Lisa Ray on embracing one’s self

Actor advises media to refrain from promoting unrealistic aspirations

KOLKATA: Actor Lisa Ray says she is proud of her body but still has to struggle with body-shaming.

“I get it as well. We have a lot of trolling and things like that. I am very proud of who I am today but honestly, I have to struggle with it as well,” said Lisa.

Criticising the “unrealistic aspirations” that women put up with to achieve a desired body type, she called for sensitisation.

“We have to stop putting these unrealistic aspirations and it has to start with the media. There is so much of photo-shopping and things like that... that go on in the media. I think we all love beautiful images but we also have to understand what goes into making those images,” she said, while attending a launch ceremony in Kolkata.

A cancer survivor, Lisa remains conscious of her age but is practical in the outlook to ageing. “I am very happy and comfortable in my own skin today but I am 43 now and obviously I am never going to look like what I used to when I was 20,” she said.

Encouraging women to invest in their health, she urged women to take care of their finances to face tough situations, such as cancer treatment.

“You should live your life. Let’s face it: everyone should have a cushion for anything, not just cancer, and I encourage every family and all women to have one. We have to become empowered and also take care of ourselves by taking care of our own finances.”

The Water actor was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009 and became cancer-free a year later after receiving a stem-cell transplant.

Lisa prefers to spread a positive message on cancer survival as she says it’s not necessarily a death sentence but one should get preventative check-ups. “You must not be in denial and if you catch cancer at the right stage, it is completely curable,” she observed.

However the 43-year-old cautioned against ignoring one’s health.”I learnt the hard way that it is not the right way to live so it’s very important to invest in yourself, in your health,” she added. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2015.

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