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Barbie Ferreira<\/a> never set out to be\u00a0a body-positivity activist<\/a>. In an interview with Bustle<\/a> published on Wednesday, she said that she used to speak \u201ca lot about body positivity because I had to.\u201d Ferreira, who started modeling at 16, recalled being shoehorned into an activist role at the beginning of her career, as if her body alone was a political statement. \u201cI\u2019d put on a bikini for a campaign, everyone would get mad, and suddenly I was an activist,<\/a>\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m 17 years old thinking, Sure, I\u2019ll be an activist if that\u2019s what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Ferreira explained that, because her weight \u201cfluctuates,\u201d she\u2019s been forced to talk about her body for her entire career. \u201cThe comments are constant,\u201d she said. \u201cI could be in character as someone else or just being myself, and the focus is always on my body.\u201d<\/p>\n She also said she doesn\u2019t want to participate in more dialogue about her weight \u2014 or other people\u2019s, for that matter \u2014\u00a0\u201cbecause it perpetuates an unhealthy society.\u201d \u201cIf we just keep focusing on looks,\u201d she said, \u201cwe all end up hating ourselves or becoming botched versions of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n Stay in touch.<\/p>\n The latest in style, self, culture, and power in your inbox.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n