The first runner-up for Queen of the World Sarawak talks about her adolescent years, battling between her self-esteem and the discouraging comments from her peers about her height and size. Today, she is able to celebrate the diversity that her body has to offer.
Rising strong: From body-shamed to empowering others
As she remembered the names she was called in secondary school, Nastassia Affendi began shedding tears.
“I had a lot of nicknames in secondary school, such as ‘Antu tinggi’, ‘galah’, ‘Bini Popeye’, ‘giant’, and others. I attended an all-girls school, however the name-callings got worse when I went to university because of the gender mix in class.”
The name-calling had shunned her from having a proper social life and had degraded her self-esteem. Nastassia also said that she was always the tallest and biggest in group photos.
“Everything that happened during those times made me feel ashamed of myself and my body.”
Nonetheless, the mother of four said that what happened a decade ago no longer bothers her as she is much happier now.
The 33-year-old, who was just nominated as the first-runner-up Queen of the World Sarawak (QOTWS), advocates for body positivity, especially among the women community here. She was also crowned Mrs Body Beautiful for her confidence.
“I was motivated to join the pageantry by the support I received from my friends, family, and colleagues. My bosses are my main supporters and the reason I had the courage to join. They believe I have potential and have challenged me to try and experience it as they believe it is a good platform for me to improve and enhance my soft skills,” said the Accounts Executive Addendum to the CFO Secretary.
She added that the platform has given her more confidence.
“I’ve always been self-conscious about my body, and because of these insecurities, I fear being out in public. Since secondary school, people have teased or made fun of my size, height, and even the way I dress.”
Empowering women through body positivity
“Growing up, I was always the tallest in my class, a fact that ironically made me feel small. The comments and remarks from my peers about my physical appearance had cast a shadow on my self-esteem. Words that seemed harmless to those who uttered them became heavy stones I carried on my shoulders. In the eyes of society, I was defined by my height rather than the depth of my dreams or the strength of my characters.”
Nastassia also said that her journey to this point was built on the many battles she had with herself.
A journey that taught her the power of self-love and acceptance in a world that measures beauty by unrealistic standards, she found her purpose in advocating for body positivity.
She wants to inspire others that beauty is not limited to a particular shape, size, or height; rather, it is about breaking free from societal expectations and celebrating the diverse tapestry of human bodies.
“Through the platform that I established from QOTWS, I hope to raise awareness for individuals who are insecure or uncomfortable about themselves, or who are affected by body shaming, to get out of the bad vibe zone and just be happy with your own skin, shape, and size.”
She also emphasised that having a positive mindset towards our bodies contributes to having a healthy mind.
“If you feel good, you will look good. Our mental health is important. It is therefore vital to educate people about body positivity. I do this through communication via social media platforms. It may not sound like much, but it’s a start. I still have a long way to go, but I want to be able to help someone with body-related issues.”
Nastassia, who stands 173cm tall, advises people to always love themselves.
“You can always improve yourself, or you can just embrace your uniqueness! Ignore all the negative comments about your appearance and surround yourself with people who adore you for who you are.”
A goal-oriented person, Nastassia hopes to continue inspiring others about body positivity.
She hopes to be more proactive in promoting body positivity by regularly posting words of advice and encouragement on her social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram (Nastassia Affendi), and perhaps to build a support group to promote acceptance and appreciation of the diversity of body types and sizes.
