Growing up, I remember being critical about my body at a very young age. Whether I was comparing myself to friends, struggling with how clothes fit me, or experiencing bullying, I quickly became aware that my size existed outside of society’s conventional expectations.

In seventh grade, a classmate called me fat in front of my peers. I was led to believe that something about my body was different in a bad way. Desperate to be seen as worthy and desirable, I tried virtually every diet without any change. Toward the end of my sophomore year of high school, I developed bulimia. I battled this eating disorder for five years to the point where I started to notice some scary physical effects. This was when I decided to start my recovery to take back control of my life. In doing so, I discovered all the amazing things I had never allowed myself to see—my personality, humor, smile, ability to love, empathy, and dedication to helping others. These are what contribute to my self-worth, not the size of my body or the number on the scale.

Through the process of obtaining my B.Ed. in Elementary Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I realized the lack of eating disorder education and awareness within schools. Reflecting on my own personal experience, I wondered how I might have been able to avoid my struggle had I received better education on what eating disorders are, how they affect our bodies, and the relationship between physical, mental, and emotional health. I decided to pursue my Master of Social Work (MSW) in Integrated Health at California State University, Long Beach, where I developed an eating disorder curriculum for adolescents in hopes of preventing others from going through what I did. I am now an Associate Clinician specializing in eating disorders and am working toward becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I combine my professional practice with public speaking, social media, and modeling to embody the example I wish I would have had growing up.

Modeling

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