This is Natalia Lorenzo.
She’s suffered from poor self-image and disordered eating for ages but now, she’s a body positivity advocate. And a work of art.
Bullied for being larger as a kid, the teen’s five-foot-tall portrait was on show at this year’s Art Basel December show, The Art of Beauty.
‘At a young age I developed self-imagery issues about my body. It later led to depression and anxiety which I suffered from for years,’ Natalia says on Twitter.
‘Recently, I finally broke out of my shell and my face and body is on a canvas at Art Basel this year. I couldn’t be any more proud of myself.’
Born in Colombia, the model says she started to feel uncomfortable about her size when she moved to the states aged seven.
‘I started gaining weight and I was very shy, so kids would throw books at me and call me fat,’ she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
‘Around seventh grade, I started binge eating and throwing up, which went on for two years.
She started to avoid being in any situation where she’d have to show any skin.
‘So I’d hide in the bathroom or wear a T-shirt. I didn’t want to engage with anyone, all because of my body.’
At 18, she decided enough was enough and started sharing pictures on social media – opening up about her experiences, showing off her cellulite and revealing the kinds of poses that models use to make them look their best.
A couple of months ago, she was signed to DAS Model Management…and landed the Art Basel gig.
And she wants to use modelling as a vehicle for body positivity.
‘I want to be the person I wish I had in fifth grade.
‘I have cellulite, tummy rolls, and stretch marks, but that’s normal and I’ll keep putting it out there, no matter what people say.’
MORE : Iskra Lawrence corrects an online newspaper headline calling her plus size
MORE : Felicity Hayward explains why it’s okay for ‘plus-size’ women to call themselves ‘curvy’
Share this with