Zahida Allen, a famous model from Newcastle and British reality TV star, revealed her battle with anorexia and other health problems on August 23rd in light of recent internet comments.

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After recent comments accusing Allen of being “pregnant” as a result of healthy weight gain, Allen completely stunned fans and media representatives by revealing her history with disordered eating.

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“It's not nice to receive messages of random people saying ‘how come you're always drinking if you are pregnant?’” Allen exclaimed. “When have I ever said I am? If I was, I most definitely would not be going on nights out drinking. When I was younger I suffered from health issues, I was anorexic at one point and on the road to recovery I was bang into modelling where certain people told me I had to remain a certain size & it was slowly I started realised that it was wrong.”

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Her statement first appeared on instagram under the account name “xzahida,” precursored by an offended jab at critics for having to defend her new, healthy lifestyle in the first place. The post itself included a side-by-side layout of two pictures. In the image depicted on the left, she was pictured as an eighteen year old emaciated model, while the picture on the right showed her confidently posing in a mirror with her current body and attitude.

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When she was a young model, Allen was endlessly pressured into strict requirements. Repeatedly, people would tell her that she must meet certain physical qualifications to be in the modeling business. For a period of time, she bought into their demands and continued to place her health at risk, becoming increasingly thinner until she finally decided that she no longer needed to abide by their criticism and gave up on meeting weight standards.

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“That wasn't a good enough [size] then and the size I am isn't good enough now,” Allen wrote. “The size I am currently, is the biggest I have ever been and tbh I am quite happy that I don't look like the image on the left anymore.”

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Further on in the post, Zahida Allen continued to explain other aspects of her physical health that might lead people to see certain ‘abnormalities.’ “I have stomach swelling problems,” she admitted. “I had ulcers in my stomach and esophagus which still cause problems and I swell around my ribs and belly, I can't help it when that happens.”

 

Many people commented on Allen’s looks before she posted her story on instagram. They cruelly claimed that her boyfriend Sean Pratt, an actor who starred with Allen in Ex on the Beach, was “too good for her.” Many displeased identities even commented about her on photos posted by her family. Her response to their rude statements was, “Why shouldn't I wear bikinis on holiday like any other normal 23 year old girl? Why am I too fat now? Why is Sean too good for me just because other people say that's the case? Why am I disgusting for putting weight on? You don't know anything. Think before you speak!”

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Through her instagram post, Zahida Allen was able to make a valid and clear point: people should not force others into degrading themselves, or their health, because the public’s unrealistic expectations are not met. Her powerful words garnered thousands of supportive comments from fans and editors alike, whom she thanked for their constant support; she also wrote a special thanks to Sean Pratt for his unwavering encouragement.

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The standards of modern beauty are always prevalent. In fact, American Society refuses to let the public forget them; on the radio, callers discuss the perfect partner with radio personalities; news ads encourage consumers to live up to perfectly airbrushed models; beauty products market slogans that guarantee immediate weight loss. When will the pressure of being the perfect version of oneself finally end?

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For stars such as Allen, who have broken away from unhealthy self-image, the answer is now. Zahida Allen is but one of many people who finally said enough is enough, and decided to put standards aside to live their life as many should strive to: happily, and comfortably in their own body.