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Perfectly imperfect: model Clara Tan empowers the internet to #ShowYourFlaws
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The new me: Since she began her #ShowYourFlaws campaign, Clara Tan has been featured in Vogue Singapore and worked with high-profile brands such as Maybelline. (Hariono Halim) (Clara Tan archives/Hariono Halim)
N
o longer subjecting herself to unrealistic standards of beauty, fashion editorial model-turned-body positivity advocate Clara Tan throws caution to the wind and waves her flag of self-love with confidence.
One act of impulsiveness can change everything. Such a declaration accurately describes Clara Tan’s latest career transformation from a fashion model to a self-fulfilled body positivity advocate.
It all happened after a client took issue with her changing figure. In a matter of hours after hearing the criticism, driven by frustration, she decided to show off her full figure in all its glorious imperfection to the whole internet through her social media account — not knowing whether it would end her career or open up a whole new vista for the 26-year-old model.
Where did this seemingly reckless gutsiness come from? “It came from [being a] Virgo!” she said, half-jokingly.
Destiny and diet
Most young women pursue modelling for glamorous clothes or fancy checks. Clara, however, pursued modelling because, in her own words, “I was born to be a model”.
“If you look at my pictures as a kid—when I was around five years old—my pose was already model-like!” she told The Jakarta Post via Zoom on Sept. 24.
