Today I had the immense pleasure of interviewing my dear friend, Chrisselle Mowatt, founder of the quickly growing campaign promoting healthy body image known as Don’t Lose Your Grip. Read on to learn more about her and what exactly Don’t Lose Your Grip is!
Before we get the questions underway, why don’t you introduce yourself to everyone? Tell us…. who is Chrisselle Seasidh Mowatt?
Chrisselle Seasaidh Mowatt, eh?
Well… she never gets referred to that anyway! I don’t know how to introduce myself. I always end up saying too much and boring the person.. Or not saying enough and coming across as a boring person! So let’s keep it short and sweet.
I’m Chrisselle, a 19 year old geek from Scotland. I blog, write lyrics and take photographs… and in my spare time, I eat pizza and play video games. I live such an eventful life! Oh… And I’m extremely sarcastic at times.
What exactly is Don’t Lose Your Grip?
Don’t Lose Your Grip is a project to help promote self-belief. Unlike many body confidence campaigns we’re not just targeting a select audience; We want everyone to get involved, regardless of age, sex, size, race or religion. Slogans like “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” and “Real women have curves” are both quite insulting. Why should only women with curves be seen as “real”? Since when did we start comparing feelings to tastes?
It’s to show people that you don’t have to be someone famous or media ‘perfect’ to make a difference, it’s to inspire people to believe in who they are.
How are you going to promote what your campaign represents?
We’re going to promote it by holding a fashion show and charity concert in Liverpool, UK. The twist is that it will be completely different to other fashion shows. This show will represent everything that people are too afraid to speak about, the people taking part are real-life inspirational people from all different backgrounds; They’re all incredibly wonderful people whom I can’t wait for the public to get to know!
So these are going to be just regular people who are your models? If someone was interested in working with you in your show, what would the requirements be, and what would they need to do?
Yep, your everyday person. Why? Because every person deserves to be put in the limelight; they all have wonderful stories about how they became the person they are today, and that’s what inspires me. The fact that they’re still here wanting to make the world a better place for future generations.
They could simply email me at me@chrisselle.com and get all the details there. No requirements apart from the willingness to travel to Liverpool.
What would they be modeling?
They would be modeling my own designs; I’m hoping to come up with some designs that flatter each person’s unique body shape. I’m also hoping to get my mother involved with the development stage! She may not know how to switch a computer on, but she sure knows her way around a sewing machine!
This all sounds so wonderful! Tell me, how did you come up with the idea for all of this? Did you have anyone that was sort of your inspiration?
Thank you!
I’ve had many inspirations. One being P!nk, who inspires me every single day to be who I want to be and not let anyone tell me that it’s not acceptable. I have my wonderful friends who love me for who I am. My boyfriend, who somehow manages to make me feel like the prettiest girl in the world with no make-up on, wearing sweats and my hair tied back. And I have the thousands of people out there just looking for somewhere to get their voices heard.
The whole project, though, is in memory of a close friend that took her life in November, Lacey Crawford.
If someone wanted to stay up-to-date with the Don’t Lose Your Grip campaign, what should they do?
They should follow us on Twitter (@dontloseurgrip), check out the main site at http://www.dontloseyourgrip.chrisselle.com, or ‘like’ us on Facebook by searching “Don’t Lose Your Grip.”
Well, thank you so much for allowing me to interview you today! I look forward to seeing the progress you make with this wonderful campaign, and I hope your message is spread like wildfire! Anything else you would like to say?
Many thanks for having me, it’s been wonderful chatting with you as always! Not especially, just that if people would like to get in touch, or if they know anyone that could benefit from hearing from us, let us know!
In closing, I’d like for you to give those out there struggling with poor body image a word of advice.
The first thing to understand is that every single person out there has a different body. Your body should never hold you back. The people that love you, love you for the person you are and the effect you have on their life. Remember to live your life. Everyone is far too worried about how they look to even notice that your skirt doesn’t match your shoes or that your hair isn’t sitting quite right. At the end of the day, you’re perfect to the people that love you, no matter your physical appearance. Much love.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this. I’d also like to thank Chrisselle once more for allowing me to interview her, but most of all for putting together this life-changing campaign. Go check out the Don’t Lose Your Grip website today, and start loving yourself!
You guys blow my mind.
Hahaha, how so?