Redd encourages positive self−image

Former Miss America contestant Nancy Redd last night spoke to a packed room about the importance of forming positive body images among young adults, primarily young women, as well as the media's unrealistic and airbrushed depictions of human bodies.

The event, held in Metcalf Hall, was co−sponsored by the Women's Center, Tufts University Health Service, the Africana Center, the LGBT center and the Women's Studies program.

Redd — who won the Miss Virginia pageant in 2003 and placed in the top 10 of the Miss America pageant in 2004 — is currently on a worldwide book tour for her latest work, "Diet Drama." Her first book, "Body Drama," was on the bestseller lists of both the New York Times and USA Today and also was a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award Nominee.

Women's Center Director Steph Gauchel believes that Redd, who graduated with a degree in Women's Studies from Harvard University, is a good choice for a person to speak to Tufts students, especially at this time of year.

"So much of our focus on Valentine's Day is about romantic love," Gauchel said. "For me, I like to take Valentine's Day as an opportunity to let students think about themselves and to love themselves."

Gauchel was also inspired by Redd's path as a feminist and as a writer and spokesperson of positive self−image.

"I hope that [Redd] can give some dialogue to campus, to help combat all of the harmful messages that we're bombarded with about what it means to be men and women," she said.

The event began with opening remarks by Gauchel and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Students John Barker, both of whom supported Redd's empowerment of feminism and healthy bodies.

Redd spoke about her life chronologically, starting with her adolescence.

"I was the kid who never really had her act together," she said, noting the fluctuations in her body weight and her family's lack of conversation about female body issues as topics she desperately wanted to talk about with others.

"Inside, there was a very stressed−out person," she said.

Redd had always been interested in feminine issues and lamented the social stigmas placed on both male and female bodies. She felt inspired to join Miss America in her junior year of college after finding out that a fellow African−American had won. Though she was glad to have the experience, she was not fond of the behind−the−scenes alteration of bodies' appearances by the contest staff, such as the way they airbrushed her headshot and sprayed a vast amount of products over her body before she walked on stage.

"When I looked in the mirror, I didn't see the smart woman, the person who won the Miss America swimsuit competition," she explained. "I was more depressed than happy about the entire thing."

Redd's experience with Miss America made her even more of an advocate for a healthy body image. Throughout her speech, she showed the audience examples of the way the media creates an inaccurate portrayal of female bodies. One picture that Redd showed during her talk was of a model whose picture was airbrushed so heavily that though she ended up looking fit and skinny, she was left without a belly button.

"If we would change our perspective on the human body and focus on the person inside, we would all be better off," she said. "I want to do things that will make women feel good about their bodies."

Event attendee Megan Clark was impressed by Redd's opinion of feminism.

"I really liked the idea of feminism taking all different forms and how you don't need to [follow] what is seen as traditional femininity to be a feminist," Clark, a sophomore, said, referring to Redd's belief that feminism is based on how one believes people should be treated and that people of all genders and sexualities can be feminists.

Gauchel was also pleased with the outcome of the event.

"I was really happy with the turnout, and I liked that she was able to talk about her experience, which I think is really valuable for college students to hear about," she said.