EP. 130 — Celeste Barber – Re-Release

IWEIGH-130-20220929-BarberCelesteReRe-ACv01-DYN.mp3

Jameela [00:00:00] Hello and welcome to another episode of I Weigh with Jameela Jamil. A podcast against shame. I hope you’re well. I am absolutely fucked. To be honest, I have had kidney stones this week and have been unable to work and that means I have been unable to bring you a fresh new episode of I Weigh. So therefore, I wondered what you would need right now, given how fucking shit and terrifying absolutely everything is. And that is Celeste Barber. We all need a laugh and there’s no one better for that than her. She’s one of the funniest people on the Internet. One of the funniest people on the airwaves and on the TV. And she’s definitely one of the funniest people I’ve ever had on this podcast. I love her so much. She’s so cool. She’s so relatable and just so unpretentious in every single way. In this episode, we discuss her successful fundraiser to fight the Australian wildfires. We discuss her experience with antidepressants, as well as medicine for her ADHD, which has changed her life. We talk about loving your spouse when you were with them all the fucking time and how to try to keep the love alive. And she has some advice in here that has genuinely gone on to change thousands of people’s relationships. So definitely listen up. If you’re unfamiliar with her she’s that hilarious comedian on Instagram who like five or six years ago started doing mistakes of what very unrealistic supermodels and actresses were putting out there as obscene standards for women. Celeste did a very relatable, silly version of that, and sometimes what she’s doing gets misinterpreted. But as someone who knows her, and also from this conversation, I feel quite reassured that it comes from such a good place, a place of just making people feel less alone and more reassured. I think she’s fucking brilliant. I think you got to love this episode. Now I have to go because I’m in pain. So I’ll see you next week. This is Celeste Barber. Even though you’re my friend, it’s such a big deal that you’re on my fuckin podcast. Celeste Barber. Truly one of the greatest icons of our generation. How the fuck are you? Welcome to I Weigh.

Celeste [00:02:14] Oh, hi, mate. I’m good. I don’t know if I’m a fucking icon. Even though I tell people I’m one.

Jameela [00:02:19] You’re an icon.

Celeste [00:02:20] At all times. Aw thanks it’s nice to actually see your face.

Jameela [00:02:24] Same.

Celeste [00:02:24] What a nice face it is.

Jameela [00:02:25] Same. We need to pick up our Marco Polo action again. That was fun.

Celeste [00:02:30] Yeah, I’m. I feel I’m really bad at that.

Jameela [00:02:34] Same.

Celeste [00:02:34] Jesse Tyler Ferguson told me about it, and I was like, Oh, this is fucking great. And it’s great for actors because we just talk at each other the whole time and then so I told

Jameela [00:02:43] Soliloquies.

Celeste [00:02:44] Yeah, every bitch I know. I’m like, Get on, Marco. And now everyone is. And I’m like, No, sorry, I’m not in.

Jameela [00:02:50] You’re just ghosting everyone that you had invited on to the app.

Celeste [00:02:53] Yes. It’s bad.

Jameela [00:02:55] Bloody hell. At the beginning of 2020, if it should have been an omen as to what was happening in the world. I mean, you are in Australia. Australia was on fire at the beginning of this year. I almost feel like that was five years ago because so much happened.

Celeste [00:03:12] Absolutely. Absolutely.

Jameela [00:03:12] It feels wild. And you you kicked off that year jumping into action in a way that I have almost never seen anyone but you. What you pulled off at the top of 2020 was so ridiculous. I think you were trying to raise $15,000 as a fundraiser. Right.

Celeste [00:03:28] Um 30, $30,000.

Jameela [00:03:31] And which is

Celeste [00:03:31] Yeah.

Jameela [00:03:32] Yeah. And so. So then you ended up raising $50 million.

Celeste [00:03:38] Yeah. 51 point something million Australian. Fuck.

Jameela [00:03:43] Isn’t that ridiculous? It’s so, so intensely ridiculous. I was watching it happen and every day you were just being like, Oh, my God, thanks, guys. We hit the 30,000 target. We’re like, okay, we’ve we’ve hit a million. You guys are unbelievable. And then it just became 10 million, 20 million, 30, and it just didn’t stop. So you you fixed Australia. Well done.

Celeste [00:04:05] No, I’m.

Jameela [00:04:06] I’m joking. No, I know, I know.

