Press | Michelle Elman

August 2018

'I was floating above my bed': Woman reveals what it's like to DIE after she flat-lined following brain surgery - and insists it feels 'peaceful and calm'

A woman has revealed what it felt like to die after she flat-lined following brain surgery. Michelle Elman, 25, was born hydrocephalus, an excess of cerebrospinal fluid, and doctors later discovered that she was also born with a brain tumour. Read more...

Loose Women TV Appearance

Body Confidence Coach Michelle Elman is on Loose Women today to talk to the panel about her new book "Am I Ugly?" and to share her tips on body confidence. Watch here

11 women who will inspire you to feel confident in a bikini, whatever your shape

The only secret to getting a 'bikini body' is physically putting your body in a bikini. But, despite this, many women suffer low self-esteem when it comes to the prospect of putting on a two-piece for the beach. It's not surprising, given society's constant reinforcement that small = desirable, but it's time we started taking charge. Read more...

Woman shows off scars and stomach to prove all bodies are gym bodies.

A woman is encouraging all women to feel confident in the gym by sharing her own imperfect “gym body.” Michelle Elman, a body confidence coach and author of Am I Ugly?addressed the stigma that only people that are “in shape” belong in the gym on Twitter, where she wrote: “To the woman who feels excluded by the fitness world, movement is not about the results.” Read more...

Channel 5 Live TV Interview

“The worst feeling for me was the pity…I didn’t want to be pitied”. After undergoing 15 surgeries, this woman decided she’d had enough of hiding her scars. Michelle Elman now helps other women to be body confident by embracing their flaws. Watch more...

Who is Michelle Elman, what is the body confidence coach’s book Am I Ugly? about and what’s her Instagram?

Michelle Elman, 25, is a body confidence coach and an award-winning body positive activist. She began her career in 2014, establishing Mindset For Life, and starting as a life coach. Read more...

ITV Loose Women: 'I was FLOATING above my body' guest explains what happens when you DIE

LOOSE WOMEN had a guest on today’s edition of the show explain her difficulties with body image. However, the topic of conversation turned to life after death with the guest describing her experience. Read more...

Woman proves fitness selfies aren't just for one body type

Forget the gruelling reps and breathless treadmill sessions, for many, one of the most difficult parts of going to the gym is the other gym-goers. Often, the buff bodies that surround us only seem to dishearten us instead of motivate us, and it’s this mindset that body confidence coaches attempt to curb. Well if there’s one body coach who practices what she preaches, it’s Michelle Elman. Read more...

Woman Shows Off Scarred Stomach to Prove All Bodies Are Gym Bodies

The archetype for a "gym rat" probably looks a little something like an extremely sculpted person seemingly effortlessly gliding on an elliptical or grunting through 300-pound leg presses. Being fit is often associated with a level of morality and a certain physique, so much so that when you don't fit that archetype, you feel like you "don't belong." But body activist and author Michelle Elman is here to smash those preconceived notions to smithereens. Read more...

July 2018

Her stomach badly scarred from a childhood illness, Michelle never dared wear bikinis - but she is now on a mission to stop us hating our bodies

Michelle Elman first wore a bikini at ten but her friends were shocked by her scar.Since then, she didn't wear another bikini until training as a life coach at 21. She'd been born with hydrocephalus, had 13 operations by the time she was 10. She now realises the importance of embracing your story, and feels liberated. Read more...

How having 15 surgeries before the age of 20 made me love my body

Waking up in a hospital bed, again, was an expected but much needed wake-up call. I was 19 years old and in my second year of university at the University of Bristol when I came round from my 15th surgery. Over the course of my life, I’ve had 15 surgeries; from a brain tumour to a punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, a cyst in my brain and a condition called Hydrocephalus. Read more...

Woman left covered in scars from 15 childhood operations reveals why she ditched plans for plastic surgery… and learned to embrace her ‘flaws’ instead

Michelle Elman, 24, who is from Hong Kong and now lives in London, reveals how she learned to love her scars. Withscars covering large parts of her chest, head, stomach and ankles, a teenage Michelle Elman used to be desperate for plastic surgery to "fix" her body. Read more...

Am I Ugly? TV Appearance

Michelle Elman is on London Live today to talk about the growing problem of body confidence and how her latest book "Am I Ugly?" seeks to address the problem. Watch more...

June 2018

Meet The Women On A Mission To Change The Way You Feel

They are a rare breed but they are the business women making a mark on how you feel, and are using their day jobs to improve self-esteem and body image in the UK. Read more...

To pube or not to pube: Why do women have no choice when it comes to body hair?

“I definitely think there’s a double standard between men and women when it comes to body hair,” says author and body confidence coach, Michelle Elman. “In adverts for shavers for women they don’t even show body hair because its seen as so unattractive.” Read more...

Simply Be | Holiday Wear Social Media Content

Bloggers Michelle Elman and Chloe In Curve flew to Rome with Simply Be to shoot for their #SimplySummer campaign. The following content was shot for to display Simply Be's best occassionwear and the content was used across their social media and website. Watch more...

Fubar Radio with Calum McSwiggan

Calum was back in the studio this week, joined by body confidence coach michelle Elman. She shared stories of growing up with various physical battles to overcome learning to love scars and inspiring others Read more...

50 Body Positive Influencers You Should Follow

As a body confidence coach, Michelle Elman knows all about ways to raise self-esteem. She often posts messages and facts on fat on her Instagram page, @scarrednotscared to inspire others. “The fear of fat not only drives body image issues, but a disordered relationship with eating that can lead to broader psychological consequences,” she tells Verywell. “My aim is to help people realize that their body is good enough right now, and it’s important that they start living their life right now.” Read more...

I’m Scarred, Not Scared | SHAKE MY BEAUTY

A SCARRED body confidence coach campaigns for other women to embrace both their bodies and scars. From a young age, Michelle Elman had 15 surgeries to correct an obstructed bowel, a punctured intestine, resect a brain tumour and remove a cyst in her brain. Michelle, from London, who also lives with hydrocephalus, quickly became aware of how different her body was to her peers and spent years hiding her scars away. After coming to terms with the trauma her body had been through, Michelle, now 24, decided to bare all and embrace her bikini body. Watch more...

May 2018

Simply Be | Occasionwear Social Media Content

Missguided's Love The Skin You Are In Campaign

Scarring, birthmarks, freckles - they're often considered to be something to be kept hidden. But a fashion brand is hoping to change that. Channel 5 News speak to model Polly Ellens and body confidence coach Michelle Elman. Watch more...

April 2018

Bringing Sexy Fat

BBC Three speaks to young fat people about the body positivity movement and how this inspires them to love themselves and celebrate diverse body types. Through dancing we see them enjoy their bodies and take this movement from Instagram to the dance floor. These people are busting the stereotypes that surround fat people and owning their bodies through jiggling them in the club. Watch more...

Blogger covered in scars after 15 operations reveals how she found the courage to finally wear a bikini

BODY hang-ups affect all types of women, but for Michelle Elman the struggle to accept the way she looks was an even tougher journey. The blogger, 24, shared her first bikini picture in 2015 - and has since become a viral sensation. Read more...

March 2018

7 Photos That Truly Celebrate The Beauty Of Scars

There’s no better way to kick off spring than with a photo shoot celebrating the fact that every body is a bikini body. On Thursday, body confidence coach Michelle Elman posted stills on Instagram from a new photo campaign featuring a diverse group women looking fierce in swimsuits, scars and all. Read more...

New Campaign Strives to Raise Awareness For Those Living with Scars and Disfigurements

A new campaign is urging people living with disfigurements to embrace and love their scars. Love Disfigure was created by Sylvia Mac from Stepney, London, as a way of raising awareness and offering support for those with disfigurements who may not feel confident in their appearance. Read more...

Body Positivity Isn’t a Fad, It’s a Revolution of Self-Love

Body positivity is about adopting more forgiveness and releasing any negative judgments that have accumulated over the years. Michelle Elman, a body confidence coach and activist said, "Everyone is made differently and it would be really confusing if we all looked the same. How would we tell each other apart?" She advocates that when you're called fat, allow this "to open up the conversation and use it as an opportunity for body positivity.". Read more...

The woman behind @ScarredNotScared on why it’s important to bring scars into body positivity

Michelle Elman, the woman behind the body positive @ScarredNotScared Instagram account that boasts more than 80,000 followers and counting, isn’t just passionate about spreading body positivity on the internet — it’s literally her job. Read more...

This woman is tackling fashion’s treatment of disfigurement

Yesterday afternoon, Sylvia Mac stood in front of a room full of people to celebrate the swimwear campaign she’s created to “firstly challenge the fashion industry to become inclusive of people with disfigurements and differences. Read more...

Body Pos Project: Michelle Elman

Michelle Elman is a body confidence coach and body positive activist based in London. She has a robust Youtube and started the hashtag #ScarredNotScared. Read more...

