THIS lot didn’t wear a Christmas jumper to the office yesterday – or anything else for that matter.
These four women do different jobs which all involve spending their working days NAKED, often in front of total strangers. But rather than feeling awkward or embarrassed about having to bare all, they say it is empowering and a confidence boost. And they could not agree more with recent studies which say spending time nude makes us love our bodies more.
Here, they tell JENNY FRANCIS why working in their birthday suits is so enjoyable . . .
Louise Brough, 34 - BODY DOUBLE
NUDE body double Louise, from Ealing, West London, was training to be an actress when she was approached to audition as a breast double for comedienne Morgana Robinson in a sketch for her TV series. She says:
“I was thrilled when they said I had the part. I’d had to send a picture of my breasts and wait to hear if I was what they needed.
I’m a size 32C and, although I never had an issue with my breasts, I never thought they were anything special.
When they called to tell me I’d been chosen and that my breasts were perfectly pert I was over the moon.
It was exciting getting on set for a comedy sketch for The Morgana Show on TV, and even after I got naked in front of strangers I was on a high.
I had to flash my breasts several times for the cameras, and also be Morgana’s hand double.
It was amazing to hear everyone tell me how great I looked. Some people on set even said I was brave to flash my breasts on film, which made me even more proud to bare my body.
I’ve never been shy but I never thought my breasts would be worth so much attention.
Doing this job made me love and appreciate them, and I feel so much more confident since doing it.
I got paid £300 and left on such a high. I can’t wait to do it again in the future.”
Kelly Burgess, 37 - FITTING MODEL
MUM-of-two Kelly, from Stansted, Essex, is a fitting model, used by clothing brands as a real, life-size size ten mannequin. She strips off to model everything from next season’s dresses to bikinis to make sure they fit properly. She says:
“It is a strange job and it’s difficult to explain to people who have never heard of a fitting model before.
I heard about the job after a friend did it and suggested I try out for it.
After being measured, naked, at my first trial I was classed as a perfect size ten and given my first job.
I am now a fitting model for a range of clients, including the lingerie and swimwear brand Figleaves.
I am a walking, talking mannequin. When a brand wants to try out their new clothes they use me to try them on then I model them in front of potential buyers.
If things don’t fit right it can be awkward but it is the best feeling when I put something on and it looks great.
If people buy the clothes I have modelled it’s a great feeling to know that my body complements them.
My son, who’s six, and my ten year-old daughter know what I do and I think it’s healthy for them to see that I am confident in my body.
I get paid between £30 and £50 an hour to use my body as something to dress up. It’s amazing.”
Jenna Morgan, 28 - STRIPPER
STRIPPER Jenna quit her promotions job in 2013, when she realised she could make more money taking her clothes off. Jenna lives in Swansea with her partner Anthony, 30, a roofer, and their sons Ben, seven, and five-year-old Tom. She makes about £2,500 a month working at a strip club in Cardiff. She says:
“I’ve worked as a stripper for two years now and love my job.
I enjoyed my old job in promotions but I was only earning £70 a day, two or three times a week.
I had done a little bit of modelling when I was younger and it made me confident in my looks, so when a friend mentioned how much money she was earning stripping I thought I’d try it.
I got the job after my first interview in the club in Cardiff. I was nervous at first because I didn’t know if I’d be very good or what clients would think.
But as soon as I started I was surprised at how much I loved it. Now I feel empowered by my job. I use my body to provide for my family and that is incredible in my eyes.
I take my clothes off for complete strangers. Seeing their faces when they admire my body — so much that they want to pay me to see it — is amazing.
The job gives me the freedom so that I can look after the kids in the week, and the hours are shorter than any other job I’ve ever done.
I will keep stripping for another four or five years and save up for my children and to cover my mortgage.
For me, being naked is exciting and powerful.”
Emily Bacon, 27 - ART MODEL
BY day Emily is a museum tour guide, but in the evenings she bares all in a room full of strangers as an art model. Her mum Rachel McCarthy, 57, also works as a life model. Emily, from Notting Hill, West London, makes £10 to £30 an hour posing naked while artists draw her. She says:
“I don’t get nervous taking my clothes off in front of people I don’t know.
I model in the nude for local art groups, students and individual artists.
There is absolutely nothing sexual about it. I find it empowering to be the subject of someone’s drawing or painting.
Everyone interprets my body differently so it helps me to appreciate my body in so many different ways.
I grew up watching my mum pose nude and I loved the way the artists didn’t judge the people they drew.
When I did my first naked pose for a class, at the age of 18, I didn’t feel nervous at all.
It can be hard sometimes to hold a pose for a long time. I love it, though. It is life-affirming and has made me extremely confident. I encourage all my friends, no matter how small or big they are, to give it a go.
If I put on weight it won’t stop me being used as a life model like it might if I was parading on a catwalk. Doing this has made me love every part of my body.”
Why going nude is good news
STILL not convinced about the benefits of getting your kit off? Here are five ways in which being naked can improve your health and happiness.
Helps body confidence
Getting naked can help you feel more comfortable in your own skin because you learn to appreciate your body.
One of the foundation philosophies of nudism is body acceptance, which in turn leads to body confidence.
Psychologist Emma Kenny says: “Being naked is empowering because it shows bravery and vulnerability all at once. If you are brave enough to not conform to wearing clothes you feel free, and this can improve your happiness and confidence.
“Being naked is about being able to fully accept one’s body without fear of others’ opinions.
“In a world which is so materialistic and focused on appearance, the willingness to strip oneself of such conformist attitude is liberating. When we feel liberated we feel optimistic and positive, which feeds self-esteem and confidence.”
Good for your bones
Sunbathing in the nude or having more skin on show outdoors allows your body to take in the sun’s rays and produce more vitamin D. It is estimated that up to 70 per cent of the UK population is deficient in vitamin D. A lack of this can lead to bone deformities.
Aids weight loss
A study from the US National Institutes of Health found that sleeping naked can help speed up the metabolism, which in turn helps you burn fat.
Improves sex life
If you share a bed with your partner, sleeping without any clothes on increases your skin-to-skin contact and causes the pituitary gland to release oxytocin, the “love hormone”. Oxytocin makes people more sexually attracted to their partners, leading to more steamy nights between the sheets.
Good for circulation
Wearing tight clothes such as skinny jeans, fitted shirts and Spanx can restrict circulation, hindering its natural flow around the body, leading to pain and swelling. So give your blood the occasional break from clothes.
No comments:
Post a Comment