Meet the Curvy Teen Model Inspiring Young Women Everywhere
Model Barbie Ferriera is motivating other teens to be more comfortable with their bodies. (Photo: Aerie/YouTube)
A teen model is speaking out about keeping it real — and is quickly becoming a role model for young women who struggle with body image.
Barbie Ferriera stars in a just-released YouTube video for Aerie’s #AerieREAL campaign. (The teen lingerie and apparel company famously stopped retouching its photos in January 2014, and offers extended sizes.)
“I am unapologetically myself, no matter what anyone’s opinion is,” she says in the video while lounging by the pool in a stunning, strappy, bright pink bikini. “Not retouching the images is something that’s very important to me — people knowing that, that’s what I look like without anyone’s perception of what my body needs to look like.”
The message is striking a chord with girls and young women.
Recently, a fan wrote Ferriera a touching and personal note, which the model posted on Twitter today (Jan. 21) with the caption “Why I wake up every morning.”
“Hey! My little sister struggles with serious body image issues and today we looked through your account together. Thank you so much for being such an inspiration to young women everywhere,” the message begins.
A fan’s touching message to body-positive teen model Barbie Ferriera. (Photo: Twitter/@boredbarbara)
The post continues with a quote from the fan’s sister: “Hello my name is Addison and I am 8 years old. Before I looked at your videos and pictures I felt bad about myself. I felt that skinny was better than curvy but now that I’ve watched your videos and photos I know I’m wrong. Thank you for reminding me I’m beautiful!”
Related: Model Iskra Lawrence’s Guide to Loving Your Body
Comments on Ferriera’s video for Aerie are overwhelmingly positive — an anomaly in the acerbic world of YouTube comments. One user writes, “Barbie! You are so inspiring and I’m really proud of everything you’ve done and everything you will do! Please always stay true to yourself because I couldn’t be more thankful for you!”
Ferriera, who is signed with Wilhemina modeling agency, has also spoken out about embracing the label “plus-sized.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being plus-sized, I don’t think the word is negative at all,” she says in a video for Missguided+ (where, by the way, she looks incredibly fierce). “I wanted to wear whatever I wanted to wear, and if someone told me I couldn’t because of my size, I think that’s super-irrelevant. It’s clothes, wear whatever you think is cute.”
You keep doing you, Barbie.
Watch: Real Talk with Barbie Ferriera
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Body-Peace Resolution is Yahoo Health’s January initiative to motivate you to pursue wellness goals that are not vanity-driven, but that strive for more meaningful outcomes. We’re talking strength, mental fitness, self-acceptance — true and total body peace. Our big hope: This month of resolutions will inspire a body-peace revolution. Want to join us? Start by sharing your own body-positive moments on social media using the hashtag #bodypeaceresolution
