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Former model Nicole Clark helps young people realize that there is so much more to life than the models and reality TV stars they see splashed across ...
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Mean what you and -- media.
Omnimedia usually tells us that we have to be skinny and that we have to have an eclipse.
-- it's upsetting.
Some it's.
I mean yeah ice cream.
What's beautiful.
Even play.
-- You need.
It's.
Every -- thing that he's had every.
So they turn of events like say we'll see you this technique -- pregnant.
Yeah.
It's.
Hollywood it.
-- there -- whatever they're advertising on television news he's not really any I didn't holders in the I have my people.
It's not -- They're making.
That someone make -- model.
-- beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it is so true that Hollywood sort of paints an extremely unrealistic.
Picture especially for our youth who look up to the Hollywood celebrities as to what should be normal and believe me they are not here.
They are teaching teens how to navigate the dangerous media former model has set out.
On a mission and she joins me to bring awareness of the younger generations that there is so much more to life than models and reality TV -- is seeing splashed across.
Today's numerous media outlets joining me now is Nicole -- she's a former model and director of Kabul cover girl culture.
And Jon Clark is the director of wise guy workshops thank you both.
For coming on to talk to us.
Nicole officer review first because as you know better than anybody as a teenager -- started modeling cracks.
And so you know very well the pressure -- of of being a teenager and trying to live up to a certain.
Physical.
Appearance and you're a model so imagine for all of those who were not models who don't have the benefits.
Of being as beautiful as as as as models because you're paid to be.
You don't look a certain way.
Many children kids growing up don't look that way and they look up to people like you.
So tell me about the pressures that that these teenagers are facing and how the media is just making it worse.
In the -- that girls are facing today are actually more intense than when I was growing up when I was modeling today.
There's a pressure to be pretty and skinny but added to that now is this sexy you have to be sexy and so it's come pounding.
And the girls are getting his message that younger and younger ages girls as young as six hour.
Worried about their body image there's clinical depression anger roles as young as five and six now and so girls are being bombarded on a daily basis what -- what.
They should be valued for an -- things that are not really truly valuable and human being.
Music of the model industry can be damaging to young girls how long did you model for what was your experience.
I model with the -- for about four years internationally -- My experience I saw around me the impact that it was having on girls I was fortunate -- my parents -- -- very confident and have self esteem and self respect.
And I was an athlete so I didn't have the pressure to be a certain size.
But if I had to go back into the -- -- street today I would be categorized as plus size and so.
It's just can sorting our ideals of beauty in and perceptions of what's healthy.
And it's happening more and more to girls younger and their -- is like I said earlier and so.
My experience then I can't imagine what it's like for girls that are actually in the -- ministry compared to when I was there and I just.
Want to ask you you know you when your husband or that your conducting a self esteem workshop on several of them some of them.
Aimed at encouraging career -- outside of Hollywood.
First let me ask you John you know there's there's two for girls to for boys one for educators and parents one for women and a new mother daughter workshop.
Where where does does a father figure fallen -- all of this because.
It's not just moms who have to deal -- deal with teenage girls and as young as six years old the she's here just pointed out which is.
Startling to imagine a six year old having to try to live up to some kind of sexy image which is really disturbing.
What what -- these workshops aims to do.
Well I mean bring up the father's very important because that you know the dads are the first source of boys go to her how they learn how to treat women and how they have learned how to gain self -- of self worth for themselves.
And you know and then fathers don't necessarily have it because there are so wrapped up in the media messages well -- we've found is it.
Boys are being targeted.
Also strongly as the girls that they're they're being hit with a a different sort of message they're being taught.
That women are sex objects that are to be objective five and this is starting at a much younger -- and it did say you know when I was a kid.
And and so these messages are harmful so -- teaching teaching boys that.
Your value yourself workers completely based on these things that you -- you know the watched issues the car.
The clothes and hair the PlayStation but also women are just another one of those acquisitions thing you know the hottest girl -- guy with -- -- -- winds.
And this is harmful for our society it's it's devastating for for people are trying to find healthy relationships.
And it's a message is being perpetuated all throughout.
Boys' lives and it's also taken the morning -- girls.
You know I didn't even think about you know -- and I X I I thought about in the past how how.
Why is it that that men tend to -- women and and think of them sort of -- as sex objects if you will.
And it's so true that it's it really starts at home.
You know if if you see -- dad watching television and spotting sexy model or actress on television making comments about their physical -- verses their talents.
Clearly that's going to be picked up at a very early age in these workshops.
Can't imagine if go ahead imagine if he also has a daughter and what she hears from those comments as well also goes to goes for both ways from -- you know.
The -- really need to get on board -- this because they are indicating.
Both of the girl's hand and the -- is what it is you grow up to be you know sexy and healthy and or or vice Versa so.
We're trying to give them give them powerful message -- then we're also doing these workshops for the boys because we want to arm them.
With and girls one arm them with tools they concede to the media major -- themselves they can build real self esteem him.
We can give them tools that can unplug from from the peer -- all around even the peer pressure from their own parents.
So you're workshops are the wise guy workshops.
Alongside your workshops Nicole you have seen through the media matrix.
That's grades 912.
And then you have a how to build -- food self esteem.
Workshop and that applies to grades five through eight what -- you tell us about those workshops.
Yes the -- the workshops -- all of it because of the success of cover -- culture in the education community saying please come speak to our girls so.
I go into the schools and girls organizations and I talk about.
Actually help -- And then I also focus on the sexual as a nation of girls and median of violence against women and girls in the media.
And help girls understand how this is affecting their perceptions of themselves and their worth and also.
How boys are being affected by this as well.
And then I also focus on by the image because according to the the district school boards here in Los Angeles and even in Canada and the Canadian mental health board.
Shared with me that -- biggest deterrent to girl's success in schools is body image.
And so it's a huge focus for me is to help girls understands.
The fashion industry and advertising's ideals of what is.
Beautiful and that the body should they should aspire to and it's not based on health and is not based on beauty.
And that really opens girls' eyes and it actually they get upset they get they get angry but I also give them tools to take action and what can they do in their current life today to take action to create change because that's our solution.
I think there should be uniforms and all schools both public and private it's -- a lot less money having to buy designer clothing your kids because you know they all want it they Wear the same exact thing every day it's not sexy looking I wore them my heated them but you know what -- everybody else is wearing the same thing.
You're not really looking because there's really not much to look -- they are not sexy.
I can attest to that that's a great point I'm telling you what I tell girls' uniforms nationwide make them man to the end they -- it would save a lot actually -- scars.
Indeed I tell girls in my -- it's your deeds not your duds -- define him yes absolutely right Nicole Clark and John Clark thank you very much I just wanna throw the website there again.
It's www.
Cover girl culture dot com.
And -- -- Clark dot com Nicole Clark and John Clark thank you very much and good luck to you both and I think it's a great thing what you're doing there.
And there -- only making her having a sorry sure thing we are.
