Miss September: What I learnt from baring all for a charity naked calendar
15 years since the ladies of a Yorkshire branch of the Women’s Institute released their calendar (and 11 since Helen Mirren and Julie Walters brought their story to our screens) it feels as though the charity naked calendar has been done to death. Many people may even feel a little sick of the whole affair.
As winter draws nearer and dressing gowns all around the country are dropped in preparation for a new year and a new set of charity calendars, I want to share with you what it’s really like to appear in a naked calendar.
To be honest I’ve always been a bit indifferent on the topic. If anything I’m a bit of a prude as a result of a middle class catholic upbringing and probably just wished I never had to see them again.
In addition to my prudish nature, as a teenager I was something of a yo-yo dieter and therefore my self-esteem wasn’t the best. It’s only since I started at university that I’ve managed to maintain a consistent weight.
My chance to take part in one of these shoots came when I was in my final year at university. The students’ union was planning it’s annual naked charity calendar and was asking societies and sports teams to take part.
‘Salford Exposed’ was the name of the calendar – sounds edgy, I know. As the social secretary of the equestrian team, I was eventually asked if we would take part.
Intrigued, but completely unwilling to do it alone, I badgered some friends enough to finally get them to agree and booked us in.
Though we were all nervous on the day, I had new found self-confidence in my appearance and was surprisingly excited. We of course still went for dutch courage in the bar before hand though.
Initially it was awkward. That was perhaps to be expected. A group of new friends taking their clothes off in front of each other for the first time with a stranger with a camera at the other end of the room. It’s not a situation social etiquette has briefed us for.
Actually, once we got into the swing of things, it was a good laugh, we giggled our way through and – as cheesy and clichéd as this will inevitably sound – it was a bonding experience for all of us.
All that was left after that was to wait for the final image on the launch night and here it is…(see image 1)
Sorry it’s not the best quality guys. But we were pretty pleased with it. And not only that, Gabrielle (who informs me she has already signed the club up for the 2015 calendar) and I made the front cover which we are immensely proud of
see image 2)
What’s also key is that we are all completely different body shapes. Through doing this calendar I realised how important it is for ordinary people to feel comfortable being photographed in such a way.
I am not six foot tall and a size zero, but I love these pictures and the way we all look. Surely that’s got to be better for those who are insecure in themselves to see normal people taking part in a naked photo shoot rather than dangerously thin models who have been photoshopped to appear skinnier still.
You are all exceptional in your own way regardless of what you look like.
Big love,
Ellie x
21-year-old journalism graduate with an interest in a little bit of everything.