The pressure put on women to look a certain way is a problem as old as time. Unfortunately, it also seems to be the one constant that transcends time, place, age, race, gender and every other qualifier. How can women live their best lives while constantly being judged and compared to impossible standards? From waif-thin runways bodies to curvy Kardashian silhouettes, it is hard to feel confident when the bar is artificially propped up by personal trainers, dieticians, plastic surgeons and glam teams as big as NFL rosters.
Where do women turn for a fresh perspective? Enter Sarah Nicole Landry, also known as The Birds Papaya, who is making it her mission to daily reinvent what it means to be a modern woman. Instead of flooding timelines with more unrealistic expectations, this Canadian mother of three (almost four) is using her social media platforms and podcast to share honest moments that are so raw and real, it makes fans feel like they know her personally. Her honest and fresh approach on topics, like divorce, weight loss and feeling overwhelmed, is welcome in a landscape that often fails to make women feel good in their own skin. Sarah inspires her fans by showing them that imperfections are actually quite…perfect. We sat down with the busy, and pregnant, influencer to discuss body positivity.
You wear so many hats that it is hard to keep up with you. From your podcast to public speaking to being a mom and currently pregnant, you are always on the go. What was your motivation to become a body-positive activist?
To be honest, I’ve tried to distance myself from the words ‘body-positive’ because it is often group labeled and built upon for women like me. I have a regular average body, with cellulite and some rolls, yet I can still fit into society quite easily with thin privilege. I recognize now that body positivity is a movement meant to raise awareness around not just body normalities but human rights issues for those who aren’t fitting into the mold society has set for them. Instead, I like words like ‘self-love’, ‘body neutrality’ or ‘existing in a body’! However, to answer your question, I’m just someone who does what she loves and does it genuinely and with passion. I know how much shame over my body, my relationships and my mistakes have held me back in life, and caused me to sideline myself from everyday opportunities. I try to push myself and show up for myself every day, while doing what I love to do.
With an Instagram following of over 1.6 million, what impact has social media had on your life?
I’ve been working in this field for over a decade, and it certainly has changed over the years. Surprisingly though, my overall desires haven’t changed much at all. I love the human connection. I love storytelling. I love helping others not feel so alone. On the business side, my growth on social media has allowed me to quit my day job, and work for myself full-time, which feels absolutely amazing, even with its own downfalls, like the lack of an ‘off button’.
What would you say to the people who are saying that the body positivity movement is going too far and encouraging unhealthy habits?
I think too often we assume health by looking at a body. Eating disorders and lack of access or income can be massively impactful to someone’s weight or health. It’s also been proven that shaming someone for being unhealthy does not have a motivating impact but rather the opposite. I think learning and understanding the differences that exist in human rights, along with the social acceptance and respect for all bodies, can help us bridge the gaps without the need to shame anyone because of how they look.
What are some wise words that you can give women who are struggling with their self-image?
I am wildly in love with the practice of self-love but without the chase of a feeling of love. We too often string love to a feeling instead of an action. What love is in action, is different for each of us. Whether it’s a good walk in the morning, increased self-awareness, an evaluation into our social influences, wearing makeup, not wearing makeup, rocking a bikini for the first time or wearing a full muumuu dress to the beach… None of it matters. What matters is you do what’s right for you and do what you can to love yourself enough to grasp how worthy you are to exist in your own life.
You share a lot of personal information with your followers. Do you think talking about insecurities can help people overcome them?
I absolutely do! I think shame operates like a secret. Once you tell a secret, it loses its power. For years, my secret or shame was my stretch marks. Until I showed them, and then other women did too, and suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone. Suddenly, I didn’t think about them so much.
What do you think of the label ‘plus-size’?
I’ve been plus size before, and it’s not easy. You’re often cornered away from shopping with your peers or your options are limited. I think size inclusivity is the way to go. Finding ways for us to shop together, and experience fashion and style on diverse bodies. I think it’s something we will see changing a lot in the next few years.
To learn more about the incredible Sarah Nicole Landry visit The Birds Papaya website at https://www.thebirdspapaya.com or add her on Instagram @thebirdspapaya
