Differently Beautiful, a body positivity movement started by Cape Town-based body positivity activist Melissa Smith, held a festival yesterday (December 5).

Smith started the Differently Beautiful movement and the PHATT brand to empower women to embrace their body forms and exude confidence despite challenges such as body-shaming on social media.

Smith who hails from Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats started the Differently Beautiful movement as a result of suffering from depression and eating disorders for years.

Smith aims to use her event to highlight the issues of gender-based violence and body shaming, as well to educate men on the topics of respect for women’s bodies.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape, murder and gender-based violence in the world.

Differently Beautiful, a body positivity movement started by Cape Town based body positivity activist Melissa Smith held a body positivity festival at the Goedverwachting Estate near Somerset West.

Smith started the Differently Beautiful movement and the PHATT brand to empower women to embrace their body forms and exude confidence despite challenges such as body shaming on social media.

Tarryn-Lee Truter a plus sized lady says she joined the Differently Beautiful movement after responding to an advertisement for plus sized models.

Melissa Smith who hails from Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats started the Differently Beautiful movement as a result of suffering with depression and eating disorders for years. She has also made a decision to have gastric bypass surgery, not because she doesn’t love her body, but as result of suffering joint pains for years.

Smith also aimed to use her event to highlight the issues of gender based violence and body shaming, as well to educate men on the topics of respect for women’s bodies.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape, murder and gender based violence in the world and annually the 16 days of activism against gender based violence starts on 25 November.