LOS ANGELES—The third annual Chaturbate Health and Wellness Day was once again a success, with participants learning from fellow broadcasters about everything from how to maintain their mental health, to what to expect when transitioning, to how to learn to not only accept but love their bodies.
The event, which took place Sep. 25 on the streaming platform, featured panelists and a keynote speaker who spoke on various ways to keep physical and mental health at their peak.
Said chief operations officer for Chaturbate Shirley Lara, "Chaturbate has always taken the health and wellness of its broadcasters seriously. We want to make sure we are always doing everything we can to support our broadcasters, and the annual Health and Wellness event has become very popular. For people to get the message that they are supported at all levels is something we really believe in."
The day kicked off with the "Nourishing Body & Mind: Healthy Habits" panel featuring Dr. Jess, Juliette Garden, and Drizzy. The group talked about how food can affect the mind and body and offered tips on keeping a balance. Nourishing colorful snacks, taking the time to meal prep, and enjoying foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids are essential, the trio agreed, as is making sure to get the right amount and type of rest, especially since many broadcasters will work non-traditional hours.
Garden said she prepares for sleep by making sure she is in a dark room and has complete silence, while Drizzy noted it can be difficult to prioritize self-care when your schedule is different from most other people, but stressed that it’s important to make time for self-care.
Garden said, "You can care about your friends, your family, and even your fans, but you can’t fill other people up and then still care about yourself."
Keynote speaker Leila Lewis was up next, and the award-winning BBW adult performer and content creator touched on the struggles she faced entering the industry, as well as the successes she has enjoyed in "Curves and Confidence: Navigating Body Image as a Curvier Model."
Lewis noted when she joined the industry in 2017, it was at the peak of the body acceptance movement, but that she still had problems finding agencies to represent her and companies to hire her. Most did not want to take chances on plus-size models, she said but added that BBW and plus size are consistently leading search terms on all types of adult sites.
She said keeping a positive attitude throughout the process took some effort, and she still works daily to make sure she loves her body. Lewis suggested daily affirmations for her fellow broadcasters, as well as realizing that while there might be people who don’t appreciate someone's appearance, there are just as many who do.
Lewis said, "No matter what or who you are, there is a place in this industry for you."
Following Lewis’ talk was the LGBTQ Transitioning panel, moderated by Dr. Xtine Milrod and featuring panelists Muse and Aurora Skye. The three discussed the challenges and rewards that come with working to become your true self. Among the points they addressed was the use of pronouns.
Muse noted, "Use whatever pronouns make you feel like you," while Skye warned against self-restriction, "You might identify by a lot of pronouns or just one; it depends on how you feel inside."
Also talked about is the term non-binary and what it means and how transphobia is one of the hardest things people transitioning will ever deal with. Skye said, "Nobody fits really into one box."
Skye added, "Cis people are never questioned why they are the way they are, and that’s not fair."
Milrod also noted that transitioning is different for every person, and can be stopped or reversed if so desired. There is no one correct way to go through the process she noted.
The final panel of the day, "Body Acceptance & Mental Health," featured moderator Dr. Danielle Sass and Chaturbate broadcasters Ashley Blayde, Dahlia Dee, and Kates Kurves. The focus of the panel was self-love and acceptance and how it fosters resilient mental health.
"Being in front of so many awesome people who are telling you how attractive you are really helps to boost your confidence,” said Dee, adding that her goal is always body acceptance versus body positivity.
Kurves echoed that sentiment, adding that she was skeptical at the start of her career that she would be able to find fans since she is a plus-sized cammer, but that she has since learned there is someone for everyone. She said, "Camming has really helped me to learn to love myself more, and that was such a weight lifted."
Blayde talked about how she started her sobriety journey during her camming career, and that she has undergone emotional, mental, and physical changes during the process, but has fans who have been supportive every step of the way.
Self-love was also a point addressed during the panel, with Sass noting that self-care is inclusive for all genders.
Added Dee, "Self-love is not a girl thing. It’s not just a tub and a glass of wine, but it is about consciously treating yourself kindly."
Those who missed the Health and Wellness Day presentations can view them at Chaturbate.com/HealthandWellness.
For more, visit Chaturbate.com or follow on Twitter @Chaturbate.