Celeste [00:04:08] I tried, I tried. Like I, I think I might have some. Maybe some PTSD from it because it was so overwhelming and my face was fucking everywhere do with it on top of really horrifying images. And I was I was sitting in my little ivory tower, you know, remaining my air conditioning, doing it while my mother in law is being evacuated. And my brother in law and they’re being separate, like.

Jameela [00:04:37] You had family members I remember at the time just in some of the areas where the sky looked like it was on fire, it was it was apocalyptic.

Celeste [00:04:45] It was crazy. It was apocalyptic. And for 48 hours, it was nighttime. For 48 hours, the sky was dark. And that fucks with people that fucks with your head when you don’t know what time of day it is. And my father in law is quite older and didn’t understand what was going on, and that’s how it started. I remember talking to my mother in law and saying, What do you need? And she went, A fucking fire truck, that’s all. She and she and she’s a strong woman and she fell apart and I went right let’s get you a firetruck. I mean, I don’t know shit about shit. I’m a comedian. But I was like, alright let’s get you a fire truck $30,000 I reckon that’s probably what a fire truck costs, like just panicked and set that goal. And then I remember waking up the next morning and my husband was like, we’ve we’ve cracked a million. You’re going to have to up the target. And I was like, I beg your pardon? A million. That was a few hours ago. And then. And then you get. A little obsessive. I got a little obsessive over it. I was like, right, we need to get to a four million. We need to get to. Let’s go. Let’s go.

Jameela [00:05:47] Yeah. You were on one. It was amazing.

Celeste [00:05:49] And when you see it happening and you’re like, oh, this is what it fucking takes people just to be told. This is what we need. I’m of I’m not on the frontline, but my mother in law is. And these are pictures that keeping it out of the bullshit media when they kind of pick and choose what they want you to say. Because, you know, our leader was nowhere to be fucking seen when it was happening, nowhere to be seen. We were on fire alone and terrified and people kind of just seeing this stupid face going, oh, she she’s doing something and I want to do something. Then you kind of get. It’s addictive and, you know, power to the people. It blew my mind at one point, I. Well, quickly. My husband was like, we need a fucking minute off. We were like, it’s $6 million. We went down to the beaches of friends. I just went in, I dived in. I remember my friend was like, Oh, my God. 6 million dived in the water. Came back up again. Turn around and walked back out of the beach. And he went, 7 million. And I went, What? Like in a few minutes and you just got to get fucking busy. It was the worst. It was the worst I’ve ever seen. I’ve ever seen. I know we’ve lost over a billion wildlife in this fucking country. A billion wildlife. And it’s it’s hard not to get political about it.

Jameela [00:07:07] 100% and then what ensued after that was a political world moment. You know, we’ve just seen it everywhere. So that was just such a wild start to the year for all of you. And I mean, we over in America and California in particular haven’t exactly had an amazing time fire wise either. So many animals, so many people, so many houses lost. So much going on. But but I just cannot stress enough what what an example you are to all of us who have platforms for just getting stuck in, for not making it pretentious, for not making it about kind of galas and all this kind of inaccessible shit. You just showed real pictures from real people. You gave people simple and easy instructions and information, and you did something really, really phenomenal. So just from the straight up top of this, you were saying you’re not an icon. You’re a fucking icon.

Celeste [00:08:00] Oh, oh, that’s very kind. You just get busy. I’ve always been like that, though. I kind of live by the motto of a little less conversation, a little more action.

Jameela [00:08:08] Love you. Love you. So much for that.

Celeste [00:08:10] Thank you, darling.

Jameela [00:08:11] How was your 2020?

Celeste [00:08:13] A bit of a blur, really. A bit of a my anxiety just kicked up, like. Really stepped up during this pandemic. And I thought during an international pandemic would be a fucking fabulous time when you’re locked down to come off my anti-depressants wasn’t my best work.

Jameela [00:08:33] Oh, right. Well, I mean, that makes complete sense, because then there’s no work in jeopardy. Like, if I was going to do it, that’s when I would do it.

Celeste [00:08:40] Exactly. And I’ve been on antidepressants for like 11 years. And I know I kind of got to a point when I don’t really remember why I’m on these. I know one of my friends died and I was very upset. It was around that time I kind of went on them, but I kind of was at a point when I went, No, I don’t really know. And I’ve been wanting to try and come off them for years. But, you know, all doctors are like, well, you have a very inconsistent life. I was like thank you, you know, like, you know, always on planes, nothing. It’s not a good time. And I was on Zoloft. So waning of Zoloft is a fucking nightmare.

