Cosmopolitan recently ran an article featuring UFC bantamweight Jessica Eye where she talked about self-esteem issues with respect to their bodies. Eye was featured along with Olympic gold medalists Sanya Richards-Ross and Natasha Hastings and fitness models Christmas Abbott and Massy Arias.
The underlying issue for the athletes was reconciling the perception of what a female bodies should be versus their athletic bodies. The magazine is geared to women and the article addresses many issues that young women have with their bodies. The overriding issue was the “body-shaming” most of those interviewed endured including people who believe that they are “too muscular” or “masculine.”
Eye talked about being raised like a tomboy as she was raised by her father and did not meet her mother until she was 16 years old. She also revealed being bullied at a young age and through her early teenage years by her father.
Payout Perspective:
The article is great exposure for Eye and allows her to reveal a little bit about herself. It also serves a purpose as not only is the interview good PR for Eye and the UFC it also speaks out about bullying and body issues among young women. These are two initiatives that the UFC could capitalize on to boost the profiles of its women fighters as it moves forward.
Leave a Reply