Karen Golec tells Helen Berriman how naturism, friendship and humour helped her reject narrow beauty standards and celebrate her body exactly as it is.
Dr Vian Aziz reflects on overcoming cultural expectations and body shame, and explains how naturism helped her discover freedom, self-acceptance and a supportive community.
Helen is a regular columnist for H&E, British Naturism’s Women’s Officer, and host of the Women in Focus podcast. For H&E, she writes about naturism from a personal and often quite candid perspective, covering everything from her own experiences and travels to the people, places and issues that make up the wider naturist world. Some pieces are serious, some are lighter, but they are always rooted in real experiences and genuine conversations. She says: “The message I keep coming back to is very simple: you do not have to change your body before you are allowed to enjoy it. Naturism taught me that, and I’d love more people to have the chance to discover it for themselves."