Jameela [00:09:12] I have no idea. I have no idea what it’s like. Will you tell me what it’s like?

Celeste [00:09:16] Well, you kind of. You have, you get like my sister and I call it like a little zap because it’s coming out of your body. You feel like you get dizzy spells. You have to really slowly ween yourself, like over weeks, months. And I hate that idea as well about feeling trapped on something. So coming off that, like, your tongue gets a little bit numb and you get these weird, like, little electrocutions, it feels like as it’s leaving your body. And then you’ve got to deal with, you know, the emotional side of it of trying to balance out. So and I have A.D.D. as well. So you can’t have anti-depressants along with.

Jameela [00:09:57] A.D.D. medication. Yeah.

Celeste [00:09:58] They hate each other. And I, I was starting to, you know, really struggle to retain information again because of my job and because I’m getting busier and all that sort of stuff. So I thought, I want to come off my antidepressants and I want to look at trying to maybe go back on some sort of A.D.D. medication just to give myself a break. So I did that. But there were some days in bed, under blankets going, Oh, this is. A lot. And scary. So I, I remember it kind of being a bit of a blur, if you can remember a blur, it being kind of a bit tricky. And, you know, most of my work this year was supposed to be in the States. That all came to a grinding halt. Couldn’t come over. I couldn’t.

Jameela [00:10:47] No, I know there were so many big plans. And we were going to basically married like there was there were so many big plans for this year.

Celeste [00:10:55] You were going to get married?

Jameela [00:10:57] No I said you and I were going to get married.

Celeste [00:10:59] Oh, yes. Well, that’s still happening.

Jameela [00:11:01] 100%, but no, for sure. Last year I remember how many big plans you had. And so all of that coming to a kind of crashing halt and then you being stuck in the house. And then you’ve also got kids. There’s, you know, two stepchildren and two children that you have biologically and so much to do around the house and dealing with their schooling and dealing with everything that parents had to deal with this year. And then also going through all of that, I imagine that was just so much. How long did it take in total or did you just go back on?

Celeste [00:11:32] No, I came off I was determined to do it because I was talking to my husband about it. And I miss feeling the feels like my emotions have always run pretty close to the surface. And I like that. I like that. Well, you know, it makes you a better actor as well. You need to kind of access stuff. And and I know that I haven’t really been able to do that for a really long time, and I and I don’t like that. So I was kind of looking forward to it. But it got scary at a point because I was just so sad for what felt like weeks. It wasn’t weeks, but it felt like it. But it’s just my body kind of balancing out. So it was maybe six weeks, two months. And that’s how, you know, we’re in a three bedroom apartment at the beach. So, so very, very lucky. We got that thinking. I was going to be in and out a lot in our life. But then we were just like, no, all together at once. And I have a six and nine year old boy, two boys, and they’re like just throwing tennis balls literally at the wall. And my husband’s like, You guys have got to stop that. I was like, Let them fucking do it mate, like throw the balls. What else are we going to do? We all just kind of lost our mind a bit, but we’re in a we were in a pretty privileged place here in Australia. We kind of we locked it off really quick, not as quick as New Zealand, but we just kind of.

Jameela [00:12:48] Fucking New Zealand. Just lording there success over all of us.

Celeste [00:12:52] Just just, you know, that they’re now giving the vaccine. Jacinda has just announced New Zealand Government has announced that they’re giving the vaccine, offering the vaccine to other Pacific, the smaller Pacific islands for free. Just because.

Jameela [00:13:07] Ugh God. Fucking hell. Fuck me just!

Celeste [00:13:09] Yeah she just keeps fuckign delivering. Yeah. It’s a real thing. Ooh, you’re amazing.

Jameela [00:13:16] She’s so amazing. Anyway.

Celeste [00:13:19] She’s unbelievable.

Jameela [00:13:19] Truly. Just. Just exemplary in every single way. Fucking New Zealand. Can’t she can’t we just have one person running the whole world. Can’t it just be her Just give her the world.

Celeste [00:13:28] Just give her the world. Give her the world.

Jameela [00:13:30] Give her that fucking world.

Celeste [00:13:33] I know. If we could have her, that would just be paradise.

