Roughly 50 women stood in their undergarments at Market Square Sunday to send the message of body positivity to the world.
Women got down in their bras, panties and bathing suits as they hugged and smiled and shared messages of acceptance.
The Body Confidence Rally was organized by Carlie Roberts, owner of the clothing store Consign Your Curves, which sells clothing for plus-sized women.
“We need to put some good in the air and body positivity is all about accepting each other,” said Roberts who advertised the event on Facebook for women, children and men and stated that the intent of the event is to showcase all bodies in diverse states so individuals can lift each other up.
She said after owning a clothing store for nine months, she realized that it is important to look internally and love oneself first and she thought, ‘what better way to do that than to get a bunch of people together to rally toward some confidence and put a collective shift in the air?"
Roberts says by dressing in bras, panties and bathing suits, individuals are able to appreciate and recognize that everyone is the same.
"It's about stepping out of your comfort zone so, from a collective apprehension or collective nervousness of everyone doing this, there will hopefully come a collective shift in confidence that they see," said Roberts.
"As I say, the dimple doesn't discriminate whether it's a size two, 12 or 22 but it's the same thing."
Roberts says the event recognizes that all body shapes, sizes and colours are similar yet they all also have their unique individuality.
Photographer at the event Julia Busato, who produces many body positivity photoshoots with men and women of all sizes, says people experiencing body issues is an ongoing thing.
Busato says this rally is able to show that everyone has similar bodies and the only difference is the size.
“We all have things we don't love about our body but why not come together and celebrate everything?” says Busato.
“It's just to give back to the community – to tell them we are here for them, we're here to listen to their concerns and worries about their bodies.”
Participant Cathy Bolliger said Roberts naturally makes other women confident because of the confidence she exudes and this event is a reflection of that.
“I think it's a great thing to have happened in this city,” says Bolliger.
“Not everybody has confidence in themselves and it helps.”
