[First, go click this link to see what´s this all about, because I really would hate to put my words into someone else´s mouth and misinterpret the whole point the creators are trying to get across by initiating this wonderful project.]
Basically, The What´s Underneath Project is a collective of videos uploaded on a StyleLikeU youtube channel, curated by Elisa and Lily (two badass ladies forming a mother-and-daughter duo, how amazing!). For each one, they invite an individual to come sit on a small wooden stool in front of a camera and talk. After answering questions about their personal style and history, they take a piece of clothing off and throw it on the ground, as they literally as well as metaphorically reveal more of themselves to the viewers. Coming to the end of the narrative, they sit only in their underwear, which means they are at their most exposed therefore vulnerable. But in every single video, the initial signs of doubts and insecurities wear off in a matter of seconds, and they still deliver their final responses while their words resonate throughout the room and into the person sitting on the other side of glowing laptop screen.
These videos are impossible to turn off, especially if you are as me, fascinated by all those diverse people from different parts of the world,by their strengths and struggles, their passions, their life stories and how they overcame the harsh burdens thrown at them to get to the place they currently are in. Even if you only watch one video today, I guarantee you it will be the most powerful thing you have watched in weeks, and you will find yourself still thinking about it and engraving the positive quotes of body image and self love into your consciousness.
I haven´t watched every single video yet, but am currently in the process of. Down below is just a small selection of the ones I so far have felt the most connected with and personally understood, even though my experience may be cut a few years less.
Meredith Graves
In my body is a good place to be because functionally speaking I know at the end of the day it´s the only home I´ve ever had and it´s the only home I ever will have. And home is where you´re supposed to feel the safest and home is where love happens and home is where you´re supposed to feel best about yourself. And, uh, welcome home.
Sarah Elise Hardman
So I have to recognise that the reason I feel afraid is because I´m taught to be afraid but just because I feel afraid doesn´t mean that I now can´t be successful. And I can use those things to purpel me. It´s like adding salt to the dishes that you baked that are sweet because the salt actually makes everything else sweeter.
Melanie Gaydos
Ellen Elias
My mom, she,don´t need a man for anything.For money, for telling her she´s beautiful, to tell her she´s funny, to tell her she´s smart. She don´t need to hear that from a man to know those things, she knows those things, but yeah, she wants love. And I feel Im like that. When I enter a relationship, I want him to know that I know that already and then he has to know it too. And now we can build each other up, let´s help each other to make this beautiful. I dont need you but I want you.
Clementine Desseaux
I´ve really always was okay with my body, it´s just more people made me feel like it was not okay. But I never looked in the mirror and said you´re ugly.
And it´s [my body] chubby too, so it doesn´t get cold in the winter.
Living, observing and writing it all down 