Body Gossip

Body Gossip was founded in 2006 by actress Ruth Rogers.  Frustrated and angered by the unrealistic and narrow beauty ideals that she was encouraged to conform to, Ruth decided it was time that realistic, natural and diverse beauty was given some well-deserved attention. Since then her campaign has gathered considerable momentum, capturing the imagination of celebrities and the public alike.

Ruth launched a National Writing Competition, inviting everyone in the UK to write their story about their body.  She travelled the UK with a white sofa, encouraging passers-by at festivals, schools, colleges and events to write one sentence about their body on the sofa.  She currently has 7 sofa covers, full of body gossip.

The Body Gossip National Writing Competition gives real people the opportunity to express themselves about their real body, and this expression is both cathartic and powerful: “Just writing a simple entry to your competition has made me feel so much better about myself. Thank you!” (Emily, entrant via email).

Ruth has been inundated with stories from real people all over the UK writing about their real bodies. They have been inspirational, at times humorous, articulate, thought provoking and deeply moving and have proven that the British Public were waiting for the chance to make their voices heard in a culture where all too often we are told how we must feel about our bodies.

A cast of well-known actors, presenters and models have performed a selection of these extraordinary stories, with the author's permission, in a series of live events

Natalie Cassidy confirmed just how powerful the Body Gossip events are when she appeared on This Morning to talk about the campaign: “I can't tell you the night we had, we were all in tears, it was so emotional.”

So far there have been 3 Body Gossip theatre events, 2 in London and 1 in Edinburgh, telling the real stories of over 30 real bodies in the UK. Ruth now heads a team of “Body Gossipers” who are working to bring Body Gossip to the West End in a week-long celebration of real beauty, in autumn 2010.

THE BODY GOSSIP MISSION STATEMENT

Awareness – Affirmation – Acceptance

Body Gossip is committed to breaking the conspiracy of silence which has prevailed for so long, by opening a robust, dynamic debate about body image through drama.

Too many people believe that their bodies are not good enough, and that therefore they are not good enough. Body Gossip aims to change that belief, to encourage acceptance, confidence and enjoyment of our bodies.

Body Gossip answers the voice of the people, the normal people in the middle, with real bodies.  The people who are desperate to shout “Look, this is us”.  Body Gossip gives us all a powerful voice to shout about our own, unique and realistic beauty and to create community of people dedicated to changing the way beauty is perceived.

By using a cast of well-known personalities to perform the Body Gossip stories, the voices of the public are given celebrity endorsement – immensely powerful in our society.

Body Gossip aims to reassure people all over the UK that they are not alone in their body concerns, by projecting real stories onto a high profile, yet supportive platform.

Join the revolution.