Signal Senior Staff Writer
msathe@the-signal.com
Posted: Nov. 5, 2009 7:24 p.m.
As a child, Diane Israel’s home life was unmanageable — clinically depressed mother, mentally disabled brother and a domineering father who pushed her to the emotional brink.
As a teen, she found one area of her life she could control — her body. Israel became a world-class marathon runner and tri-athlete, a chronic exerciser who barely ate enough to function. So little in fact, Israel’s bones were comparable to a senior citizen and her body grew facial hair to keep her warm.
She was, in short, an anorexic, one of millions of U.S. girls and a small percentage of boys who suffer from an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia or binge eating.
Israel’s 50-minute documentary, “Beauty Mark,” chronicles her compulsions and tries to find the answer to why she and so many Americans obsess over physical perfection.
Shown Oct. 28 at College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center, the viewing was hosted by the campus’ Student Nutrition and Wellness Advocates at COC and introduced by Shari Barke, COC dietitian.
“Every fall we focus on body image and eating disorders, so we’re thrilled to bring ‘Beauty Mark’ to you,” Barke said. “All eating disorders are really coping tools for pain. As a society, we’re encouraged to be perfect on the outside, when what we really need to do is work within.”
“Beauty Mark” outlined not only Israel’s body image struggles, but those of bodybuilder Rick Jones and multiple Iron Man winner Dave Scott, as well as marathon runner Eileen Hart-Pena.
Israel interviews entertainment heavyweights such as playwright Eve Ensler and “Beauty Myth” author Naomi Wolf, who have long encouraged women to embrace their real selves and not try to compete with the media images of attractiveness.
Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty,” which features real-life models with freckles, wrinkles, and ample figures, is highlighted in the movie as a step forward to breaking the traditional Madison Avenue mold.
It took a physical breakdown at age 28 for Israel to move forward on her path to self-acceptance.
Now a psychotherapist in Boulder, Colo., Israel felt compelled to make “Beauty Mark,” as a part of the healing process.
Israel was the first to speak out of a four-woman panel that included Barke, Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund, and Michele Tamarkin, an eating disorder specialist and president of the International Association of Eating Disorder Specialists.
“If you are struggling with an eating disorder, I encourage you to get the help you need,” Israel said. “We are starting a ‘Beauty Mark’ movement, with stones that read ‘you are beautiful because you helped someone out today’ or something like that. We need to change the language from ‘You look so good’ to ‘What you did was so good.’”
Barke couldn’t agree more. In the week leading up to the event, she and her SNAC coalition held a “Real Beauty” contest, encouraging students and staff to submit artwork that reflected their idea of beauty.
The hallway exhibit displayed photos, paintings, and portraits of full-figured women with scenes of stunning outdoor landscapes.
SNAC also took part in ‘Fat Talk Free,” week in October, a national campaign to end negative, self-defeating references of bodies, food and exercise.
“How many times have you asked someone, ‘Do I look fat in this?’” Barke asked the audience as more than two-thirds of hands were raised. “Friends don’t let friends fat talk. Not only are you hurting yourself, you could be hurting someone around you that may be struggling with body disorder issues.”
Haglund weighed in on the topic with a recounting of her own struggles with anorexia.
As a child, Haglund strived to be a prima ballerina, which involved relentless rehearsing and keeping her food intake to a minimum.
A self-described “type A personality,” Haglund was crushed at 16 when she realized ballet stardom was not to be hers. Her family noticed Haglund’s unhealthy habits and frighteningly thin figure and sent her into an eating disorder treatment facility. Haglund was seen by a nutritionist, primary care physician and psychotherapist.
“I was still in denial. I was nasty, like all ballet girls, I was hungry all the time and it makes you grumpy,” she said.
A bone scan revealed that she had osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis, usually found in middle-aged women. Further tests revealed more bad health news for Haglund.
“It terrified me when I realized I could die from cardiovascular issues before I was 20,” Hanglund said. “I felt motivated to do important things.”
That included going to college. Haglund began participating in beauty pageants to win scholarships.
The Michigan native managed to win her first title, as Miss Oakland City, outfitted in her prom dress for the beauty portion and a $5 Goodwill dress for the talent contest.
Haglund really found her voice during the speaking engagements that came along with the title.
“I shared my story and people came up to me afterwards to thank me for being honest, for admitting I wasn’t perfect,” Haglund said. “I realized when I spoke about the eating disorder issue, when I opened up, that people responded with inspiration and hope.”
She went on to win Miss Michigan before taking the Miss America title in 2008. Now part of the media circuit, Haglund is keenly aware of the forces at work behind body image.
She balked when handed a stock of shots for autographing at an event that had been digitally retouched, as most celebrity photos are in mainstream lifestyle, beauty and celebrity publications.
“I looked like an alien,” she said. “It didn’t look like me.”
Citing her own mother, a breast cancer survivor, as her role model because of her subsequent charity work, Haglund began the Kirsten Haglund Foundation in February, 2009, with a mission to raise funds and provide treatment scholarships to assist families and individuals battling eating disorders.
“If you’re going to go on any kind of diet, go on a media diet,” she said. “We live in a capitalistic society, corporations don’t care about your self-worth. Vote with your dollars. Don’t buy products that promote negative body image messages and if you don’t like what you see on TV, turn it off.”
According to Tamarkin, one out of every four Americans knows someone who has struggled or is struggling with an eating disorder. In her practice, she sees clients ranging from eight to 88; treatment can range from outpatient therapy to a full-time residential protocol.
“Eating disorders are the number one killers of all psychiatric disorders. It’s often generational, passing down from mom or grandma to their daughters or sons,” Tamarkin said. “It’s important to stop the cycle.”
For more information on “Beauty Mark,” visit www.beautymarkmovie.com.
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