I’ve been sexualised since I was as young as 10. Developing curves earlier than most of the girls around me meant that men immediately began to start seeing me in a sexual light rather than just seeing me for me. I’ve been catcalled more as a child than I ever have been as an adult. For a really long time I struggled with (and still do) gaining all of my confidence and worth through sexual validation, it wasn’t until I heard it being discussed on a podcast that I realised I was even doing it. Replacing actual intimacy, closeness, feelings of confidence and worth with validation through sex. All of my interactions with the men and women in my life were through a sexual perspective rather than the value I offered just simply as a person. It’s made my own relationship with sex and connection complicated and downright dangerous. When I stopped worrying about how other people saw me or my body (whether it was good enough, beautiful enough, skinny enough, whatever) it began to snap that connection of being seen as “sexy” or sexual as being worthy - I simply just was worthy because I knew I was. It’s allowed me to feel empowered in my body and confident in sharing all sides of myself through my platform. Instead of chasing the validation or trying to be seen in a certain way I simply see myself as art, as a body worthy of love, of respect, as more than just a body but a person, more than something people just look at and deem hot or not hot. Being sexualised so young I can’t even pinpoint or remember a time where I didn’t feel that way about myself, which is why I think it’s so important we create space to have these conversations and talk about these topics. Women’s health, sexual education, self worth and feeling safe are all so intrinsically linked and in order to have safe relationships with sex, ourselves, and others we need to be having these conversations no matter how confronting they may feel.