In 2013, Lucy Hart decided to shake things up on social media with her own take on the classic “before and after” photos. Instead of the typical images of sad, overweight women in swimsuits looking miserable, Lucy flipped the script. She shared a “before” photo of herself in a bikini at a bodybuilding contest, and an “after” shot of her glowing, candidly posed in natural light, looking absolutely radiant.
Her message? Even with what society often deems a “perfect body,” Lucy found true happiness and peace without it. This powerful perspective resonated with countless women, and her photos quickly went viral.
Lucy soon found herself in interviews and television features discussing her groundbreaking post. It became clear that she had touched on a universal issue — body image struggles that women everywhere grapple with. Driven to delve deeper into this topic, she created the documentary Embrace: The Film. In this project, Lucy travels across the globe, engaging with women from all walks of life to explore their feelings about their bodies and discover ways to foster self-love.
The Impact of Body Image on Women
From a young age, girls are bombarded with messages that instill body hatred. We obsess over every curve and contour, often engaging in dieting and exercise that leads to self-loathing. The harsh reality is that this mindset is self-defeating — we can never truly “win” because the standards are rigged against us.
The concept of a “perfect body” is entirely fictional, shaped by manipulated images in the media. Even if we achieve a certain weight or body shape (and let’s be honest, who even decided what that shape is?), we eventually face the inevitable march of time, prompting a new fight against aging — just as impossible as striving for perfection.
Inspiring Future Generations
The focus on our appearances drains our energy and distracts us from our true potential. Many of us, especially mothers, watch our daughters dance and play freely, unbothered by how they look. It breaks our hearts to think that, one day, they might feel the same shame we do about our bodies. Lucy’s documentary aims to inspire us — the mothers — to embrace our bodies so that our daughters can learn to do the same. As she tells her daughter in the film, “Sweetheart, don’t waste a single day at war with your body. Just embrace it.”
For more insights into Lucy’s journey and her Body Image Movement, check out her Facebook page, or see where you can catch a screening of Embrace here. If you’re interested in more about home insemination, this blog post might be an excellent read. Also, for those exploring the world of pregnancy, the WHO provides valuable information on pregnancy that can be found here.
Summary
Lucy Hart’s journey of embracing her body sparked a movement, leading her to create the documentary Embrace. The film explores women’s struggles with body image and encourages self-love, aiming to inspire future generations, especially daughters, to appreciate their bodies.