My Biggest Worry for Women's Mental Health in 2026 — Skinny is back

02. February, Full Moon in Leo speaking our truth

In true Leo fashion, this Full Moon brings illumination, not just clarity of thought, but clarity around what needs to be spoken.

And today I want to flip the script and talk about a deep worry that I feel urgently needs addressing at the moment. 

Today is the last day of the long school holidays in New Zealand and I am looking forward to having my kids go back to school tomorrow. 

The first day of the holidays brought up something unexpected for me.

My daughter desperately wanted to go and see the new Wicked movie. While I wanted her to enjoy herself and have a fabulous time with her friends I felt a deep knot in my stomach.

I was a worried Mama bear that didn’t want her to go and watch the movie - not because it is particularly scary or inappropriate for her age, but because of what it represents.

Many of you might think - what the heck, that is a strange thing to say while others might instantly understand what I am referring to. 

To me, this movie feels like another loud signal that “skinny is back.”
And with it, the quiet erosion of an era where body neutrality, diversity, and inclusion were beginning - slowly - to take up space.

I want to be very clear: I am not commenting on the individual bodies of the cast. That is not something I do or support.

What I am speaking to are the beauty standards and trends that are re-emerging - loudly, rapidly, and without much care for the impact they have on women and young people.

As a woman having grown up in the 90’s and early 2000’s most of you know what I mean when I say : I am having flashbacks and it scares the hell out of me. 

This time around however I feel strong enough and fiercely equipped to fight back. 

But I worry deeply for those women and also young girls that haven’t had the privilege to do the deeper work yet, to heal old wounds and to understand their own beauty, worthiness and power just as they are in their own skin even if that goes against what we are being made to belief is “beautiful” “in trend” or even dare I say disguised as “healthy”.

I am speaking to all of you out there that can hear the whisper return:

Am I good enough?
Do I need to change?
Is my body the problem?

To all of you that notice the feelings of doubt in their appearance, the focus shifting from actual meaningful things in life towards their body shape or size and most of all the question of your own worthiness. I can hear you and I can see you.

And I want you to know: you are not imagining it, and you are not alone.

And I also want to say this, clearly and unapologetically:

Let’s not go with this bullshit again.

(excuse the swearing - there simply isn’t a pretty word for it)

You are more than a body.

You are worthy.

You are beautiful exactly as you are. 

If you feel that this is speaking to you - please know that support is available.

I am here to walk alongside women who want to make peace with their body, with food, and with their self-worth - safely, without shame and for good.

Much love,
Marisa

P.s. I did let my daughter watch the movie but we had a healthy dose of age appropriate body image talk on that day - I refuse to let my girl grow up unaware of the messages the beauty industry is selling us, and how subtly they can shape our sense of worth.

© 2026 Kokon Coaching | Created by Marisa Gundermann-Lunai.

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