meet
phillippa
Researcher. Consultant. Speaker. Author.
Champion and ally for women, girls and gender diverse people.
here’s my vision
I want to live in a world where no one is held back in life by the way they look, their gender and social identity, and how they choose to express themselves.
Where our bodies are a source of self-expression, fun and pleasure, and we accept and respect them as powerful instruments that help us move through life.
And where we recognise we are so much more than how we look.
That’s the world I’m dedicated to helping build.
my story
Born in New Zealand, raised in Australia and now a UK resident for over a decade, I’m a Professor of Psychology at the world-leading Centre for Appearance Research at UWE Bristol. I’m also a speaker, author and the Founder and Principal Consultant of Everybody Consulting, a global consulting group of thought leaders and social scientist experts in body image, appearance diversity and mental health.
What unites all the strands of my work is a strong sense of social justice, and that’s driven me from an early age.
I’ve been passionate about bodies, mental health, and equality since I gave my first presentation on the impact of the lack of diversity in the fashion and beauty industries in my Grade 10 social studies class!
Since then, I’ve spent over 18 years studying and researching psychology, body image, appearance diversity and mental health. This included a PhD in Health Psychology at The University of Queensland, where my award-winning research focused on the health and business benefits of body size representation in advertising.
Post-PhD, I’ve worked in academia for over a decade where I’ve published over 70 peer-reviewed studies investigating body image, appearance diversity and mental health in countries as far-flung as the UK, Australia, India, Brazil, Indonesia, USA and Sweden.
My research has featured in the New York Times, BBC, Forbes, Time, Vogue, and teaching case studies at Harvard Business School and School of Public Health.
The evidence-based body image programmes I’ve helped to create have been delivered to over 80 million people in 148 countries, in partnership with leading social-purpose driven brands and organisations like Dove, UNICEF, Nike, Instagram and Cartoon Network.
My consultancy projects have won industry awards including at the Tribeca Film Festival, Cannes Lions and Webby Awards.
I founded Everybody Consulting, where our global team of thought leaders and social scientist experts consult with powerhouse brands like Unilever, Nike, Instagram and NHS England to disrupt beauty and gender norms, and create more equitable societies.
When I’m not busy smashing beauty stereotypes, disrupting gender norms or generally dismantling the patriarchy, you can usually find me travelling (43 countries and counting!) in search of the best beach, coffee, local foodie spot, and Metallica’s latest gig.
why i do this work
Decades of evidence show that it’s more normal than not for women, girls and gender diverse people (and increasingly boys and men too) to feel shame, guilt, disgust and dissatisfaction with their bodies than it is for them to feel acceptance, respect and pride.
Scientific research shows that low body confidence affects all key areas of women’s and girls’ lives, from health, relationships, careers, education, and their agency to interact with the world.
I know what it’s like to be told you’re too big, too loud, too much. The associated shame during childhood lingered into my twenties, until I realised the problem was with society, and not me.
Just think about all the time, emotion, energy and money we spend trying to fit into society’s mould of how a woman should look to be considered attractive, successful and worthy.
Now imagine that time, energy and resource repurposed into things that women feel passionate about, that uplift and inspire them, and that benefits everybody in society?
When women, girls and gender diverse people feel seen, represented, liberated and valued, irrespective of how they look… our potential will be limitless.
want to join me?
If that sounds like a world you want to be part of, stick around!
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