A Burnham-On-Sea resident has attended the launch of a new book in which she describes her experience of suffering from an eating disorder.
Jackie Tanner was invited to the London launch of the new ‘Body Gossip’ book, an anthology of more than 300 short body stories written by people from across the UK.
There are poems, prose and dialogues written about everything body image related, including pregnancy, diets, sport, ageing, adolescence, eating disorders, ethnicity, sexuality and disability.
The launch at The Hub in Kings Cross included the unveiling of several new Body Gossip videos of real stories, written by the public, and performed by celebrities. Girl group ‘Alfee’ performed the new body gossip theme tune ‘Feel My Love’ and Zaraah Abrahams from Waterloo Road and Coronation Street read one of the inspirational stories.
Jackie said she was honoured that her two stories, called ‘The Mirror Never Lies’ and ‘Dear Body’, had been included in the book alongside others written by celebrities including Anne Diamond, Tina O’Brien, Zaraah Abrahams, Alesha Dixon, Jermaine Defoe and others.
Jackie told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I submitted my stories to Body Gossip when I was in recovery from an eating disorder and found writing my feelings about my body image to be therapeutic.”
Body Gossip is a campaign started by Ruth Rogers and Natasha Devon which, since 2006, has invited members of the public to write something about their body and submit it to their website.
A selection have been performed by well-known actors, models and musicians in live theatre shows and short films. The Body Gossip campaign aims to promote diversity and acceptance of your body regardless of size, age, sex, race or disability. All proceeds from the book, which can be purchased here, will go towards furthering the message.
Pictured: Top, Jackie with Natasha Devon and Ruth Rogers, the founders of Body Gossip, and, above, with Coronation Street‘s Zaraah Abrahams
