For many, body-shaming is far more than an occasional insult; it is a relentless assault on dignity played out in classrooms, family gatherings, workplaces, crowded buses and across the unforgiving landscape of social media. Behind the laughter, nicknames and “harmless” jokes lie stories of rejection, shattered self-esteem, lost opportunities and silent emotional scars. DANIEL AYANTOYE chronicles the painful realities of people whose greatest struggle is living in bodies society refuses to accept
At 27, Iyanu Olawale had convinced herself that a new job would be the beginning of a new life.
For months, the Lagos-based office assistant endured relentless humiliation at the travel and tourism company where she worked. Every workday came with another remark about her body size, while every insult chipped away at her confidence.
So when an Information Technology firm in Ikeja invited her for an interview, she clung to the opportunity like a lifeline.
For a brief moment, she believed she had found her escape.