Inspiring Women of London

London is more than where the Queen lives. It’s about real people making a big difference in the world. Women from all walks of life. All over the world women are standing up for what they believe in, building amazing communities, organisations, and businesses. From inspiring young girls to learn something new, to helping thousands of women, here are some inspiring women of London. Read more...

Diese Frau spricht Menschen den Mut zu, ihre Narben offen zu zeigen

Michelle Elman ist das Gesicht – und der Körper – hinter dem Projekt Scarred Not Scared. Sie zeigt ihre Narben auf Instagram. Und bekräftigt andere, es ihr gleich zu tun. Read more...

February 2018

Half Of Children Are Bullied Over Their Appearance, Former Victims Explain The Lasting Impact

And it isn’t just a problem faced by primary school children, Michelle Elman, 24, from London was body shamed throughout her secondary education. And not just by her peers. “One particular teacher would always make comments about my size in front of my friends,” she explained. Read more...

Blogger: 'I have always been the fat friend, but I have never been that girl'

Michelle Elman is a body positive blogger who’s getting real about what it means to be the “fat friend.” The British confidence coach has built a large online following due to her honesty surrounding body confidence, but she hasn’t always loved herself. Read more...

January 2018

The stories behind their scars: Brave men and women share how fires, abuse and illness altered their appearance forever in deeply personal revelations

Michelle (pictured) begun accepting her body at age 21, after 15 surgeries, a brain tumour, punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, brain cyst and a condition called Hydrocephalus. She says she grew up without realising her body was different. Read more...

Yours Clothing Advert For Loose Women

Michelle Elman is featured alongside 11 other women in a commercial for Yours Clothing that was aired in January 2018 in sponsorship of Loose Women. Watch more...

Grace F. Victory to Host Self-Care Event

The upcoming session will consist of a panel where Grace, Lucy Moon, Tanya Compas and Michelle Elman will talk about their self-care tips and tricks as well as a live Q&A session taking questions from both the live audience and those watching online via a live stream. Read more...

Body Positive Resolutions For A Healthier You

With the beginning of every year, there is a phrase that dominates our attention nonstop: “New Year, New Me.”

Well this year, I want to challenge us all to something different. Instead of setting the same old resolutions about cutting sugar, gluten, or dairy out of your diet — or losing X number of pounds — we should chime in for a more body positive resolution: “New Year, Body Positive Me.”

8 ways to trick yourself into feeling more confident

Michelle uses social media to share advice with her followers on how to feel more confident every day. Her Instagram page (@scarrednotscared) is full of inspiring quotes that aren't cheesy, along with real photos of herself that promote body acceptance and positivity.”

December 2017

These Women Shared Photos That Disney Needs to See ASAP

Frustrated with Disney's tendency to typecast its princesses as straight size, Michelle Elman, a 24-year-old body-confidence coach from London, England, (aka @ScarredNotScared) and Amy Wooldridge, a 27-year-old body-positive advocate from Chelmsford, England, (aka @amyeloisew) recently dressed up as the kind of characters they'd like to see more of and posted the photos on Instagram this week. Read more...

Body-positive bloggers dressed up as princesses to ask Disney for more diversity

Two body positivity influencers are calling for change. Michelle Elman, the blogger behind the Scarred Not Scared Instagram, and body positivity advocate Amy Woolridge have asked Disney to hurry up and create a Disney princess that represents them – one that isn’t super thin and has scars. Read more...

Women Fight Back Against Disney's Lack of Body Diversity With Princess Photo Shoot

To show little girls that beauty doesn't come in only one body type, two body-positive Instagrammers staged a Disney princess photo shoot, and the results show just how powerful a plus-size princess could be. English gals Michelle Elman and Amy Wooldridge, both in their twenties, star in the pictures dressed as Snow White and Rapunzel. Read more...

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Women Fight Back Against Disney's Lack of Body Diversity With Princess Photoshoot

According to Cosmopolitan, the shoot was Michelle's idea. "Thinness is definitely equated to beauty, so when I started gaining weight due to my surgeries, I knew that automatically exempted [me from being beautiful] — especially with my scars," said Michelle, who has surgical scars on her torso and head from the 15 surgeries she underwent from ages 1 to 19 to treat a brain tumor, punctured intestine, obstructed bowel, brain cyst, and a condition called hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain). Read more...

My Instagram Feed Needed a Reality Check, So I Followed These 11 Instagrammers

Michelle Elman is one of the body-positive Instagram activists that I’ve written about the most; she’s always sharing new perspectives on the movement or expanding it in interesting ways, and I love staying tapped in to everything she has going on. Read more...

This Woman Thinks There Should Be A 'Fat' Disney Princess—What Do You Think?

Body confidence coach Michelle Elman posted a photo on Instagram of herself and a friend dressed up like Disney princesses, but it’s what she wrote in the caption that’s grabbing people’s attention. “We need a fat princess,” she wrote. “Growing up with Disney, my heart hurt a little. None of them looked like me.”. Read more...

Every Scar Has a Story, and Sophie Mayanne Is Here to Tell It

“I grew up without realizing my body was different—until one day, I wore a bikini and was met with looks of pity and shock,” Michelle Elman, of the body-positive Instagram account Scarred Not Scared (@scarrednotscared), wrote in the caption accompanying Mayanne’s portrait of her. “I thought the solution was to hide them and never talk about them, but in fact, what helped me was the exact opposite.”. Read more...

Dear Disney: It's Time For A Plus-Size Princess

When we look back on our favorite childhood movies, many of us probably think fondly of Disney movies like The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, or Sleeping Beauty. The common denominator in all of those movies isn't just a princess, but a thin princess. Read more...

HoZ scoops body-confidence star Elman's memoir

Head of Zeus’ new lifestyle imprint Anima has snapped up the rights to body-positive activist and Instagram star Michelle Elman’s "incredible" debut memoir. Elman’s memoir, Am I Ugly? is described as “an exploration of how to deal with society’s idealised physical images when you’re living with body issues”. It builds on the fact that "every month 10,000 people Google the question, ‘Am I ugly?’". The book follows her through 15 surgeries while she was growing up to the point where she finally embraces her body. Read more...

12 body-positive influencers to follow before 2017 is over

Michelle Elman of @scarrednotscared is a body-positive activist, speaker, and soon-to-be author. Follow Elman for discussions on differently abled bodies, plus-size bodies, and a heavy dose of self-love. Read more...

These Women Are Fighting Back Against Disney's Lack of Body Diversity

Disney princesses aren't exactly known for body diversity, which is why two body-positive influencers are asking Disney to create a princess who looks like them. "How amazing would it be if there was more representation in media? If children were able to watch cartoons with diversity in [them]?. Read more...

These women dressed as Disney princesses to send an important message about body positivity

The obsession with Disney princesses is real. Some people audition to act the part at Disney theme parks, while others plan their weddings around their favorite princess films. But Disney princesses never completely resonated with Michelle Elman and Amy Wooldridge, who never saw themselves in the characters on the screen.. Read more...

These bloggers dressed up as Disney princesses to demand plus-size representation

Traditionally, most Disney princesses fit the same mold: They're (usually) white and have long, frizz-free hair, smooth skin, and tiny waists.However, two bloggers have set out to prove that not all princesses have to be cut from the same cloth, and that princesses aren't determined by the size of their dress or the blemishes on their skin. Read more...

Michelle Elman & Amy Wooldridge's Message To Disney Demands More Body Positive Princesses

Two British body-positive advocates made internet waves this week when they posted photos on Instagram wearing Disney princess dresses. Michelle Elman and Amy Wooldridge's body-positive message to Disney called on the company to be more inclusive of different sizes and body types when creating their characters. Read more...

These Women Dressed Up as Plus-Size Disney Princesses to Prove Royalty Comes in All Sizes

Have you noticed that there's not much diversity amongst the Disney royalty? For starters, it wasn't until much later that we even got racially diverse princesses, like Mulan, Pocahontas, or Tiana. Even so, they're still the only representation of their culture in a sea of white princesses. And another thing -- have you noticed that all the princesses are tall and svelte? For those who grew up on Disney flicks, this likely influenced their own body image. Read more...

November 2017

My Scarred Body Reflects My Life And I Love That

I've been in and out of hospital my entire life and I have the scars to show for it. I've had 15 surgeries, a brain tumour, a punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, a cyst in my brain and a condition called Hydrocephalus that I still live with to this day. The scars are largely on my stomach and they are a physical reminder of those times in my life. I've now learnt to be proud of them but it wasn't always that way - it was the reaction from other people that I have had to learn to confront. Read more...

"I would love to see a scarred princess"

These amazing women are embracing their scars and learning to love their bodies, with the help of a studio photographer. Michelle Elman is the creator of the Scarred Not Scared campaign and has been a part of Behind The Scars since earlier this year. Read more...

Felicity Hayward launches the next #SelfLoveBringsBeautyGang

The gang features a diverse group of models including Atlanta rapper Rome Fortune (who wrote the soundtrack to the movement), disabled model Kelly Knox, TED speaker Michelle Elman, vitaligo model Bashir, London Lions basketball player Demonte Flannigan, albino model Joanne Dion, mother and plus size blogger Holly B to name a few. Read more...

