Brisbane-born Georgina Burke is not afraid to speak her mind. Since she was 17, the Australian model has been a champion of change in the fashion industry, and paved her own inspiring path.
Now 33, Geo, as she’s affectionately known to friends, has shot for Sports Illustrated, Clarins, Ralph Lauren and has since become the face of Seafolly. In the season’s latest collections, Georgina sat down with marie claire to chat about body positivity, inclusion and diversity.
marie claire: What Are Your Thoughts On The Difference Between Size Inclusivity And Tokenism In Fashion?
Georgina Burke: “Historically, models have been a size zero, which is an abnormal body type for much of the world. In Australia, the average size is 14/16. Using models that are closer to this size is not tokenism, it is using a representative size model for the target customer.
The brands that were ahead of the game doing this, not because others were, but because they knew their target customer. Only in the last few years have we seen more customers put their money where their mouth is and only to support brands who support them.
We are in a time of cancel culture at the moment and if your doors aren’t open to everyone don’t expect them to stay open. Its also not enough to have brands just size up their looks. Larger sizes need to be looked at differently to a size 8 shape rather than just sizing up. That’s the true inclusivity. The tokenism is all about just taking a size 8 and making the same cut but for a 22 which hasn’t been altered to accommodate the different issues on bigger sizes. It’s wonderful when a brand does the cut and fit on a 16 and then looks at the smaller and larger sizes, it’s truly inclusive.”
MC: Model Ashley Graham Has Said That ‘Plus-Size Is A Form Of Shaming’ – Would You Agree? How Do You Feel When You’re Labelled As ‘Plus-Size’?
GB: “I agree having modelled along Ashley for years. It’s been incredible to see her pave the way and knock down barriers while not being apologetic about herself.
Ashley actually helped me 6 years ago find my value and take my career to the next level. I have a lot of respect for her. Plus-sized is an industry term that I have been labeled for 13 years. Unfortunately I do think the term plus size does come with a negative connotation.
I personally think labels can be a hindrance to anyone. Why should anyone be pigeon holed? If you want to book a model, book them for who they are, not because they tick a box. Also, what is the message we are sending young girls and women by labeling women with normal body sizes as plus-sized?”
MC: It’s Reported That 90% Of Teenagers Have Some Level Of Body Image Concern. Tell Us About Your Relationship With Your Body As A Teenager. And Now?
GB: “I attended an all girls private school where everyone looked like carbon copies of each other. Most thought it was fun to ostracize anyone who didn’t fit that cookie cutter way and with that I had a rough childhood from bullying. I was everything but a size 8.
Unfortunately people don’t understand the power of words whether that be adults or children, particularly when those words are directed to teenagers who are still discovering who they are.
I was not only the tallest kid in my class, but was also overweight until I was 17. I developed an eating disorder and was so weak, I couldn’t even climb on my horse and was passing out at the desk of my internship.
It took my father finally asking me if I was done yet to make a change. Maybe the modeling world wasn’t for me if they didn’t accept me for who I was. Thankfully, someone did and I’m much more accepting of who I am and while I struggle with body image like most people, I understand that it’s normal for people to have ups and downs in their weight and it’s important to find a healthy lifestyle that works for you.
Health is the most important thing and everybody’s healthy weight is different, it’s important to be accepting of that. It is the way you are born.”
MC: As A Model, You Have A Voice. What Are The Biggest Messages You Want To Share With Your Community?
GB: “Never stop being who you are. Authenticity is key. I lost myself for a few years being surrounded by people who did not have my best interest at heart. Until I regained my confidence and valued myself for me again, I wasn’t in a great place mentally or physically.
So to my community, be true to yourself, surround yourself with others who support you, and be confident; you are beautiful as you are. Your journey to self acceptance is a long one and there are no shortcuts. I think being the best version of yourself involves surrounding yourself with good people, at least it’s what works for me.”
