Coastal Carolina University is sponsoring Love Your Body Day on Wednesday, Oct. 20 on the Lib Jackson Student Center Deck from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to raise awareness about health and body image issues for both men and women. The event is free and open to the public.

"Love Your Body Day serves to build self-esteem among everyone, but especially women, regarding their physical appearance, no matter what the magazines say," said Julinna Oxley, director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program. "This year the focus is on butts – and yes, we want people to celebrate their rear ends instead of just trying to exercise them away or sit on them. We’ll have a number of activities to help students do this in order to build a positive body image and healthy self-esteem.”

Events on the CCU campus will include a performance by the Coastalettes Dance Team, a catwalk for "strutting your stuff," funhouse mirrors, yoga demonstration, zumba event, Love Your Body Day buttons and Make Your Own Granola station, along with other light refreshments and presentations on nutrition, health and well being.

Love Your Body Day is a national event inviting citizens to speak out against industries (cosmetics, fashion, diet and food) that use negative images and ads that lead women to believe their bodies are unacceptable and in need of constant improvement. The main aim of the day is to protest beauty standards that are unrealistic and unhealthy for men and women, combat industries that profit from women's dissatisfaction with their bodies and break down stereotypes that discriminate against people based on their size and appearance. It is sponsored by the National Organization for Women (NOW) Foundation.

The local event is sponsored by the University's Women's and Gender Studies Program and the Office of Counseling Services.

For more information about the event, contact the Office of Counseling Services at 843-349-2305.