I Shouldn't Have to 'Justify' My Weight By Talking About My PCOS

You probably (hopefully) know better than to comment on changes in someone's weight. Not only is it rude and inappropriate, but you have no idea how the person feels about this change or if it's related to any other health issues that are 100 percent none of your business.That's something Michelle Elman, 24, recently learned, and it's part of the reason she doesn't often discuss her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Read more...

Dear Louise Thompson, This Is What 'Body Positivity' Really Means

The body positivity movement sticks two fingers up to narrow beauty ideals: it’s about body acceptance, celebrating diversity and shutting out negativity. What it’s absolutely not about is fuelling the relentless pursuit of society’s definition of ‘perfection’, that one-size-fits-all (read: slim, toned) body type that’s so often idolised by the media. Read more...

This Online Book Club Offers a Safe Space to Learn About Fat Activism

Let’s be honest: when you’re starting to explore political movements like fat activism or feminism, they can seem pretty intimidating and scary at first. This is why Michelle Elman, a 23-year-old body confidence coach based in London, decided to start her own book club that would allow people to learn all about fat activism in a safe, easy, and enjoyable environment. Read more...

Self Love Brings Beauty V2

This is the life motto of Felicity Hayward, curve model and founder of the digital movement #SELFLOVEBRINGSBEAUTY. “I wanted to create a space for everyone. No matter what size, age, background, gender or sexuality”, she said. “The media portrays us all to have ‘flaws’. I don’t believe they exist. They are simply a way to make money off of our insecurities. I want you to celebrate your beauty. There is only one version of yourself, so you should be celebrating your individuality. Not changing it”. Read more...

October 2017

This woman is showing she's not ashamed of her scars in the most powerful way

Instagrammer Michelle Elman has had 15 surgeries throughout her lifetime. In 2015 she posted a picture in a bikini for the first time, explaining that she wants to finally show off her body, and her scars, without feeling awkward or uncomfortable. She used the hashtag #ScarredNotScared, and has since started a movement of the same name, encouraging other women to feel great about themselves. Read more...

This Body-Positive Book Club Takes the Self-Love Movement Beyond Instagram

In January, self-love blogger Michelle Elman had an idea: She wanted to start a body-positive book club. Elman (follow her at @scarrednotscared) had been involved in Instagram's body-positivity community since 2014, and she regularly shared vlogs and social-media posts about self-esteem and body image. Read more...

This Powerful Video Will Change the Way You See Your Scars

Take a second and think about your body in its entirety. Are there any marks or scars that come right to mind? I would bet my money on yes. As our bodies make their way through life, every single one will gain a scar at some time or another. So why don't we ever see scarred humans on the covers of magazines, or in fashion ads, or on the television screen? By default, this makes us feel like we should hide or get rid of our own scars. Read more...

This incredible body-positive activist is encouraging women to love their scars

Michelle Elman, a body confidence coach and trained therapist, has a different story to share and has been making headlines through her campaign #scarrednotscared, especially in a recent video which features a powerful message from real women who live with scarring. Read more...

People Who Claim Kim Kardashian Is Lying About Body Dysmorphia Are Dead Wrong, According to Experts

Michelle Elman, certified body coach, notes to CafeMom that "fans" can deeply impact a celebrity with their commentary: "I think the body shaming Kim Kardashian and many other celebrities receive is constant and most are shocked to find out that it affects them, when it shouldn't. Read more...

September 2017

The Body-Positivity Movement Needs to Talk More About Scars

When blogger Michelle Elman first joined the body-positivity community in 2014, she discovered what she felt was a glaring oversight: There wasn't much of a discussion about scars. Elman had scars of her own from past surgeries, and she wanted to talk about them—she just didn't know how. Read more...

"I Tried Really Hard To Hate My Thighs & I Just Couldn't"

A few years ago, the words "body positivity" might not have meant much to most people. But now, many of us know that body positivity is a movement to help us — especially women — learn to love our bodies as they are. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as it seems. But Michelle Elman, a certified body confidence coach and body positivity blogger, is here to prove that even though loving your body doesn't happen overnight, it can happen and probably will without you even noticing. Read more...

Body Positive Activist Michelle Elman Has #NoFilter When It Comes to Her Scars (EXCLUSIVE)

Accredited life coach and activist Michelle Elman brings a whole new meaning to #NoFilter on Instagram. The British beauty puts her scars on display on the social media platform to bring awareness to the marks that are often overlooked in the body positivity movement. Read more...

Why This Woman Wears Maternity Clothes — Even Though She's Not Pregnant

A popular Instagrammer is busting the myth that maternity clothing are only for pregnant people and encouraging her fans to wear what makes them feel best. On Tuesday, 23-year-old body confidence coach Michelle Elman posted a photorevealed in an Instagram post that she wears maternity clothing, despite the fact that she's not pregnant. Read more...

This Woman's Message Goes Out To The People Who Don't Yet Feel Self-Love When They Look In The Mirror

In 2015, I launched my campaign Scarred Not Scared with a bikini photo, putting my scars on show for the first time. Throughout my life, I’ve been in and out of hospital starting at the age of one and last being hospitalised last year for an obstructed bowel. Read more...

This Woman's Message Goes Out To The People Who Don't Yet Feel Self-Love When They Look In The Mirror

The body positivity movement has really taken off in the past few years. We see its effects on our runways, clothing racks, and advertisements. And we also see it all over social media. Influencers and regular folks alike are using their platforms to declare that they love the skin they're in regardless of their shape, size, skin color, and features traditionally thought of as "imperfections" such as acne and cellulite. Read more...

The Secret to a More Body Positive Vibe Is That There Is No Secret — It Just Takes Work

Real talk: The big stuff, the stuff that’s really going to make you happier or healthier or live longer, still requires some effort. This latest FYI comes from body-positive Scarred Not Scared Instagrammer Michelle Elman, who says that being body positive is an every-damn-day commitment. Read more...

Struggling Kmart has a new plan: change ‘plus sized’ to ‘Fabulously Sized’

Kmart is rebranding its apparel for “plus sized” women to something more celebratory: “Fabulously Sized.” Kmart’s new “I Can” ad celebrates women of all shapes and sizes and marks the expansion of its signature brands — from Joe Boxer and Basic Editions to Jaclyn Smith — to larger sizes such as 1X and 5X, Forbes reports. Read more...

August 2017

The Secret to Body Positivity Is That It Doesn’t Happen Overnight

Although Michelle Elman is a body positivity activist (follow her at @scarrednotscared), her journey to self-love didn't come easy. In fact, in a recent Instagram post, Elman detailed just how challenging and slow the process of becoming body-positive can be. Read more...

Kia Motors x Yahoo StoryTellers: How Body Confident Are They?

Kia Motors and Yahoo Storytellers have collaborated to prove that whilst every human is different, our similarities can unite us. In this episode, Michelle Elman, a body confidence coach and Janine Newberry, a model, have a conversation about body consciousness. Watch here ...

The @ScarredNotScared Instagrammer Just Busted a Huge Myth About Confidence

Body positivity is certainly a buzzy term today, and it's been embraced by celebrities and Instagram stars alike. But the process of feeling "positive" about one's body isn't always as easy as it seems on social media, and it's completely normal to have ups and downs when it comes to confidence and self-love. Read more...

This blogger got real about what body positivity DOESN'T mean

The way body positivity is often portrayed is jarring — like you just wake up one day, realize your body is beautiful, and preach body love to anyone willing to listen. Unfortunately, body positivity doesn't quite work that way. In fact, more often than not, body positivity is a journey, not a destination — and sometimes you won't feel 100% about the body you're in. Read more...

Dear Fit Moms: You Aren't 'Brave' For Showing Off Your 'Flaws'

Body image coach Michelle Elman also explains that videos like this can be disingenuous and ultimately detrimental. Read more...

July 2017

BBC Radio 5 Live Interview with Michelle Elman

Should fitness trackers be allowed in schools? A school in Stroud has taken a strong stance against all fitness trackers and banned their students from using them within the school grounds. Is this a positive move? Body Confidence Coach Michelle Elman discusses whether this is a good idea. Read more…

These Body-Positive Women Will Inspire You to Wear a Bikini with Confidence

Body confidence coach Michelle Elman took to Instagram recently to remind the world that body-positivity isn't about what you wear or what you look like, but rather how you see yourself. Read more…

Women are embracing their bikini bodies on Instagram with this powerful hashtag

With bikini season in full swing, women on Instagram are posting photos in their swimwear to remind everyone that all bodies deserve to be celebrated. Curvy Kate, a lingerie and swimwear company, started the trend with its latest social campaign, using the hashtag #MyBodyMyBFF. Read more…

Woman’s bikini photo goes viral – can you spot why?

