Prehistoric Figurine Inspires Modern-Day Self-Acceptance Journey

In 2021, a 42-year-old woman visited the Natural History Museum in Oxford, UK, with her young son. This chance encounter would prove to be a pivotal moment in her lifelong journey with body image issues.

The woman had spent decades feeling ashamed of her appearance, ever since her mother told her she needed to lose weight when she was just 18 years old. This led her to spiral into binge-eating and a cycle of restriction, a pattern that continued for over 20 years despite trying various diets.

However, as she ascended the stairs of the museum, the woman spotted a small limestone carving of the Paleolithic Venus of Willendorf figurine. Immediately transfixed, she saw her own body reflected in the ancient sculpture's "chubby bottom," "big breasts," and "lovely protruding belly." This realization brought her intense joy and relief, as it proved that diverse body types have been celebrated throughout human history.

From that moment on, the woman has tried to reject diet culture and embrace her "happy fat" identity. She has become more confident in wearing what she wants, such as bikinis and sleeveless dresses, and has even deleted her social media to avoid comparing herself to others. The woman is now planning a bold performance art piece, where she will wear a skin-tight bodysuit covered in knitted details of the Venus figurine and photograph herself next to the original.

While the woman acknowledges that she is not "impervious to diet culture," she has found a powerful talisman in the Venus of Willendorf to remind her of her self-worth and the timeless beauty of the human form.