Afua Hirsch: “Nobody gets to police our bodies!” How to reject beauty trends
Happy Place24 Helmi 2025

Afua Hirsch: “Nobody gets to police our bodies!” How to reject beauty trends

Do you get rid of your body hair? Do you hate your periods? Are you debating a nose job? Why? Writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch has been tracing how we’ve become so loathing of our bodies.

In this chat with Fearne, Afua explains where our modern, Western notions of beauty come from, and why she’s advocating for us to celebrate how powerful our bodies are.

She’s rediscovering and reclaiming rituals her ancestors will have done before Western ideals became the norm, and points out that wanting to change your facial features to conform to beauty trends will erase your ancestry.

Fearne and Afua chat about a desire for more fluidity around sexuality and identity, as well as why we should respect the wisdom that comes with age rather than fearing it.

Plus, how to dig deep and ask yourself: “Do I think this, or have I been taught this?”

Afua’s book, Decolonising My Body, is out now.

If you liked this episode of Happy Place, you might also like:

Emma Dabiri

Adele Roberts

Rebel Wilson

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(430)

Boy George: “I love fame!” Star signs, sexuality, and writing songs with ChatGPT

Boy George: “I love fame!” Star signs, sexuality, and writing songs with ChatGPT

It’s time to stop being filled with jealousy and judgement of others! Boy George admits he used to love hating people, but now actively chooses compassion and kindness.In this chat with Fearne, Boy Ge...

2 Maalis 1h 12min

“I skied and got trashed with James Blunt!” How to not care what people think

“I skied and got trashed with James Blunt!” How to not care what people think

There’s probably a bit too much pressure on reaching a definitive state of happiness isn’t there? It’s just not realistic. So Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some honest chat about wha...

26 Helmi 14min

Poorna Bell: "Women want more, not more to do!" How to put yourself first

Poorna Bell: "Women want more, not more to do!" How to put yourself first

What more do you want from life? What more do you want for yourself? Award-winning journalist and author Poorna Bell reckons it’s time to start really asking ourselves these questions.In this chat wit...

23 Helmi 1h 4min

“I hugged a very girthy tree!” Get off screens, write letters, and paint

“I hugged a very girthy tree!” Get off screens, write letters, and paint

How are we feeling gang? What are you happy about, and what’s making you not so happy? Fearne’s back with more chatter about what’s putting her and the Happy Place team in a good mood this week, and w...

19 Helmi 16min

Even the Kardashians have insecurities! Reinvent your identity, with Chris Appleton

Even the Kardashians have insecurities! Reinvent your identity, with Chris Appleton

Why do we change our hair when we want to start over? Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton knows that when someone sits in his chair, he has their future confidence in his hands.In this chat with Fea...

16 Helmi 54min

“Just try one new thing!” Fearne’s going boxing and to her cervical screening

“Just try one new thing!” Fearne’s going boxing and to her cervical screening

Fed up of constantly striving for ultimate happiness? Fearne’s dropping into your feed every week for some far more realistic chat about what’s making her feel great, and what’s making her feel rubbis...

12 Helmi 15min

Ashley James: You’re a bimbo! Mumsy! Bossy! How we shrink confidence out of girls

Ashley James: You’re a bimbo! Mumsy! Bossy! How we shrink confidence out of girls

You’re a bimbo. A nag. Too mumsy. Too bossy. Ever had any of those labels put on you? Far from harmless words, Ashley James is clear they all work to shrink women and girls.In this chat with Fearne, A...

9 Helmi 1h 2min

Book Club Meets: Grief, women in history, and Elizabethan magic, with Maggie O’Farrell

Book Club Meets: Grief, women in history, and Elizabethan magic, with Maggie O’Farrell

You might have recently seen Hamnet at the cinema, but did you read the book along with the Happy Place Book Club in January?In this chat, Fearne and author Maggie O’Farrell talk about how Jessie Buck...

5 Helmi 29min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

olipa-kerran-otsikko
i-dont-like-mondays
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
kaksi-aitia
sita
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
uutiscast
poks
joku-tietaa-jotain-2
antin-palautepalvelu
kolme-kaannekohtaa
mamma-mia
aikalisa
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
rss-murhan-anatomia
rss-nikotellen
meidan-pitais-puhua
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
lahko
rss-haudattu