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes and every single one has a story to tell. That was the idea behind Amalie Lee’s latest Instagram post which has been liked nearly 7,000 times. The Norwegian writer posted a photo of her and her friend, UK body confidence coach Michelle Elman, in swimwear. Read more…

June 2017

Channel 5 News Interview about Scarred Not Scared

Michelle Elman has had 15 surgeries, a brain tumour, a punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, a cyst in a brain and a condition called Hydrocephalus. It left her with a body that she was ashamed with for years so she started a campaign to help her come to terms with her looks. Matt Barbet discusses this with her live on Channel 5. Read more…

From scars and rolls to 'squishy' tummies, curvy women proudly STRIP OFF on social media in a bid to boost body confidence

Curvy women have been bravely sharing pictures of their bodies online in a bid to encourage body confidence. Hundreds of women of all shapes and sizes have stripped off to bare their 'rolls', 'squishy' tummies and 'battle scars' on social media. The images are part of a new campaign called #MyBodyMyBFF, aiming to 'reward women for loving themselves unconditionally.' Read more…

Body Positivity Activist Instagrams About Makeup-Shaming

While wearing makeup is an entirely personal choice, many seem to feel that anyone who swipes on foundation or lipstick is using it as a crutch or mask. If you’ve ever had someone suggest that your choice to wear makeup means you’re uncomfortable with your appearance, you’ll appreciate body positivity activist Michelle Elman’s latest post. Michelle recently shared a side-by-side photo of her face cut in half to prove an important point. Read more…

26 Body Positive Memes That Will Remind You To Love Yourself

Love yourself as much as you love memes! @BodyPositiveMemes, an Instagram account created by Michelle Elman aims to bring more body positivity to the meme world by changing body-shaming language and self-deprecating jokes to be less focused on diet culture. Read more…

This size 20 woman still fits into a dress she bought when she was a size 12; proves clothes sizes are BS

It’s natural to feel down in the dumps about your body after a shopping trip where all the clothes in your usual size feel too tight, and you’re forced to try one or two sizes up. But Instagrammer Michelle Elman has some words of advice for anyone who feels insecure about their dress size: it’s complete and utter BS. Read more…

This Instagram Post Nails Why Clothing Sizes Don’t Matter

We’re taught to be afraid of going up a clothing size, but there are so many reasons why that’s actually totally fine. Thankfully, blogger Michelle Elman has perfectly broken down all of them in a viral Instagram post. Read more…

This Blogger’s Viral Instagram About Why Clothing Sizes Don’t Matter Is Spot-on

Clothing sizes—that random little number on the tag—can be a thorn in the side for some women. After all, numbers tend to change with each store and sometimes with each season. Being one size in the spring at one store only to come back a season later to find you suddenly need a size or three larger is a fairly common (and for some, disheartening) thing Read more…

Body Positivity Activist Shows Clothing Sizes Mean Nothing

Size is just a meaningless number and body positivity activist Michelle Elman proved that in a recent Instagram post. The body confidence coach shared two photos side by side of her wearing the same UK size 14 dress. The first photo was taken in 2012 when Elman was a UK size 12 and the second photo of Elman was this year; she is currently a UK size 20. Read more…

Blogger’s side-by-side photos are a reminder that clothing sizes really don’t matter

It can be incredible disheartening when you go into a shop to try on some clothes in your size, and they just won’t fit. Whether they’re too tight on the arms or refuse to zip up at all – it can leave you feeling apprehensive about going into any other stores to try on anything, just in case you go through the same thing. Read more…

This Viral Photo Shows That Clothing Sizes “Don’t Mean Anything”

When body positive blogger Michelle Elman found a dress that she’s had since 2012, she decided to put it on for the hell of it — and lo and behold, it still fit, despite the fact that she had gone up in dress size over the last five years. “The dress is a size 14,” she wrote in a post to Instagram. “I bought it 5 years ago when I was a size 12. Now, I’m a size 20. And yet, I still fit it. Which just proves that NUMBERS DON’T MEAN ANYTHING.”. Read more…

This Woman Just Proved That Clothing Sizing Means Absolutely Nothing

Anyone with a body knows that clothing sizes aren’t standardized. You can be one size in one brand or store and a totally different size somewhere else. Vanity sizing is real, and it can make shopping incredibly difficult. Many folks are talking about this frustrating phenomenon and how it can affect body image, and now, blogger and body confidence coach Michelle Elman is getting in on the conversation. Read more…

This woman’s powerful ‘before and after’ photos crush myths about body positivity.

Michelle Elman, a body positivity coach, helps people who are struggling to find confidence in their own skin. After persevering through numerous medical conditions and surgeries in her own life, Elman realized a few years ago that body positivity wasn’t just about size or weight. Things like scars, birthmarks, or anything else that makes us feel different of self-conscious has to be a part of the conversation, and she tries to make the movement accessible to everyone. Read more…

Blogger Gets Real About Body Image: “A Higher Dress Size Doesn’t Mean You Are Less Lovable”

We’ve probably all been there at one point or another: You excitedly enter the fitting room of a new store with an armful of cute clothes to try on, only to discover that you were totally off on your sizing. As you attempt to squeeze and wiggle your way into those jeans, you can’t comprehend why on earth a certain size fits you at one store but doesn’t even zip up at another retailer. It can be downright disheartening, but it doesn’t have to be. Read more…

Body Positive Blogger Proves Size Is Just a Number With Striking Instagram

A body positivity coach is proving that size is just a number with some striking images. Michelle Elman, known as scarrednotscared on Instagram, says she recently found a dress in her closet that she purchased five years ago when she was a size 10 (U.K. size 12) and the dress was a size 12 (U.K. size 14). Today, Elman is a size 18 (U.K. size 20) and she was still able to fit into the same dress. Read more…

‘Numbers don’t mean anything’ Size 20 woman’s viral pic proves why dress size labels don’t matter

One woman’s image has gone viral after proving exactly why dress sizes shouldn’t matter. Body confidence coach Michelle Elman shared a picture of herself to her Instagram account to highlight the fact that she could fit into a size 14 dress she’d owned for years at both a size 12, which she was previously, and at her current size 20. Read more…

A size 16 woman fit into a size 10 dress, proving that sizes don’t mean anything

Retailers like H&M are constantly criticized for offering clothes in tiny sizes. But often, the number on a clothing label doesn’t mean much in the first place.Size 16 body positive activist Michelle Elman proved that in a recent Instagram post, which showed her wearing a size 10 dress — which she told INSIDER she bought from Juicy Couture — five years ago as a size 8. Read more…

Body confidence coach proves that clothes size labels mean NOTHING

Have you ever gone shopping and found that despite your body not changing dramatically over the space of the day, your size is varying from store to store? There has been a lot of debate in the body positivity community about clothing sizes, which anyone who has been clothes shopping on the high street can see is inconsistent. As someone who is a size 12, I've found that in some stores I usually slot into a size medium, while in others I can't squeeze my bum into the XL. Read more...

Women are embracing their bikini bodies on Instagram with this powerful hashtag

Why size may not matter: size 20 woman models size 14 dress

Michelle Elman was initially surprised a size 14 dress she wore three years ago still fit. Last week, the 23-year-old size 20 blogger posted side-by-side photos of herself wearing the same size 14 dress from two different years. Although her weight differed in the photos, she wanted to make one point clear: numbers don’t mean anything. Read more…

Why people like Khloe Kardashian need to stop talking about the term 'revenge body'

Breakups are tough. When we're wronged or feel rejected by an ex, many people may try to improve themselves, while others strive to get their former partner back. Sometimes, they might try to do both at the same time by aiming for a "revenge body."The term "revenge body" has been around for a while — Khloe Kardashian even made a show around it. Read more…

Ashley Graham Just Failed Plus-Size Women in a Big Way

As someone who was enamored of Ashley Graham from the moment she graced the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit Issue, I feel like it pains me to say this: Ashley Graham has failed fat women. “Fat is not a feeling,” body positivity coach Michelle Elman explains to CafeMom. Read more…

Body-positive bloggers are furious with Ashley Graham for saying she feels ‘fat’

Ashley Graham is often referred to as a body-positive icon. But something the supermodel said in a recent interview with People has left members of the body positive community upset.”Fat is not a feeling, it is not an emotion and therefore it cannot be felt,”body positive activist Michelle Elman told INSIDER. Read more…

Moteris įrodė, kad drabužių dydžiai visiškai nieko nereiškia: nuotraukos kalba pačios už save

Kiekvienas, perkantis drabužius, žino, kad jų dydžiai gali gerokai skirtis. Vienoje parduotuvėje tokiu pačiu dydžiu pažymėti apdarai gali visiškai neatitikti kitoje parduotuvėje parduodamų drabužių dydžio. Tai labai apsunkina apsipirkinėjimą. Nors daugybė žmonių vis dažniau apie tai kalba socialiniuose tinkluose, dalydamiesi savo patirtimi ir tai įrodančioms fotografijomis, dydžių tuštybe vadinamas fenomenas vis dar egzistuoja. Read more…

