The Story Of You - Alicia.

Content Warning: These stories contain mentions of body dysmorphia, body image struggles, pregnancy loss, fertility struggles and gendered violence. If you find any of the below triggering, please find a list of helpful and free resources below:

DV/SV: 1800 RESPECT

Mental Health: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues: Butterfly Foundation 1800 ED HOPE

Meet Alicia who’s story is one of strength, survival, and slowly learning to reclaim her body as her own.

She describes her relationship with her body as complicated, filled with both love and frustration. Diagnosed with endometriosis at just 16, Alicia has undergone around 20 abdominal surgeries between 2002 and 2019. Her journey has included four rounds of chemically induced menopause, a hysterectomy at 29, and the removal of her ovaries at 33. All of this, alongside the chaos of hormones and menopause, has changed her body in ways she never expected.

But amidst the pain and exhaustion, Alicia sees her body as something to be proud of. “I’m so blessed to have had two kids,” she says. “Especially when I was told I wouldn’t be able to. I love my body for that.”

Now, she’s learning to love her curves, to feel comfortable in the body she’s in today. It’s not an easy path, especially after surviving a DV relationship where she was constantly shamed for her weight and made to feel unworthy of love or desire. “I still have those thoughts,” Alicia admits, “but I’m slowly pushing through, trying to heal both my body and my mind.”

For Alicia, this shoot isn’t just about the photos, it’s about rebuilding confidence and reconnecting with herself. “I want to show my girls that no matter our size, we are all beautiful and we should be proud of it.”

When asked whether she feels represented in the media, Alicia doesn’t hold back: “Not at all. It’s all oriented around the male gaze. Women are still seen as inferior, and the media portrays us as helpless and dumb.”

But Alicia is anything but that. She’s fierce. She’s real. She’s rising.

And we are so honoured to capture this chapter of her story.