Taryn Brumfitt
Born1977 or 1978 (age 45–46)
Australia
Occupation(s)Body acceptance activist, writer, filmmaker
Years active2012–present
Partner(s)Matt Brumfitt (m. 2002/03, div. 2020)
Tim Pearson
Children3
Websitetarynbrumfitt.com

Taryn Brumfitt (born 1977 or 1978) is an Australian body positivity advocate, writer, photographer, and filmmaker,[1] known for founding the Body Image Movement and for her 2016 documentary film Embrace. The crowdfunded film Embrace Kids, intended for use in schools, was released in 2022.

Early life and education

Brumfitt was born in 1977 or 1978.[1]

She attended Unley High School in the Adelaide suburb of Netherby.[2]

Career

Brumfitt was first a photographer. After the birth of her third child, she considered cosmetic surgery, as she was unhappy with the appearance of her body, but took up body building instead.[3]

Brumfitt founded the Body Image Movement in 2012.[4] The Body Image Movement describes itself as "on a quest to end the global body-hating epidemic" and "working to put an end to body loathing and spread the message of body loving".[5] It aims to recruit a Body Image Movement Global Ambassador Program (BIMGAP), of people who will spread its message internationally through social media and local contacts.[6]

In 2016 Brumfitt's film Embrace was released.[7] Brumfitt gave a talk at the TEDx event in Adelaide in 2016.[8]

From around 2019 the movement crowdfunded for a documentary film, Embrace Kids, aimed at children aged 8-12, to make available to schools around the world.[9] Featuring many well-known entertainers and artists, such as Celeste Barber, the duo Electric Fields, Jameela Jamil, and Chloé Hayden, the film was released in 2022, listed on IMDb as Embrace: Kids.[10][11]

Recognition

In September 2018 Brumfitt was named one of The Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence in the Global category.[12]

She was named 2023 Australian of the Year in January 2023.[13][14]

Personal life

Brumfitt experienced family tragedy when her brother Jason died of a heroin overdose aged 28.[15]

She married Matt Brumfitt in 2002 or 2003. He had previously worked in logistics but gave up that career to become the managing director of the Body Image Movement. They have three children.[16] They divorced in 2020.[17]

As of 2023 her partner is Tim Pearson.[2]

On 10 October 2023, Brumfitt was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an open letter supporting the Yes vote in the Indigenous Voice referendum, initiated by psychiatrist Patrick McGorry.[18][19]

Selected publications

References

  1. ^ a b Berry, Sarah (20 May 2014). "Taryn Brumfitt's Body Image Movement". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b Tindale, Lanie (25 January 2023). "Australian of the Year wants people to 'stop being at war with their bodies'". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  3. ^ Wilson, Georgia (23 March 2015). "Taryn Brumfitt's global campaign to stop another generation from hating their bodies". ABC Radio Sydney. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  4. ^ "About the movement". Body Image Movement. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Home page". Body Image Movement. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Ambassadors". Body Image Movement. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  7. ^ Hughes, Sarah (1 January 2017). "Ex-bodybuilder Taryn Brumfitt campaigns to ditch diets and end myth of the ideal shape". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Speaker profile:Taryn Brumfitt". TEDx Adelaide. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Embrace Kids Documentary: About the Project". Body Image Movement. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Embrace: Kids (2022)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ Williams, Olivia (12 September 2022). "Embrace: Kids". KIDDO Mag. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ Patten, Sally (17 October 2018). "Women of Influence 2018 winner fights for recognition of Indigenous Australians". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  13. ^ Sakkal, Paul (25 January 2023). "Body positivity advocate Taryn Brumfitt named Australian of the Year". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Adelaide mother named 2023 Australian of the Year for helping women love their bodies". ABC News. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Taryn Brumfitt - the Five of My Life".
  16. ^ "How Taryn Brumfitt beat the body shamers". Now To Love. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2021. Mathew, her husband of 14 years
  17. ^ Mollard, Angela (25 October 2021). "Taryn Brumfitt: How a hedge trimmer helped me get through my divorce". Body + Soul. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  18. ^ Butler, Josh (11 October 2023). "Australian of the Year winners sign open letter saying no vote in voice referendum would be a 'shameful dead end'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  19. ^ Winter, Velvet (10 October 2023). "Voice referendum live updates: Australians of the Year Yes vote letter in full". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 11 October 2023.

External links

Winners of the Australian of the Year Award
Authority control databases
Categories