Monday, February 1, 2016

Although Roxanne Edwards does not define herself as super human, she in fact is. When setting aside her impressive physique, it's her outlook and perspective on humans and society that make her such a powerful individual. In her interview with DIS Magazine, Edwards explains that her journey of bodybuilding began at the age of 30, much later than one would expect. Even as she lived a good portion of her life with an average body type, she hands down would choose her life with a "Hard Body" every time.
This choice would then signify an importance that Stuart Ewen's "Hard Bodies" overlooks. Edwards mentions that her bodybuilding was initially motivated by her want to "look good naked" but as she progressed through her journey, she discovered more of her strength from within. Edwards makes several comments about femininity throughout the interview, however, "I wear my strength outward" was the most impressionable. When considering Ewen's article, those who strive to achieve this body are in search for the "perfect" body that symbolizes power and wealth. Edwards take on her body isn't either and in fact is the opposite. She sees her body as her inside strength displayed for the world.
Edwards recognizes people’s negative depiction of her body and responds that “We judge by our own wishful thinking.” Because one wants the “perfect” body they take that idea and project it on to every person that they see.  For Edwards, her personal views of herself matter much more than any words pitted against her.  This is clearly visible when she discusses the idea of femininity. There are different versions of femininity across the world. It cannot be simply defined just by the way one looks. Having the biological components of a female, according to Edwards, doesn’t make you a woman. It’s about excepting who you are, just the way you are and acknowledging the beauty in it. Her example of drag queens teaching her how to walk in heels exemplifies the attributes one needs to have in order to be feminine. Despite them lacking the physical features of a women, those drag queens who worked twice as hard to learn how to be feminine is what being a woman is.
Contrary to Ewen’s idea that Hard Bodies have no biography, Edwards sees her body as everything she is proud of. Her body represents her determination, hard work and most importantly her inner strength. Bodybuilding, to her, is about working on who is she as a person while working on her outer appearance. Her insecurities are completely unrelated to her body or her image but rather how she interacts with the world. I completely adore and respect the way she embraces her body in her photo shoot. Edwards is photographed in various “feminine” outfits, from a bikini to a club-like dress and in each photo her confidence is radiant. She proudly displays her large muscles in each item she wears including an image of her hand with her nails done and a bracelet

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