In addition to booking steadily bigger roles, Shannon Purser (RIP Barb!) is becoming known as an open book. And I mean that in the good way. Shannon has drawn needed attention to issues like anxiety, self-harming and bisexuality. As we’ve said many times, attention leads to awareness. Shannon has once again opened up and this time the subject is body image. After having enough of body shaming comments on her social media, Shannon asked everyone to stop commenting on her figure altogether, assuring people that she doesn’t need anyone else to approve her body.
Shannon Purser says she’s been at “war” with her body since age 11 – but she’s making improvements.
The actress, who played Barb on Stranger Things and is in the new show Rise, called out the body shamers on social media who are only making her self-esteem issues worse.
Purser, 20, tweeted honestly about her insecurities on Tuesday.
“Please do not ever make comments about my weight or tell me that I look good or bad because of it. I look good now. I am happy. I don’t need you to approve my body. Thanks,” she wrote.
Purser added later that she’s been at “war” with her self-image since her middle school years.
“My war with my body started at age 11 and soon all I wanted was to be thin. I’ve struggled with that insecurity almost every day since,” she said. “I still have bad days, but I’m much better now. I hope one day we’ll learn to be kind to our bodies and teach our kids to do the same
She also offered to talk with her followers about confidence and self-esteem – but warned them against criticism.
“That being said, if you ever wanna have a discussion about body positivity – I’m all ears! I just prefer not to hear comments about my body, even if they’re well-intentioned,” she said.
I’ll be honest, body-focused posts are really difficult for me. I, too, have been at war with my body image since my childhood, probably beginning around age eight. And the battle has been unhealthy in all the ways that weight battles usually are. You don’t want to hear the reasons any more than I want to list them. But I feel Shannon here 100%. “Concern” is simply not a plausible reason for a stranger to mention someone’s weight. It may sound strange to hear someone say they don’t want compliments on their figure but understand that if this is truly a battle for them, they aren’t hearing a compliment in the way you intend it. Even kind words can become something the person uses against themselves. I’m thrilled Shannon said that she looks good to herself and is happy. I’m sure that was a long road for her to get to that place and I applaud all the work it must have taken her to get there.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
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