When I was awarded 2023 Australian of the Year, a lot of doors started opening.
Immediately after stepping off the stage in Canberra — with a racing heart, sweaty hands and an enormous grin — my phone and inbox started pinging. They basically didn’t stop for the next 365 days as the media, corporations, schools and community groups reached out to join our movement and spread the message that it’s time to stop being at war with our bodies, and start showing them gratitude and kindness.
If it sounds overwhelming, well, it was. But it was also incredibly invigorating to have such a groundswell of interest and commitment to a national discussion about body image.
Amidst all of that chaos, there were a couple of invitations that stood out because they were to establishments that I never, ever, dreamt I would get to visit.
First up: Harvard University.
Sure, no biggie. It’s just one of the oldest and most prestigious universities IN THE WORLD! Now I must admit that this invitation didn’t come directly addressed to me, it went to my colleague, friend, scientific mastermind and co-founder of The Embrace Collective, Dr Zali Yager. Zali was invited to attend Harvard for a screening of the Embrace Kids documentary, which she worked on with me as the Body Image Advisor.
Zali was invited to attend and introduce the film, which was screened for a room of academics. So off I went as her plus one! I was doing a good job blending in with all of the academics until I asked where the gift shop was because I wanted to buy a Harvard t-shirt! Ah, such a me thing to do!
Next up: The White House.
Ok this invitation did come addressed to me! I was invited by the President of the United States to attend The White House for a State Dinner. It’s a very big, very fancy event attended by Australian and American leaders, politicians, business people, artists and musicians. The invitation said I could bring someone along, and because my incredible husband put his hand up to manage our four kids, two cats and one dog at home, there was only one other person I wanted to ask … you guessed it, Zali.
I figured an invitation to The White House was a nice way to rebalance the ledger after she got me into Harvard! At the dinner, everyone was walking into The White House clutching their sparkly handbags, but Zali and I were clutching our free evidence-informed resources and a stack of our Embrace Kids books. We weren’t just there for the celebrities and the ribs (as delicious as they were) we were there to let the world know that we have practical solutions to big problems.
So yes, while we were crazy excited to walk through those doors, I can assure you that we made every moment we were in these influential institutions count. At the end of the day, it was no different to walking into a school hall or a community event way back home in South Australia. We had a message to share, one that the world desperately needed to hear, and with Zali’s scientific prowess and my passion for storytelling, we delivered it together.
At the dinner, everyone was walking into The White House clutching their sparkly handbags, but Zali and I were clutching our free evidence-informed resources and a stack of our Embrace Kids books. We weren’t just there for the celebrities and the ribs (as delicious as they were) we were there to let the world know that we have practical solutions to big problems.
So yes, while we were crazy excited to walk through those doors, I can assure you that we made every moment we were in these influential institutions count. At the end of the day, it was no different to walking into a school hall or a community event way back home in South Australia. We had a message to share, one that the world desperately needed to hear, and with Zali’s scientific prowess and my passion for storytelling, we delivered it together.