Jameela [00:13:36] For sure. But I just. But I just also want to say, just for anyone who’s out there who might be thinking about going on antidepressants, who might be then be worried that they feel no feelings at all, I just want to make sure that we clarify to them that that it really depends on the medication that you’re on. People have varying different levels of how they feel, how they don’t feel. And if you are someone who thinks that you need them or has been told by a doctor that you need them, definitely still give them a shot.

Celeste [00:14:00] Absolutely.

Jameela [00:14:00] Because you won’t definitely feel numb like there I mean, they’re a life saver I mean you were on them for 11 years and they they really helped you, right?

Celeste [00:14:05] Absolutely. And and the reason it was numbing for me, as if that’s one of the side effects for me because I have A.D.D. and because I was on them for 11 years.

Jameela [00:14:14] It’s very specific as an individual and every person responds very, very differently. I just wanted to say that. So people know.

Celeste [00:14:21] Absolutely. And now I’m on other medication which kind of treats my ADD and kind of treats my anxiety at the same time. And that’s great for now. And then, who knows? I may go I may go back on it. But at the time for me, I was it was 11 years as well. I hadn’t I needed I hadn’t been back to a doctor to see if this was still the right dose. I hadn’t really managed to look after myself properly. I was like, Well, that’s just one of the tablets I take each day with my vitamins.

Jameela [00:14:48] Also, so much has changed, like your life has changed. You were a different person. You were in a completely unrecognizable situation in your life. And so I completely understand just wanting to know what an unmedicated version of you is like. And it seems like that was the right decision. So I think that that’s really great that you were able to muscle through that really tricky time and be able to do that. You wrote something about when you were diagnosed with ADD, which I just found really, really beautiful, which is the moment that you accidentally overheard your mother talking to the doctor about your A.D.D. and I’m going to paraphrase this incorrectly and horribly, but basically, we love her personality. This is just so that she’ll find school a bit easier. And you talk about how lucky you were to have a mum who was so reassuring to you about that. Like she never made you feel judged for it. It was just seen as something that would make life that little bit easier. And I just thought that was so beautiful because issues like ADD or anxiety, etc., all of these things are so stigmatized. And I think that that’s so beautiful that you are able to have that feeling of acceptance going forward.

Celeste [00:15:54] It was incredible. Still, is like I still get a little bit emotional thinking about it because. You’re right with you know stigma, especially with I can only really speak about ADD because I’ve got it. This people just think ADD is like you’re just fucking loud and oh God she’s got ADD she’s nuts. It’s not what it is. It’s the inability to focus. It’s the inability to see it. Pick up a pen and do your homework. Mum says she remembers seeing me sit down at my desk, looking at my desk and going to put a little candle over here. I got my pens, I got the new pens, I got myself some gel pens. I’m fucking going to do my homework. I got a little bit of paper. I’m going to get a drink of water. I am ready and then I’m out. I got up and I couldn’t. I was ready to do it, but I just couldn’t do it. And I’m reading not a thing. I still am a terrible reader because I didn’t actually read anything until I was diagnosed at 16 is the first time I read something. So it’s just, yeah, that inability to focus and hearing my mum say that was incredible her and she was just like, we know she is loud, we know she is full on, but we like that about her. We like her drama. She’s fucking funny. She’s all these things we don’t want that to go away. And the doctor was like, it won’t this will just she will just be able to sit down and have a minute and sit through a class at school. And Mom was like, That’s all we want it for. We want it just to make life easier for her, not make her different. And that’s that’s a huge thing to hear, especially at 16.

Jameela [00:17:31] What is so what does your life feel like now that you’re on ADD medication? What is the big change that you found?

Celeste [00:17:39] I can I’m more focused. I mean, I’ve got a lot going on. And I had a meeting actually with my managers. My Australian manager called me a few weeks back and she was like, Can we have a live chat and I’m like yeah what do you want? And this is before I’d gone back on my medication was I was in the land of nothing at this time, no medication. And she said, Look, I’ve just spoken to the team, hilarious I have a team, in the States and everything, which is when I have a little chat to you about stuff. Your we’re noticing that you’re not really retaining anything that we’re talking about, like retaining any information. So a job will come up and I’ll say no to it or I’ll say yes to it, actually. And then the deal memo or whatever will come through and then I’ll go I’ve said no to this. And Lisa, my agent, he is like, no, you. We spoke about it and you said like, I couldn’t I wasn’t taking in because I had so much going on. And with this medication that I’m on. I can. I’m. I’m retaining the information. With ADD you’re quite scattered, which isn’t always a bad thing. I can multitask like a fucking boss. Like I’m. I can have a lot of shit going on at once. But with the medication, it helps me still do all that. But when I throw all the balls in the air, I can now kind of catch most of them. As opposed to just going they’re all in the air. Let’s see what happens. And then running away. So it’s kind of great because I can I follow through with things more. I. You know, I’ll unpack the entire dishwasher instead of just the top drawer.