Tai turi žinoti kiekviena savo figūra susirūpinusi moteris

Nerimaujate, kad netikėtai jūsų drabužių dydis ėmė ir pakito į didesniąją pusę? Liaukitės! Būtent taip pasakytų tinklaraštininkė Michelle Elman. Socialiniame tinkle „Instagram“ sparčiai išpopuliarėjusi mergina siunčia motyvuojančias žinutes kitoms moterims ir skatina mylėti save. Read more…

May 2017

13 “Adulting” Skills Every Grown Ass Woman Should Try To Learn

There are several moments in life that can make you realize it’s time to truly “adult.” Maybe you’re handed keys to an apartment, you graduate college, or you’re faced with a big life-changing decision. Whatever the case may be, the process of “adulting” happens to all of us eventually. Read more…

April 2017

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Michelle Elman is a 23-year-old body-confidence coach from London — but she hasn’t always been in love with her own appearance. After all, it wasn’t easy for her to accept the scars from her 15 surgeries, procedures to treat a brain tumor, punctured intestine, obstructed bowel, brain cyst, and a condition called hydrocephalus, where fluid fills the brain. Read more…

Blogger Michelle Elman Destroys the “Fat Friend” Stereotype in Viral Instagram Post

Body positivity coach Michelle Elman was sick of being thought of as the ”fat friend” and all of the negative connotations that go along with the phrase, so she’s decided to do something about it. Read more…

Woman Explains Why The ‘Fat Friend’ Stereotype Is Utter Bullsh*t

A body confidence coach has called time on stereotypes relating to our boy type, saying people should never make assumptions about someone based on their size. Read more…

This Body Confidence Coach is Done With the ‘Fat Friend’ Stereotype

Body positivity coach Michelle Elman was sick of being thought of as the ”fat friend” and all of the negative connotations that go along with the phrase, so she shared an Instagram post to speak out about it. Read more…

What This Woman Wants You To Know About Being The “Fat Friend”

After experiencing multiple health issues as a child, body-confidence coach Michelle Elman gained a bunch of weight and developed a scar on her stomach. By the time she reached her preteen years, she’d begun to feel like the “fat friend,” Cosmopolitan reports. Read more…

Stop complimenting people’s weight loss – mine was a sign of severe illness

‘Wow you’ve lost so much weight. At least there is one plus side to being in hospital.’ I had been in hospital for six weeks at this point, for an obstructed bowel, and neither food nor water could pass my lips. It was my second in the space of six weeks and the rule was, unless I pooed, I wasn’t allowed anything.I was used to this routine – when it came to hospitals, I was a veteran. Read more…

This body-positive blogger wants you to know that the “fat friend” stereotype is BS

Teen movies and TV shows have long wanted us to believe that this stereotype exists. She’s the unlikely sidekick of the prettiest girl in school. She’s the person who’s ordered to take the picture, and not stand in it. She’s the insecure one, worried about how she looks. She is, according to these types of movies and shows, the “fat friend.” Read more…

In a Viral Photo, This Blogger Just Ripped the “Fat Friend” Stereotype to Shreds

When one woman was tired of being referred to as the “fat friend” of her group, she decided it was time to speak up and teach others a much-needed lesson about body insecurities. And now she’s going viral for it. Read more…

A body-positivity activist just destroyed the ‘fat friend’ stereotype once and for all

Plus-size people are often marginalized so much that they feel like the sidekick in the story of their skinnier, more conventionally attractive friends’ lives. It’s a stereotype reinforced regularly in film and TV shows, and one many bigger people unconsciously ascribe to.

But body-positivity activist Michelle Elman is literally calling bullshit. Read more…

This body positive Instagrammer is taking down the ‘fat friend’ stereotype

Michelle Elman hasn’t always been confident in her body. For 21 years of her life, she refused to wear a bikini in public, feeling uncomfortable showing scars from her 15 surgeries – for a brain tumour, a punctured intestine, a cyst on the brain, plus hydrocephalus. Read more…

This body-positive blogger wants you to know that the ‘fat friend’ stereotype is BS

Hoe het is om de “dikke” vriendin uit de vriendinnenclub te zijn

In films, tv-series en campagnes is er een standaard stereotype terug te zien: die wat dikkere vriendin. Met name actrice Rebel Wilson wordt met haar volle figuur vaak gecast voor deze stereotype rol. De Amerikaanse Michelle Elman zegt al jaren die “dikke vriendin” te zijn en doet een boekje open. Read more…

15 plus-size girls tell us how they really feel about the word ‘fat’

“You’re so fat.”This very three-word sentence has done an irreparable amount of damage on many a plus-size person’s psyche. To be fat doesn’t simply mean to be larger in the way that skinny means being smaller — it implies abnormality in a way that is… offensive. Read more…

Ela cresceu sob o estigma da “amiga gorda” e agora dá aula de autoestima nas redes

Este um estereótipo em torno da ‘menina gorda’ nos grupos de amigos”, começa dizendo a norte-americana Michelle Elman, de 23 anos, em um post que alcançou milhares de compartilhamento no Instagram esta semana, onde ela aparece só de sutiã ao lado de uma colega. A jovem é nome por trás do blog Mindset for Life, que promove a autoaceitação entre as mulheres de uma forma inspiradora e tem usado as redes para dar verdadeiras lições de autoestima. Read more…

This woman has had enough of the ‘fat friend’ stereotype

It’s something many of us are silently guilty of, casting our eye over a friendship group and unconsciously judging the so called ‘fat friend’. Often we assume she’s the quiet one who “sits on the sidelines”, but one woman has taken a stand against the ‘fat friend’ stereotype. And her refusal to accept “society’s label” has gone viral on social media.
Read more…

This body-positive blogger started a hashtag that’ll change the way you take selfies

Body-positivity activist and life coach Michelle Elman posted a photo of herself and asked a simple question: “When is the last time you took one photo of yourself? Not three. Not five, not 20. One.” Read more…

This “Fat Friend” Photo Makes the Most Important Point About Body Insecurities

Michelle Elman is a 23-year-old body-confidence coach from London — but she hasn’t always been in love with her own appearance. After all, it wasn’t easy for her to accept the scars from her 15 surgeries, procedures to treat a brain tumour, punctured intestine, obstructed bowel, brain cyst, and a condition called hydrocephalus, where fluid fills the brain. Read more…

This Body Confidence Coach Is Destroying The “Fat Friend” Stereotype

Michelle Elman is a body confidence coach but for 21 years she refused to wear a bikini in public. See, Michelle has had 15 surgeries over the course of her life – for a brain tumour, a cyst on the brain, a punctured intestine and hydrocephalus – and her confidence has suffered as a result. She refused to wear a bikini in public for fear of people seeing her scars but at age 15 she had an epiphany. Read more…

This body-confidence coach is saying what we ALL need to hear

Body-confidence coach, Michelle Elman, is the positive force we all need in our lives. The 23-year-old runs the successful mindsetforlifeltd Instagram account and is always on hand to provide her followers with encouragement and advice. Read more…

How one blogger started a new body positive hashtag that’s taking over Instagram selfies

If You’ve Ever Felt Like The ‘Fat Friend,’ You NEED To Read This Inspiring Blogger’s Post

It’s safe to say that even most slim and stunning among us have felt like the ‘fat friend’ at one time or another. Maybe it’s that you felt like a troll when out in public with a pal who resembles a Victoria’s Secret model. Or perhaps you were just having a ‘fat’ day and couldn’t shake the feeling that you stood out as the chubby one in your group. Read more…

Jahrelang schämte sie sich für ihren Körper – jetzt bewundern sie alle für diese Bilder

Michelle Elman aus Großbritannien hat eine schwere Zeit hinter sich. Als bei ihr im Alter von 11 Jahren ein Hirntumor diagnostiziert wurde, musste sie 15 Operationen über sich ergehen lassen. Monatelang konnte sie nicht richtig essen. Als sie dann aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen wurde und wieder zu ihren alten Essgewohnheiten zurückkehrte, nahm Michelle enorm zu. Read more…

“Le stéréotype de l’amie grosse, c’est du n’importe quoi”

C’est le message que cherche à faire passer Michelle Elman, qui a toujours refusé d’être “cette fille”. En mars 2016, nous vous avions déjà parlé de Michelle Elman (23), cette jeune femme qui espérait changer la perception des gens à propos des cicatrices, et qui encourageait les internautes à montrer celles-ci et à ne pas en avoir honte. Et bien aujourd’hui, Michelle nous fait passer un autre message d’acceptation de soi, tout aussi inspirant: “Le stéréotype de l”amie grosse’, c’est du n’importe quoi”. Read more…

#OneTakeBeauty: en esto consiste el último reto ‘body positive’ de Instagram

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que te sacaste un solo selfie? No dos, ocho o veintiséis, para tener varias opciones donde elegir antes de subirlo a las redes sociales. Solo uno. Esa fue la pregunta que se hizo hace unos días Michelle Elman, una coach experta en body positive, después de darse cuenta de que la mayoría de personas perdían mucho tiempo haciéndose múltiples fotos y seleccionando la mejor de entre ellas. Con esa conclusión tan simple nació el reto #OneTakeBeauty, al que cada vez más mujeres se están apuntando en Instagram. Read more…

March 2017

4 reasons you don’t have to be healthy to love your body

When a fat person, in particular a woman, posts a selfie on the internet, more often then not amidst a sea of “yas kweens” and “slay all day” comments, there will be that one, lonely, shit troll.

