Meet the drama student promoting body positivity to Scotland’s young people
It's been a busy year so far for Katie Reid, a 21-year-old Drama and Performance student from Glasgow. Although she is still in the final year of her undergraduate degree course at Queen Margaret University (QMU), Katie has been working hard to dismantle diet culture and promote a healthier body image to children and young people in Scotland.
Katie was diagnosed with anorexia when she was 14, and since overcoming the illness, she’s been working as a Youth Ambassador for BEAT, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity. Katie has also campaigned for reduced waiting times for the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.
In May, Katie was invited to give a speech at the Scottish Parliament and was subsequently asked to co-chair the Scottish Government's 'Working Bodies' group. The group consists of clinicians, researchers and charity workers who have been busy developing a plan to encourage Scotland’s young people to be “body positive”.
“It’s [Working Bodies] all about encouraging people to appreciate their body for all its lumps and bumps and remembering that it’s yours,” said Katie. “It's the only one we've got so we shouldn't feel so pressured to shrink it because some influencer on social media said it looked better that way.”
After graduation, Katie hopes to combine her love for drama with her passion for promoting positive mental health by pursuing a career in dramatherapy. In the meantime, she is focusing on completing her degree.
Discover our full interview with Katie Reid
Notes to Editor
For further media enquiries, please contact Gavin McNee (Temporary Media Relations and Content Officer) at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: gmcnee@qmu.ac.uk, T: 0131 474 0000.
