. We talk all about the positive and negative aspects of the body image movement. There’s so much power in enhancing all the parts of you that you love!

Dressing for your body type

Speaking of enhancing the parts of your body that you love, we discuss the importance of dressing to flaunt your best assets, and how to play down the ones you don’t love as much. You know your strongest assets, so work with what you’ve got to feel amazing. Dressing to impress, is clearly evident in teenage girls that crave to dress like one another, and keep up with all the latest fashion styles, regardless of their body shape. There’s not always someone there to honestly let them know that short shorts may not work for them. This is where we need more Nicole’s to inspire them to dress to suit their own unique body type!

Advice for those struggling with body issues

We hear some of the best tips about how to cope with negative feelings around body issues. Nicole tells us the importance of finding role models, but not following anyone on social media that makes you feel worse, rather than inspired to change. We also look at protecting social media spaces, highlighting all of your features that you have control over, and incorporating daily habits into your life. Of course, immersing yourself into your greatest passions will set a rocket of motivation! Just remember, change doesn’t come with the click of a button, it’s a journey and a process.

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