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

Episoder(416)

Sam Clafln: I calorie count and overthink! What is body dysmorphia?

Sam Clafln: I calorie count and overthink! What is body dysmorphia?

Do you find it hard to look in the mirror? Have you found yourself controlling what you eat or exercise you do? Actor Sam Claflin has struggled with his body image since he was a child.In this chat wi...

2 Feb 1h 2min

Fearne says hello to intuitive exercise and goodbye to people pleasing

Fearne says hello to intuitive exercise and goodbye to people pleasing

There’s a bit too much pressure on reaching an unwavering state of happiness isn’t there? It’s just not realistic. So Fearne’s going to be dropping into your feed every week for some candid nattering ...

29 Jan 17min

Louise Thompson: Maternity care is bleak! Mental and physical scars of my traumatic birth

Louise Thompson: Maternity care is bleak! Mental and physical scars of my traumatic birth

Everyone deserves a safe and dignified birth, but when Louise Thompson gave birth to son Leo, she was left with post-traumatic stress disorder.In this chat with Fearne, Louise talks through how her PT...

26 Jan 57min

Ant and Dec: I’d choose fatherhood over TV! Practicing gratitude and honouring growth

Ant and Dec: I’d choose fatherhood over TV! Practicing gratitude and honouring growth

Struggling to know if you’ve achieved enough? If you’re happy enough? Worry everything you’ve built could fall apart? Even national treasures Ant and Dec don’t feel like they’ve ‘made it’.In this chat...

19 Jan 55min

Sonia Choquette: “I’m having telepathic experiences!” Listen to your intuition

Sonia Choquette: “I’m having telepathic experiences!” Listen to your intuition

What would you do if you weren’t afraid? That’s the question spiritual teacher and intuitive guide Sonia Choquette wants you to think about.In this chat with Fearne, Sonia explains how to have more ag...

12 Jan 1h 1min

Overthinking is my demon! Erin Doherty on changing old behaviour patterns

Overthinking is my demon! Erin Doherty on changing old behaviour patterns

Do you constantly replay conversations, wondering if you said the wrong thing? You’re in good company; actor Erin Doherty’s biggest demon is overthinking.In this chat, Fearne and Erin explore how fear...

5 Jan 45min

Book Club Meets: I could have been radicalised! ISIS brides and teen angst, with Nussaibah Younis

Book Club Meets: I could have been radicalised! ISIS brides and teen angst, with Nussaibah Younis

Fundamentally tells the story of Nadia, an academic who's been disowned by her puritanical mother and dumped by her lover, so she decides to get away by accepting a UN job in Iraq.Meanwhile, Sara is a...

2 Jan 40min

OCD, perimenopause, and hitting rock bottom: This year on Happy Place

OCD, perimenopause, and hitting rock bottom: This year on Happy Place

Which episodes of Happy Place have stayed with you this year?Reflecting on some of the chats she’s had this year, Fearne explores her own OCD diagnosis, how she copes when she’s gripped by shame, and ...

29 Des 202551min

Populært innen Samfunn

alt-fortalt
rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
konspirasjonspodden
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
frokostshowet-pa-p5
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
min-barneoppdragelse
fladseth
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
den-politiske-situasjonen
vitnemal