Jameela [00:19:19] Oh my God. I think I might need ADD medication. Listening to you talk about all of this, I forgot you we were even on a podcast, and I’m now just asking you. I’m like, and then what happens? And then how do you feel? Like I’m truly just like, this is now just a chat. If everyone else could just leave. Actually, everyone who’s listening to this. If you guys could all just go away because I’m just like, we’re having a personal chat. Fucking hell, because I’ve been told by doctors for years that they think I have it since I was a kid at school cause I couldn’t get my homework done, couldn’t read, couldn’t do any of these things. But, I came from a family that were very, very, very like embarrassed of mental health conditions at the time. Now everyone’s completely on board and accepting, etc., but back then it just kind of felt like oh no something wrong with them. So I, I say we should all investigate whether or not we might have this, because I’ve heard that it is an epidemic in our generation and especially the generations after us, especially because these fucking phones and these apps are just preying on our attention span. And so I think it’s a good thing for us all to go and investigate and listen to our parents if they think that that means that they’ve done a bad job parenting, it’s nothing to do with that. It’s not a fucking choice. It’s just a thing that happens that you need a little bit of help with sometimes.

Celeste [00:20:26] And it has it has that stigma, too, of, you know, you hear people saying, oh, well, they’ve just. They’re trying to numb kids now. They’re just putting them on ADD medication or, you know, because they’re too loud or whatever. And I’m like, Well, they’re going to get a rude fucking shock when those kids are still loud and annoying, but. But can just sit down and read a book. It doesn’t doesn’t numb you out. It doesn’t at all. It just lets you I mean, I’m kind of grateful as well that I was diagnosed quite late in hindsight. In hindsight I am because it just made me realize my currency. It made me just work harder and be like, well, I’m I’m really loud and can’t sit down and can’t sit still in class and can’t read a book and can’t do anything. But what am I what am I good at? I’m I’m funny and I can act and I’m dramatic over here. And that’s and you just kind of for me, I learned my currency and that was my personality and my. You know, my ability to entertain people and all that sort of stuff. And I’ve kind of focused on that.

Jameela [00:21:29] And it’s done alright for you in the end, hasn’t it?

Celeste [00:21:32] Exactly. Exactly.

Jameela [00:21:34] Jesus Christ you have just taken over the world. My goodness, you are my favorite follow on Instagram. And for anyone who doesn’t know, Celeste is behind that iconic hashtag challenge accepted where she takes very, very glamorous and unrealistic sort of supermodel A-lister influencer situations, and she puts a sort of just everyday human spin on them. She’s not trying to shame anyone. I think some people sometimes get the wrong idea that she’s not being positive, she’s just being funny and she’s just saying what we’re all thinking, which is just I don’t really relate to that when we see these fucking videos and they’ve got the perfect amount of breeze in their hair and everyone’s glowing like their assholes are shining like let’s just be real, let’s be real and you brought real back to Instagram. And it’s been it’s just been so much fun. It’s been so much fun watching your rise. And it was just so organic. And and I think one of the things that that makes you so special is your freedom. I love how you talk about the fact that when you post this kind of, you know, scantily clad videos of yourself parodying of famous persons video, often a famous actress or model that people will call you brave and you find that really offensive because you’re like, I’m not not doing a brave thing.

Celeste [00:22:51] No, because. I’m.

Jameela [00:22:52] Go on.

Celeste [00:22:52] I’m I’m brave. But the model’s empowering. That’s what it is.

Jameela [00:22:57] Exactly. When Kendall Jenner does it. It’s empowering when you do it, it’s brave.

Celeste [00:22:59] Yeah when [inaudible], was dental floss. So like you are empowering women you are the face of feminism. And then, I do it and they’re like, wow, bitch, you’re brave and like why why is that different? Why is it why is

Jameela [00:23:10] And what do you think the subtext is of that bravery?

