About Naomi

Chronic Dieter, Struggling Actress/Model and Educator turned Body Liberation Badass

Like many people raised as girls in my generation, I was obsessed with being thin between the ages of about 11-31. In 2014 I quit dieting and began my healing journey. Now, I help others with theirs.

I’ve been a “big girl” my whole life and I’ve known ever since I was little that there was something different about me–and not in a good way.

6 years old (far left) with other girls my age

13 years old (center) with my family. My brothers: 16 and 18

I had my first meeting with a dietitian at age eleven (she told me to write down everything I ate for a week, then circled the “bad” foods with a red pen. A red pen!!) Then came five summers at weight loss camp, and, all told, two decades of actively obsessing over the size and shape of my body, what I ate, and how much I exercised.

One night in 2014 I just broke.

I don’t remember what the exact catalyst was—all I know is that it was pouring rain and I found myself sobbing in my car, utterly exhausted. 

22 years old, the fall after my final summer at weight loss camp

18 years old, prom night

For the first time, the cause of my tears wasn’t the weight gain itself (something I had cried about many many times before), but rather the exhaustion involved in the roller coaster of weight cycling. I was SO TIRED of being so obsessed with my body. Exhausted from the whiplash of feeling worthy one day and worthless the next. Exhausted from the hypervigilance required to constantly assess my location in the beauty hierarchy. Did I look better than her? Was she thinner than me? Is that what I look like? Is that? 

Things started to change bigtime after that night.

I decided to move from Chicago to California and I ended up connecting with the non-profit organization The Body Positive. What I learned from them began to completely transform my life. 

Since then, I have been committed to the work of unlearning my conditioning–an ongoing process, which I couldn’t do without the help of my own community, mentors, and providers.

It is my absolute honor to be someone who helps others do the same. 

Other things you might like to know:

  • I’m a proud auntie to 5 niblings, plus many more children of dear friends who are like sisters to me

  • I’m a helicopter dog mom to my senior chihuahua, Franny ♥️🐾

  • I love art - watercolors, drawing, and collage, mostly. Putting color to paper makes me happy. 🎨

  • I’ve had many jobs, including: actor, figure model, nanny, circus performer, dancer, fashion model, waitress, barista, administrative assistant, after school teacher, summer camp counselor, special ed teacher, non-profit program manager, writer,  (yoga teacher, artist, coach, and yoga therapist, of course) and probably a few more that I’m forgetting!

  • I love water and swimming–if I can dive into it, even better. 🏊 

Experience & Media:

Read about my Speaking and Teaching Experience Here