Hi Reader,

After my email last week (and a Youtube video) where I shared my struggles with body image and being on the receiving end of online hate, I received thousands of emails, messages and comments from my beautiful community.

And to say I am grateful would be an understatement.

These messages have genuinely changed the way I see myself.

I took a day off work last week, booked in to get my hair done, took myself out for a solo lunch, and sat there reading through as many of your messages as I could. I don’t think I was prepared for just how much they would affect me. I was completely overwhelmed and brought to tears more than once.

After years of reading negative comments about my body and the way I look, I think a part of me had started to believe them. I truly didn’t think many of you saw me as beautiful… and wow, I could not have been more wrong.

When I first started creating videos, I was always in front of the camera. That was such a big part of what I loved about it. But over time, after a certain creator started making videos about my food and labelling it as unhealthy, calorie dense and “fattening”, the comments quickly shifted to my body.

And it became a lot. As a young 30 year old who has always struggled with weight and how I looked, it was something I was unable to mentally handle. So I slowly removed myself from my videos. Not all at once, but bit by bit. And if I’m being honest, it’s something I really regret. Because I love being in the kitchen with you.

I love showing my face, talking you through what I’m cooking, and sharing meals that you can actually make at home. That is why I started, and it’s something I have slowly been coming back to.

And after growing up, becoming more confident within myself and hearing from so many of you… I finally feel ready showing myself again. So thank you. Truly. For reminding me who I am, and why I do this in the first place.

This is something I could talk about for hours but before I leave you, I wanted to share just some of the beautiful words I received and also let you know that my latest long form videos that documents a week in my kitchen cooking 30 minute dinners is now live!

These are the kinds of meals I lean on when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or just need something quick but still really delicious. And in parts of the video, I do look really tired but with my new found confidence and in the words of one my followers, I could not give a rats ass!!

If you watch it, I would love to know which one you would make first.

Love,

Daen xoxo