And because bopo babes stick together, they will rise to her defense in a myriad of ways — both of which can be productive and unproductive. One of these well-intentioned, but unproductive, ways looks something like this:

“As long as she is healthy, who cares what she looks like?” Read more…

People want to replace body positivity with something more relatable

“How do you stay so confident?”. It’s a question most body-positive activists are asked – and it is a fair one. After all, the movement is bombarded by photos of folks who flaunt their rolls and cellulite without the slightest bit of perceived struggle. Read more…

February 2017

9 Reasons You Need to Ditch Your TV (Yes, Really)

Sure, watching TV helps you relax, keeps you informed, and gives you a laugh (or cry) when you need it. But what if we told you that the benefits of turning the TV OFF might be better than having it on? Read more…

This woman fixes fat-shaming memes to make them body positive

Plus-size women are attacked daily on the internet. We’re inundated with trolls in our body-positive spaces, we’re sent lewd and rude private messages, and of course, because it is 2017, we are meme’d.

Body-positive coach, activist, and #ScarredNotScared creator Michelle Elman is on a mission to change plus-size internet culture, one meme revamp at a time. Read more…

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The Girl Complex

“Leave her be, it’s that time of the month.” “Pull your top up, you’re asking for it.” “That bloody Facebook, she never comes off of it.” No, you’re not being transported back to your teenage years in a horrendous and fairly unwelcome time warp. What you are reading are phrases mothers up and down the country throw about like a harmless plaything assuming their teenage girl’s susceptible sponge like ears are not going to drink up and absorb. Wrong. Read more…

January 2017

Why We Don’t Need Diversity In Campaigns

Diversity. We hear this word all the time. People are praised for it, companies are revered for it and at this point in society, if you don’t include it in your campaign, you will hear the backlash via social media almost instantly. So what’s the problem? Read more…

These Side-by-Side Photos Prove You Don’t Know What Healthy Looks Like

You’re familiar with the concept of before-and-after photos, right? Right. We are too. But “after-after” photos are new to us, and a body-positive Instagrammer named Michelle Elman is showing us what two seemingly similar post-weight loss photos can teach us about being healthy and how to get there. Read more…

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Body Positivity Is For Everyone

The Beauty of Imperfection has primarily focused on women who have recovered from life-threatening eating disorders. I felt it important to shed light on the fact that despite only focusing on one specific group, body positivity is for everyone. Read more…

December 2016

How to Start Off Your Year BoPo

Every year it’s the same isn’t it? We somehow muddle our way through from start to finish but as as time goes on we get less and less perfect and more and more ‘fixable’. Come the 31st of December, we’re ready to punish ourselves for who we are and what we’ve become throughout the year and the second the clock strikes 12, we’re expected to change. We’re expected to be better. Read more…

November 2016

Sky News: Embrace Your Scars

I was invited onto Sky News for their morning programme Sunrise to contribute to their segment titled The Point. I talk about how everyone has scars, physical or emotional. Click to watch now…

7 Badass Body Positive Accounts To Follow Right Now

We love a bit of Bo-Po don’t we? Whether you’re feeling great about your body and want to share that feeling with others or if you’re having a bit of a down day and just need to see and read some lovely posts to remind you how you can (and should) love your body now, body positivity is a great pick-me-up. Read more…

October 2016

Body Positivity on Hong Kong Radio RTHK Radio 3: 123 Show

Talking about body positivity in asia on the 123 show on Radio 3 with Noreen Mir and Bertha Chan from @curvasian. We have a conversation about why body positivity doesn’t exist in Chinese culture. Listen to the clip here…

For Everyone Who’s Sick Of Kim Kardashian Being Trolled Over The Robbery

Can we address the victim-blaming that’s going on? Michelle Elman (@mindset_forlife): “The reaction to @KimKardashian’s robbery shows women are still blamed for assaults by men + victim blaming still exists.” Read more…

September 2016

Body Confidence In The Bedroom

Feeling confident while having sex can be a difficult task and with self-esteem and body image issues at an all-time low, it is unsurprising it is having an effect on our love life. I talk with Lucy Beresford about why this is the case and what can be done to boost your body confidence. Listen to the clip here…

To Every Girl Who’s Wondered, “Why Would He Be Interested In Me?”

At one point or another, we’ve all wondered why the guy we’re dating likes us and what he sees in us. However fleeting that thought may be, his good looks, big bank account or charming personality shouldn’t make you doubt yourself or your own worthiness to find love. When you start doubting your own desirability, here’s what you need to remember. Read more…

August 2016

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I Am Not Your “Fat Friend”

I am not your fat friend. I am not the friend that you choose to go out with to boost your self-esteem. I am not the friend you compare yourself to when you are having a shit day. I am not the friend that you love walking into a room with because all eyes fall on you. I do not wear an invisibility cloak that deems me unworthy of love, that deems me ugly, that deems me not beautiful. Read more…

Scarred Not Scared – Michelle Elman

Scars – physical mark that often leave mental pain. Michelle bears the scars of 15 surgeries she had in her teens. Through the surgery and recovery process she became aware of the wonders of her body and found a gratitude for what the body can do and how it can support one through life Read more…

I Have My Whole Life To Find Love — For Now, My Career Comes First

It seems like all of my friends are in long-term relationships that are on the fast track down the aisle… while I’m single and loving it (or at least not really caring about it). I have plenty of time to find love, and right now I’m concentrating on something way more important: building an amazing career I can be proud of. Read more…

July 2016

This woman is challenging people’s preconceptions of Asians

Every race comes up against stereotypes, whether it be claims that all white girls love Starbucks, that black guys are all track stars or that Asians are all maths-whizzes. Read more…

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Mindset For Life

Michelle Elman is a body confidence coach, the mastermind behind Mindset For Life and the creator of the #scarrednotscared hashtag. Through her work, she helps women to accept their bodies and guide them to self-confidence. After following her instagram for forever, we’re so happy to share her work with you! Read more…

A Guy Can Never Be Your “Other Half” — You’re Already Whole

When you’ve been in a relationship a while, it’s often hard to imagine your life without the other person. Your lives slowly become more and more enmeshed until you hear yourself proudly proclaiming that he’s your “other half.” It totally seems like a romantic notion, but is the suggestion that you’re incomplete without him really a good thing? Listen up, ladies: no guy can ever complete you — you’re already whole. Read more…

June 2016

Body Hair, Sexism and Beauty Double Standards

The company Office that read “Show a little leg, just don’t forget to shave first”. I was invited onto BBC Radio London on 10th June 2016 to discuss whether it was a sexist comment and whether it’s acceptable to tell women to shave. Listen to the clip...

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Reinvent Yourself At Any Age

The growing list of celebrities proving that age is no barrier is inspirational. Janet Jackson’s joy at being pregnant at 50 with her first child is plain to see, whilst Christie Brinkley, 62, was beaming as she stepped out with her new rocker beau last week. Read more…

April 2016

7 Women Who Prove Every Body Is A Bikini Body

With warm weather just around the corner, most of us have “bikini bodies” on the brain. But what does that mean, exactly? It seems a little bit ridiculous that mainstream culture would have us believe that only one really specific type of body actually qualifies as a beach body. Here are 7 women who prove that every body is a bikini body! Read more…

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This Is What Happens After You Become a Viral Star

Hashtag activism is real, you guys… and it works. From the plus size please hashtag to a tech industry diversity hashtag, social media is helping activists connect to tackle some serious, real-world problems. But who starts these movements? And what happens after something you tweet or share on Instagram goes completely viral? We chatted with two women — April Reign, who created #OscarsSoWhite, and Michelle Elman, of the body-posi movement #ScarredNotScared — to get the inside scoop. Read more…

March 2016

Scarred Not Scared Interview with Eddie Nestor

I was invited onto BBC Radio London on 18th March 2016 to discuss my campaign Scarred Not Scared. Listen to the clip here.

