Lady Gaga's been subjected to a string of fat jibes since relatively unflattering pics of her surfaced online recently (she claims she's put on 11kg as a result of eating too much Italian food), and now she's fighting back the only way she knows how — in her underwear. (For the record, we're not complaining.)
Gaga posted four unedited pics of herself to her website, LittleMonsters.com, to sound the horn for Body Revolution 2012 — a forum for fans to share photos and embrace their own body issues. Gaga claims to have struggled with bulimia and anorexia since she was 15, and is now looking to "breed some motherfucking compassion".
In an open letter, Gaga urged fans to: "Be brave and post a photo of you that celebrates your triumph over insecurities. My mother and I created the BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION for one reason: 'to inspire bravery.' This profile is an extension of that dream. Be brave and celebrate with us your 'perceived flaws,' as society tells us. May we make our flaws famous, and thus redefine the heinous.
"I have been startled and overwhelmed with pride and emotion the past few days. Gratitude mostly. Seeing you post photos of things on your bodies and in your minds that you feel society tells you you should be ashamed of. You are showing them you have no shame. You are brave, strong, and accepting not only of yourself, but of others through your experiences. You are proud to be born this way, and brave in your vulnerability with this community. Watching you all create a safe space online for people to be compassionate is the greatest gift you could ever give me.
"My weight/loss/gain since i was child has tormented me. No amount of help has ever healed my pain about it. But YOU have. My boyfriend prefers me curvier, when i eat and am healthy and not so worried about my looks, I'm happy. Happier then I've ever been. i am not going to go on a psycho-spree because of scrutiny. This is who I am. And I am proud at any size. And i love you, and want you to be proud in any form you may take as well. Please don't look for kindness in critics, go where you know the gold is. Here, in out hearts. Love, Gaga."
Unsurprisingly, responses have already begun flooding in — share your own pics, if you're so inclined, at littlemonsters.com.
