Paralympian Ellie Simmonds has admitted she had to ‘remind herself not to be scared’ while growing up.
The athlete, 29, who has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that results in short limbs and normal-sized torso, spoke candidly about her positive thinking.
She has teamed up with Furby to help empower young children, after shock new research showed the pressure kids find themselves under nowadays.
Ellie said: ‘Throughout my life I’ve tried to remind myself not to be scared of who I am. It’s not always easy, but celebrate being different, in whatever form that takes…
‘Whether it’s how you look, or what you’re interested in, or your background, you’re uniqueness is what makes you special. Don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone; try new things, even if that feels scary. Be adventurous.’
Speaking out: Paralympian Ellie Simmonds has admitted she had to ‘remind herself not to be scared’ while growing up
On the up: The athlete, 29, who has achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that results in short limbs and normal-sized torso, spoke candidly about her positive thinking
Speaking about the Furby campaign, she said: ‘There is a very real need for more empowering and diverse role models…
‘Furby stands as the true advocate for self-expression. It is a companion that champions individuality, creativity, and the unbounded spirit of childhood.’
Ellie’s candid new talk comes after she split from her boyfriend Matt Dean after two years of dating. The Strictly Come Dancing star parted ways with Matt, with the Team GB athlete keeping their romance largely out of the public eye.
A source told The Sun: ‘Ellie and Matt have sadly split but it was amicable on both sides and there remains a lot of love there.
‘They preferred to keep their relationship out of the public eye and it was the same with the break up, but both are doing OK.’
The new research commissioned by Furby showed two thirds of parents recognise the new and increased pressures children are under in today’s society, as 8 in 10 parents believe their daughters are specifically impacted
Alongside Ellie, child prodigy and drummer Nandi Bushell, blind broadcaster Lucy Edwards and body positivity influencer Grace Victory, spoke out on embracing your true selves to empower young children
Furby has released a Furby-Festo, a list of promises that parents are encouraged to share with their children to vow to always be their true, authentic selves
Help: She has teamed up with Furby to help empower young children, after shock new research showed the pressure kids find themselves under nowadays
Relationship: The Ellie’s candid new talk comes after she split from her boyfriend Matt Dean after two years of dating. The Strictly Come Dancing star parted ways with Matt, with the Team GB athlete keeping their romance largely out of the public eye
Parents, caregivers and children are being called on to visit FurBeYourself.co.uk to join the Furby-Festo and be in for the chance to get their hands on a Furby
The research has found two thirds (65%) of parents believe their children hold back from being their true selves for fear of being judged, with the same number saying children are under more pressure than ever.
The research has also unveiled that 8 in 10 parents (87%) believe that their daughters are more impacted by societal pressures, with over a third of parents (36%) saying that their daughters feel pressure about how they look and feel before they are even nine years old.
The pressures to conform are observed by parents as the clothes their children wear, 48% seeing content online, and 46% by their body image and how they look.
In response, Furby has teamed up with modern day icons to shine a light on why children should be encouraged to embrace their inner quirks and smash through societal expectations.
An honour: Parents, caregivers and children are being called on to visit FurBeYourself.co.uk to join the Furby-Festo and be in for the chance to get their hands on a Furby