Life coach’s empowering message about her scars goes viral

A 21-year-old life coach in London has become an Instagram star and viral inspiration after sharing her bikini photos and an inspiring video to help shed the shame she felt about scars left from 15 medical procedures. Read more…

Michelle Elman is ‘Scarred Not Scared’ of her body image

Michelle Elman draws the support and community of people from around the world. As stories from others with similar experiences flooded in, Michelle became inspired to launch a movement: this is for those who are Scarred Not Scared. Read more…

Woman Who Proudly Bared Her Scars in Brave Bikini Photo Encourages Others to Share Their Stories

Last summer, Michelle Elman posted a photo on social media of herself in a bikini, showcasing the scars that came as the result of the 15 surgeries she had over the course of her life. Read more…

After Proving Her Bullies Wrong, This Woman Made A Video For Anyone With Scars

“It was frustrating typing into Google ‘how do I tell my boyfriend about my scars’,” Michelle Elman told BuzzFeed News. Read more…

‘You are so brave’: Bikini-clad Brit shows off her 15 surgery scars in empowering post that’s inspiring thousands

A brave woman claims that bearing her 15 surgery scars in a bikini is the ‘bravest thing’ she’s ever done. Life coach Michelle Elman, 21, suffers from a long-term brain condition known as hydrocephalus. Read more…

How One Woman Is Inspiring Others To Be ‘Scarred Not Scared’

In January, Michelle Elman made a promise to herself to wear a bikini despite the hurtful comments people made about her scars. Now, she’s fulfilled that promise and is spreading an inspiring message along with it. Read more…

Scarred Not Scared: Video of people sharing the story behind their scars proves that all bodies are beautiful

When you tell people that you have had 15 surgeries from a brain tumour, a punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, a cyst in my brain and a condition called hydrocephalus, people respond in a number of ways: shock, sadness, sympathy, empathy but mostly – kindness. Read more…

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Inspired By A Woman’s Instagram Post, People Share Emotional Stories Behind Their Own Scars

This young 22-year-old woman is a body confidence coach and creator of #ScarredNotScared, a campaign empowering people to celebrate their scars as oppose to hiding them. Read more…

Woman’s Powerful Video Encourages Others To Embrace Their Scars

The “Scarred Not Scared” project empowers people around the world to embrace their scars rather than hide behind them.For years, 22-year-old Michelle Elman struggled with body-image issues stemming from a wide array of surgical scars she amassed from 15 procedures, a brain tumor, a punctured intestine, a brain cyst, an obstructed bowel and living with a condition called hydrocephalus. Read more…

Love Yourself – A Tribute to #ScarredNotScared

We’ve all heard it… it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside…It’s what’s on the inside that counts. I’m sure someone beautiful made that up. Read more…

Why These Women Are Bravely Sharing Their Scars on Camera

Michelle Elman, a 22-year-old life coach based in London, is bringing an under recognized body taboo to the surface of social media. Elman bravely shared her scars in a body positive Instagram post that went viral last year. On March 9, she unveiled a powerful follow-up video campaign “Scarred Not Scared”. Read more…

See How One Woman Is Removing the Stigma Around Scars

We’re taught to hide our scars—both the physical and emotional kind—because they make others uncomfortable. Michelle Elman, a body confidence coach, knows this all too well. She felt ashamed of her body, especially her scars from 15 surgeries. Read more…

The Body Positive Video You Need to Watch #scarrednotscared

Last summer, I stood in a bikini baring my scars to launch my campaign Scarred Not Scared. My blog post titled: “People with Scars Can’t Wear Bikinis”, went viral appearing in media all over the world and getting the attention of big social media influencers and celebrities alike. Read more…

I’m Scarred, but I’m Not Scared Anymore

In the last week, a video I made for my campaign called Scarred Not Scared went viral, receiving over 20,000 views and appearing in Fox News, Buzzfeed, People, The Sun, Daily Mail and The Independent. After my initial photo that launched, the campaign went viral and I got all these messages from people sharing their story with me for the first time. I felt so honoured that they had opened up to me — and that’s when it really hit me that so many people are going through very similar issues each day. So I decided to make a video sharing some of their stories. Read more…

February 2016

Body beautiful: Michelle Elman’s (BSc 2014) Mindset for Life

Psychology graduate, Michelle Elman (BSc 2014), started her own life-coaching company, Mindset for Life, in order to address body confidence and self-esteem – issues which have affected her personally, along with countless people worldwide. She also launched the social media campaign #ScarredNotScared, sparking conversations about body image across various platforms. Here, Michelle tells her story. Read more…

January 2016

This girl’s Instagram reminds us that any body can be a bikini body

It’s easy to get caught up in your own insecurity and think that if you don’t have a perfectly toned, perfectly smooth body that bikinis aren’t for you. Though the media is increasingly embracing all different types of bathing suit babes, and it’s easy to look at someone else’s imperfections and still see them as beautiful, it can still be hard to show off our own. Read more…

‘I was taught that scars were “unlady-like” and “ugly” – Michelle Elman on going viral and learning to love her body

In July 2015, a picture of Michelle Elman in a bikini went viral as she encouraged people with scars to embrace their bodies. Here, as part of our #loveyourbody series, she reflects on what it was like when people all over the world saw her image, and what she learned about herself. Read more…

December 2015

The 16 Best Moments for Body Image Acceptance in 2015

This year more than ever, people clapped, slapped, and hit back at haters who dared to shame them for anything. Mostly, the Internet supported those who stood up for themselves after they were made to feel they shouldn’t look a certain way. Rightfully so! In 2015, there is no reason for anyone to be ashamed what what he or she looks like … duh! Without further ado, here are the absolute best instances of body acceptance from the past year. Read more…

November 2015

Dear Essena: The Reality Behind My Instagram

As some of you might have heard of Essena deleting her Instagram account as well as all her other social media accounts. I hadn’t heard but when I woke up this morning with 5 messages about it, I decided to write a blog post about it! Read more…

October 2015

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Your ‘One and Only’ Home…

Shine Member, Michelle Elman has Hydrocephalus. Here she shares her experience of one aspect rarely talked about, and why body image matters. Read more…

September 2015

Woman, 27, who has undergone FOUR open heart surgeries finally finds the confidence to proudly bare her scars in a bikini – and shares a picture online to inspire others

A teen who suffered from a severe heart defect which required four rounds of open heart surgery has proudly bared her scars in a beautiful bikini shot, which she posted online in an attempt to celebrate her body, and everything that it has been through. In her original post on Imgur, Kelsey explained that she is ‘so proud’ to finally feel confident enough in herself to show her bikini off in public; and she’s not the only one to have embraced her body in this kind of way. Michelle Elman, 21, who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in London, used to cover up scars on her stomach caused by operations needed for serious health problems.Read more…

August 2015

How Wearing A Bikini Helped Me Gain My Power Back

“Why is she staring at me?” I asked my friend, standing in the hot springs in the middle of Tokyo, exposed. I had been there all day and was enjoying the tradition of the Japanese culture as you were supposed to — naked. Read more…

9 signs you deserve better friends

It takes a certain level of confidence to stand up to your friends, let alone know when it’s time to leave them behind. Ditching your friends is like a bad break-up – lots of mutual friends, awkward encounters and a lot of bitching but sometimes you just need to let the friendship go because it will affect your self confidence… and don’t fool yourself into thinking otherwise. Read more…

Project Harpoon Vs Scarred Not Scared

The latest Facebook page to receive criticism is one that has decided to digitally alter photos of plus-size women and men and place this highly edited version alongside the original image to demonstrate how much potential these plus size individuals would have if they just lost some weight. Read more…

July 2015

Michelle Elman on the bikini photo that’s inspiring women to love their bodies

If you find yourself thinking twice about putting on a bikini this summer, look to this inspiring Instagram post.After years of working up the courage to wear a two-piece, British body-confidence coach Michelle Elman posted a photo of herself in a bikini, which reveals the deep scars she carries from 15 surgeries she’s had since childhood. Read more…

‘No one should have to feel ashamed of their body’: Woman who spent years hiding her surgery scars dons a bikini and strikes a pose on Instagram to inspire others

A young woman who has spent years feeling embarrassed by her surgery-ravaged figure has ‘banished her body woes’ – and is urging others to do the same. Michelle Elman, 21, who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in London, used to cover up scars on her stomach caused by operations needed for serious health problems. Read more…

This woman bravely decided to shut down the haters with this bikini picture

Meet Michelle Elman.The 21-year-old recently decided to share a picture of herself in a bikini – something she said is one of the most difficult things she has ever done. Read more…

This Woman Shut Down Her Body-Shamers With the Most Amazing Bikini Photo of Her Scars

Michelle Elman, a 21-year-old body confidence coach, posted the above photo to Instagram with the caption, “People With Scars Can’t Wear Bikinis.” Elman further explains that because of the scars she has from multiple surgeries for life-threatening conditions, people had been “disgusted” by her in a bathing suit in the past. Until she recently realized it doesn’t really matter what people think, she’d been too afraid to wear a bikini in public. Read more…

Woman Who Used to Be Ashamed of Her Scars Proudly Bares Them in Bikini Photo

Over the course of her life, Michelle Elman has had 15 surgeries to treat a number of medical issues – including a brain cyst, a brain tumor, hydrocephalus and an obstructed bowel – leaving her with several visible scars on her body that she tried to hide for a very long time. Read more…

9 reasons why you should love your body

You’ve heard it before – you should love your body, you should love yourself…People have been saying it for a while and with the body positivity movement as strong as ever, you would think there would be more body love going around. Read more…

Pictured: Brave woman left with deep surgery scars posts bikini photo to show she’s comfortable in her body

