On a Wednesday evening in January 2023, the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, announced in front of a packed event and live TV cameras that the 2023 Australian of the Year was … me.
And just like that, I was thrust onto the stage, in front of the camera and under the spotlight.
Was it terrifying? Exhilarating? Humbling? Overwhelming? Yes. All of that and much, much more!
I had to quickly get over any hang-ups I had, like imposter syndrome and the unconventional path that led me to this stage. I knew I had bucketloads of passion, drive and commitment that helped me get here. But most importantly, I had one hell of an important message to share.
So, I took a deep breath and grabbed the moment with both hands.
That night, I told Australia that we were facing a paediatric emergency, with 70% of Australian school kids considering body image to be their number one concern. It’s a truly awful statistic, and our kids deserve better.
I’d been dreaming about being awarded this title for months. I had so many plans bubbling away for how I would use this moment to lead a national conversation on body image. I wanted to inspire and educate every Australian about the importance of fuelling, moving, appreciating and being kind to their bodies. To learn how to embrace them.
What followed was a 365-day whirlwind adventure. I did hundreds of media interviews and events, took 87 flights, and even scored an invitation to The White House.
But it certainly wasn’t all glitz and glamour. I had some critics who’d clearly never seen up-close the heartbreak and distress of living with body image issues and eating disorders, or experienced the immeasurable harm they cause to sufferers and their loved ones.
In these moments, I focussed on the fact that my message was important. I knew exactly who I was there to help, so I focussed on them and blocked out the noise.
I’m proud to have used the opportunity to shake things up. With this platform, we’ve been able to reach one million kids around the country and started a national conversation about body image that will make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of our young people — now, and for generations to come.
The driving force behind each keynote, project launch or media interview was the importance of preventing the issue at the start. Yes, we’ve reached more than one million kids, but the work has only just begun.
When I look back on this year, it won’t just be about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and fancy events. It will be about the conversations I had with Australians everywhere — from school kids in the Australian outback, teachers in South Australia to nurses in Tasmania — and the stories they shared about how important it is to treat our bodies with kindness, compassion and gratitude.
We built an incredible momentum for change in 2023, and I’m working my heart out to keep it moving. We have millions more people to reach all around the world, with stories and resources that will change their lives. Let’s go!
