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 Most of us have days when we look in the mirror and are startled by what we see, but for some, the image reflecting back is a permanent, prickly thorn. (Sun Media/HO) |
Can you imagine showing up to the set of a TV show and being asked to strip down in front of a guy you've only just met?
Now, what if there was a 360-degree mirror surrounding you?
Welcome to How to Look Good Naked, the Canadian spin-off of the popular British TV series that takes women who are down-in-the-dumps about their bodies and teaches them how to flaunt what they've got, while challenging their perceptions of themselves.
The Canadian edition premieres on the W Network on Jan. 5, beginning with the story of Jillian Bathgate, a 45-year-old single mom of a teenage daughter who, somewhere along the busy road of life, forgot all about herself.
"I've always associated sexiness with being skinny," says Bathgate, who wears between a size 16 and 18.
"It's always been a thing in my head that there was some kind of success in being thin. I was always wondering why the hell doesn't anyone want to accept me for the way that I am. Then it came to me - why can't I accept myself the way that I am?"
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Recently, though, the Toronto-based Bathgate had a huge wake-up call.
In fact, since filming her episode, she's been turning quite a few heads.
"Shortly after filming, a guy was looking at me on the bus!" she laughs.
"He was actually looking at me and smiling. At first I thought I must've smudged my makeup or something. I never thought of myself as one of the beautiful people before, but I guess I can be sometimes."
So what's the 185-pound Bathgate doing differently?
While she hasn't whittled down her waistline on a crash diet or had fat sucked with liposuction. Bathgate's transformation has nothing to do with achieving the body of a stick-thin model, but, rather, reshaping her own perception of herself.
That Bathgate got down to her undergarments in front of How to Look Good Naked host Zain Meghji and faced an all-angles mirror to dissect her body issues is a testament to how far she's come.
"A 360-degree mirror is not any woman's friend," she admits.
"I don't care if you're a fashion model, you're going to find something you don't like. You can see yourself backwards! But, I absolutely embraced the experience."
Bathgate also found herself facing a giant billboard image of her tastefully naked self displayed outside for random passersby to comment on (another staple challenge on the series).
"I heard that I have nice legs, a nice waist - what?!- one guy said I have a nice pair of boobs ... I loved that part," Bathgate beams of her public debut.
Bathgate says she's also learned the powerful, body-sculpting perks of finding really great undergarments and how to choose the right clothing for her figure.
"Going shopping is fun now," Bathgate says.
"I use to hate it. I wear dresses now, I wear heels now ... it's amazing how a little bit of effort in the morning can make a big difference. People notice me now. I love getting dressed in the morning. Before I'd just put on whatever and go through the day. It doesn't make my life perfect, but it does make it more fun."
Mirror, mirror on the wall
On the wrong day, it can be a woman's worst enemy - the mirror.
Most of us have days when we look in the mirror and are startled by what we see, but for some, the image reflecting back is a permanent, prickly thorn, explains Zain Meghji, host of the Canadian version of How to Look Good Naked.
"A lot of women made up a story about themselves at one time in their life, and that story is that they're not worthy," says Meghji.
"They say such horrible things about themselves. The things they say they'd never say about someone else. These women are living with stories they've been telling themselves for 20 years."
While participants learn how to dress for their shape and about the power of a good haircut and a touch of makeup, the underlying message of the series is this: Yes, you may be overweight or loathe some of your bits, but that doesn't mean you can't live your best life right now.
"Don't put your life on hold," Meghji explains.
"A lot of these women just lost themselves, lost their identity. They use words like hate, disgust, loathe, enormous, gross. This can be a touchstone in a woman's life. It takes a powerful experience to change what you think of yourself."