Michelle Elman said she took the brave step to encourage others who may be self-conscious about their scars. Read more…

This Woman Shut Down Bullies Who Said Her Scars Made Them Uncomfortable

Last week, Michelle Elman, a 21-year-old from London, decided to confront her insecurities surrounding her surgery scars and uploaded this bikini shot to Instagram. Read more…

People with Scars Can’t Wear Bikinis

This is what I have believed for the last 21 years of my life and when asked in January why I never wear bikinis, this horrible sentence came out of my mouth. I was shocked – at myself! I had had 15 surgeries, a brain tumour, a punctured intestine, an obstructed bowel, a cyst in brain and have lived for the last 21 years with a condition called Hydrocephalus yet somehow my scars have always been the hardest part. Read more…

No one should feel ashamed to wear a bikini

For the last 21 years of my life, I have never worn a bikini in public.
Why? Because my body and, more specifically, my scars made people uncomfortable. Read more…

This Blogger Shut Down Her Body-Shamers With the Most Amazing Bikini Photo of Her Scars

For the last 21 years of my life, I have never worn a bikini in public.
Why? Because my body and, more specifically, my scars made people uncomfortable. Read more…

After Being Bullied About Her Surgical Scars, This Woman Responded In The Most Amazing Way

Those with surgery scars can attest to how difficult it can be to show them out in public, for fear of ridicule or unwarranted stares. But one brave 21-year-old woman from London faced her fears in the most beautiful way. Read more…

The Body Positive Bikini Pic You Need To See

Considering how much negative messaging we get about our bodies in simple day-to-day life, and how constantly we’re told that only a certain type of body is desirable or “bikini ready,” it’s awesome to hear about women like Michelle Elman and her #scarrednotscared campaign. Elman recently posted a bikini pic showing off her scars to Instagram and reminded us all what it means to be truly body positive — both with the image itself, and with her response to trolls trying to shame her for it. Read more…

Woman Shuts Down Her Bullies With A Gorgeous, Proud Bikini Photo

It isn’t easy to embrace your flaws — much less put them on display for all to see. But that’s exactly what blogger Michelle Elman recently did in an inspiring Instagram post encouraging others to love themselves, perceived flaws and all. Read more…

The very important reason this woman’s bikini pic is going viral

The fact that we’re already halfway through the summer season may come as a relief to some women. Because with the end of summer comes the end of so-called “bikini season,” which tends to separate the “body confident” from the “body insecure” in a truly startling way. But, if 21-year-old Michelle Elman has anything to say about it (and she does), bikini season shouldn’t be a time for high anxiety and low self-esteem, it should be a time for celebration. Especially when you’ve gone through as much as she has. Read more…

This Badass Woman Just Spoke the Truth About Bikinis that Everyone Should Hear

We pick our clothes — our clothes don’t rule us. But as obvious as that sounds, how we look in our clothes can ruin our days, make us question our worth and make us fundamentally uncomfortable with who we are. Read more…

People with scars can’t wear bikinis’ Meet the woman who’s proving the bullies wrong

Whether it’s a body part we’re particularly unhappy with, a patch of cellulite we’d rather keep covered or even just a general feeling of exposedness, many of us feel self-conscious in swimwear, but Michelle had a rather particular battle to fight – accepting and embracing scars from fifteen surgeries she’d endured throughout her young life. Read more…

13 ways to be confident in the skin you are in

Everywhere you look there are pictures and statements that are designed to make you feel insecure about your looks and your body and frankly we’ve had enough. Read more…

Why This Brave Woman’s Selfie Is Starting a Movement

From moms changing the world to challenging (as well as breaking) the conventional notions of “beauty” and “flaws,” we’re regularly sharing inspiration across the Internet. Plus-size beauty vlogger Loey Lane hit back to trolls who told her she couldn’t wear a bikini. Instagram unblocked the term #curvy because they recognized that the term is closely tied to body positivity. And recently, Italian footwear brand Woz Shoes swore off Photoshop in an effort to promote the idea that “normal is special,” rather than pushing an impossible ideal of beauty. The latest person on our radar is Michelle Elman. Read more…

Blogger showt imperfecte lichaam met littekens

“Als je zoveel littekens hebt, mag je geen bikini dragen”, vond Michelle Elman jarenlang. De 21-jarige blogger uit Amerika durfde haar buik door de littekens van verschillende operaties niet meer te tonen. Tot nu! Michelle besloot dat nu wel te doen en haar foto ging viral. Read more…

A Photo Of This Woman In A Bikini Has Gone Viral For A Very Important Reason

The thought of wearing a bikini can strike fear into the hearts of many. Being “too skinny”, being “too big”, the pressures of grooming or feeling ashamed of any body difference at all can throw many into panic. But 21-year-old Michelle Elman has taken to Instagram to dispel the myth that only a certain type of person is allowed to wear a bikini. Read more…

Michelle Elman’s Bikini Photo Inspires You to Love Your Body

Let’s face it, we are all self-conscious when it comes to our own body image. We’re constantly bombarded with negative messages as to what is beautiful or desirable. TV, billboards, fashion, music, and basically most of our art and culture all reinforce these stereotypes. Michelle Elman’s story, therefore, comes as a breath of fresh air. Read more…

Woman Bullied for Flaunting Scars in Bikini Has the Perfect Comeback (VIDEO)

When it comes to getting your body “bikini ready” for the summer, you need to make sure you have three things: a cute suit, some sunscreen, and a kick-ass sense of body confidence. And let your inspiration be Michelle Elman, who was bullied for showing her post-surgical scars in a bikini. Read more…

#ScarredNotScared Is Showing Women What A True Bikini Body Looks Like

I’m sure by now you’ve all heard the terms ‘bikini body’ and ‘body shaming.’ They’re two terms that seem to go hand-in-hand this summer, and one woman is doing something about that. Read more…

Michelle (21) geeft pesters van katoen: Kus mijn reet

Noem het gerust een persoonlijke mijlpaal: Michelle Elman uit Londen plaatste vorige week deze bikinifoto op Instagram om haar onzekerheid rond de littekens op haar lichaam te overwinnen. Niet iedereen reageerde echter even lovend: toen een van de ‘pestkoppen’ een kwetsende opmerking over haar gewicht maakte, diende de 21-jarige Londense hem van een gepast antwoord. Read more…

Commentaar op haar littekens? Michelle dient de haters van antwoord

Noem het gerust een persoonlijke mijlpaal: Michelle Elman plaatste vorige week deze bikinifoto op Instagram om haar onzekerheid rond de littekens op haar lichaam te overwinnen. Niet iedereen reageerde echter even lovend: toen een van de ‘pestkopjes’ een kwetsende opmerking over haar gewicht maakte, diende de 21-jarige Londense hem gepast van antwoord. Read more…

June 2015

Three Lessons From 15 Operations: Part Three

Acceptance, this one is certainly not easy. For me, this was a process – at many stages in my life, I believed I had accepted my circumstance and moved on, only to be confronted with it again a year or two later. It is only now I realise that acceptance comes in stages and that it is never too late to have revelations about the past. Read more…

Three Lessons From 15 Operations: Part Two

The middle post of this trilogy and much like a middle child, this point is as equally important as the other two and shouldn’t be ignored, especially because this topic may seem obvious. Lesson 2: You don’t have to be happy all the time and everyone has a right to feel what they damn well want to feel. Excuse my language, but sometimes the middle child needs to make more of a exclamation to be heard. Read more…

Three Lessons From 15 Operations: Part One

As I mentioned in my last post, I have had a series of medical surgeries over the last two decades. I won’t go into the details as that could be a whole blog post of its own; in fact, it is soon to have a book of its own. Instead, in this article, I am going to discuss what my experiences have taught me because I believe it has made me into the person I am to a large extent. Read more…

Four Lessons I Learnt From Therapy

I made myself vulnerable last week as I believe it is important. It is what each and every client does when they walk into my office for coaching and I have been in the exact position myself. Over the last 10 years I have dipped my toe in and out of the therapy pool whenever I have needed help. I did this for one main reason. Read more…

May 2015

Am I Ugly?

10,000 women every month google the words “Am I ugly?” and after the week I have been having, I am not surprised why. Read more..

Why Adversity Makes You One Step Closer to Being a Superhero

Every superhero story begins with the same key element. Batman lost both his parents, Spiderman lost his uncle, Green Arrow lost his fortune, Captain America overcame ill health. Have you noticed a theme yet? All these heroes are praised for overcoming the odds as they overcame adversity. Read More…

April 2015

Inspiring Entrepreneurs – Michelle Elman

This week I am delighted to introduce Michelle Elman who has turned great adversity into her inspiration for starting her own business and helping others. A great lesson in not giving up and not letting challenges beat you. Read More…

March 2015

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The Price Of Confidence

Congratulations, you’ve started a company! You’ve got all this energy, rearing to go, you’ve sorted out your products and your services, your website looks perfect but there’s one problem. How much do you charge? Read More…