MC: 1 in 3 Australians Are Unhappy With The Way They Look. Why Are We So Unhappy And What’s The Answer?
GB: “I think we always compare ourselves to our neighbours which is only magnified by the proliferation of social media. We look at social media and magazines and it’s still shocking the lack of diversity.
marie claire has always celebrated body diversity which now, to be on its glossy pages, is a huge honor and step in my career. It’s important to remember that much of what we see on social media or in ads is not real. It’s all highly curated and edited to portray a certain image.
See your own self worth, cut out negativity and self loathing, and remember nobody lives a perfect life, no matter what they post, and it should help with the negative self-talk.”
MC: Tell Us About The Most Memorable Moments In Your Career?
GB: “Being featured in a fashion story for marie claire definitely makes the list of most memorable moments. Editorials are hard to come by these days, let alone ones that feature women of size, so it was a career highlight.
Shooting for Lauren Ralph Lauren has been a dream as well. An iconic brand ! Not only is the LRL team incredible, it’s an honour to work with a brand that is recognized worldwide and has catered to men and women of normal and larger sizes for years. They see me , not my size!”
MC: When You Look In The Mirror, Do You Feel Beautiful? What Makes You Feel Beautiful?
GB: “Yes and no. We all have good days and bad days. I travel a lot. Sometimes I’m a hermit crab at home dragging myself around in pyjamas. Sometimes I’m glammed up and on a red carpet. I love that I live a very high low life.
As a woman, I speak from experience when I say our bodies change over time, even daily at times. Having put in so much self-work, I value my mental and physical health more than anything which in turn has made it easy to love myself that much more. Remember health is wealth!”
MC: Tell Us About The Moment’s You’ve Been Called “Too Big” Or “Too Small”. How Do You Navigate Confidence During These Moments?
GB: “The first time I dipped my toe in the fashion industry, I was told I was too small. At my heaviest I was told to eat up or drink wine to puff out, which wasn’t healthy physically or mentally. On the flip side, for many years I was told I was too big for the Australian market at my smallest while being too small for the American market at the same size.
I have yo-yoed over the years. This year I finally got on top of my health and cut off all the negativity around me and have never felt or been more healthy. I feel now I have the most incredible managers to work with who understand who I am and clients either want to work with me or they don’t. What someone wants today they may not want tomorrow. I’m in it for the long haul. I love having long standing relationships with clients.”
MC: You Mentioned School Bullying, What Did It Teach You?
GB: “Bullying is something I don’t wish on my worst enemy, especially these days with social media where you can be targeted by a much larger audience than the kids at your school. I was bullied all through primary school and the majority of high school, not only by the kids, but also by the staff.
The fact I am known at my high school as the ugly duckling among teachers says it all. How much you fight back is important and our rule in our household growing up was that if someone hits you, you go double as hard. Whether you think that right or wrong I was hit in school and fought back it was the only thing that stopped bullies.
I do see bullying as a reflection and or projection of people. Sad people hurt happy people. I think bullying comes in many forms and I will not stand for it. I do think schools need to do a better job and implement more systems for dealing with bullying. I was removed from a school not the bully.
Bullying breaks parts of you. If you drop a plate you will never put it back the same, I think this is how bullying works. It instils things in you. Still to this day, past trauma raises its ugly head. I never want someone to think bullying is acceptable in any shape or form. Unless experienced, no one gets to comment on the effects it has. Please seek help where you can and don’t stop until you get the help you need.”
MC: As A Body Positivity Advocate, How Do You See Your Role In Young Girl’s Lives?
GB: “It’s a role I take very seriously and something I want to take to a bigger level. My inbox is always open to talk, but I would love to talk more on this having lived through it and still surviving in an industry that has laughed me out of casting rooms to making it as a full time model, being flown all around the world to get my picture taken for some of the biggest brands in the industry.
I want my story to have a positive impact on young people and for them to see that they are beautiful for who they are, no matter their size. I want to help them learn to love themselves and grow to be confident young adults.”
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