Celeste [00:23:12] You’re brave because oh my God, you shouldn’t be looking like that in a bikini. You’re so brave to do that. That’s that’s great. That’s the subtext of it. And yeah, it I mean, my intention has always been with this is just to make people laugh. And then it’s where they take it from there is up to them. I’m not here to tell anyone what to do. I’ve got fucking kids I’m not their mom. They can do what they want. I like to kind of start the conversation and be like, Imagine if this was this body was doing what that body’s doing, but have a laugh. And now think about it how you want. But it’s just to make people fucking laugh because it’s a parody. I’m not I’m not mimicking them. I’m not trying to exactly what they’re doing. It’s a parody. I’m adding to it.

Jameela [00:23:56] Well, I fucking loled I when I, when I read what you said, which is that like I’m not brave, what I’m doing isn’t brave. The first poo that you do after labor, after giving birth is brave.

Celeste [00:24:09] First poo you do after having a baby. That’s fucking brave. That’s brave, that’s brave. It’s cos. You don’t know if you make it through. That’s brave.

Jameela [00:24:19] Ha ha. Can’t relate but that’s fucking hilarious and terrifying all at the same time.

Celeste [00:24:26] I get so many messages from people after they saw my stand up show doing that going. I just did my first poo. I just had to. What the fuck is it like beside themselves. Yeah, that’s brave. Not putting on an ill fitted bikini. That’s not brave. It’s funny. Who gives a shit?

Jameela [00:24:41] And it’s also like. It’s not funny. It’s also just. It is funny, but it’s also it doesn’t have to be funny. It’s also just life. And I fucking love looking at you in a bikini. As much as that might sound inappropriate, I think you look fantastic.

Celeste [00:24:53] No bring it on.

Jameela [00:24:53] I fucking love looking at you in a bikini. You look great. One of the most fun.

Celeste [00:24:59] I think so too.

Jameela [00:24:59] Yeah, I agree. One of the truly great days of my career was us two getting to do the cover of InStyle magazine together. We did a whole. It was a sort of fantasy conversation that somehow turned into reality, where Celeste and I were talking about the fact that all these fucking like girlfriends photoshoots that happened in all these fashion magazines, and they take two supermodels, kind of like an Emrata and a Kendall Jenner, and they’ll show like a a girls night out. But it’ll be so clean, and they’ll have just a perfect night, and everyone will look perfect throughout the entire night. And we were just like, fuck off. Not to them. But fuck off to the idea that that’s a girl’s night.

Celeste [00:25:36] Holding a salad.

Jameela [00:25:36] Yeah, exactly.

Celeste [00:25:37] And the guy that’s the funniest thing ever salad. Like laughing and like, that’s not what it looks like when you go out. This is what it looks like when you go out. I mean, we looked fucking hot as well.

Jameela [00:25:46] We looked great. It was great. But also we just it was like and we wanted to take it so far, but we didn’t have time in the day. I wanted to piss in the street. I think we did that photo of pissing in the street, but I wanted to hold your hair back while you threw up in the toilet like we we wanted to together showcase like a real girls night out. It’s messy we fight, you know, we go through a whole emotional journey on a night out.

Celeste [00:26:10] Where we’re sitting in, like, a private booth, and we’re both just crying because we don’t want to be there.

Jameela [00:26:13] Yeah, because we both hate the club.

Celeste [00:26:15] All the confetti around us and all these hot people with like, yeah, here’s a drink. We were just crying because who wants to be in a club?

Jameela [00:26:22] No, no, no.

Celeste [00:26:24] No bueno.

Jameela [00:26:24] That’s one thing I really don’t miss. I’m glad the clubs were closed and are still closed in many places in the world. Anyway, ok. So it’s very clear that I love Celeste. It’s very clear that I think very highly of her and that she’s very cool and impressive. And now she’s giving me some advice on my mental health. That’s very handy. I now want to talk to you about fucking marriage because we have been subjected to your fucking happy marriage with your hot husband who we know on the Internet as hashtag hot husband, just straight up, pure objectification, and your adorable kids and your wonderful life. And I want to know, how did 2020 go for you and your family and marriage? How did he keep it all together? I can sense that it was obviously like troubling, especially considering what you were going through personally with all the meds, etc.. But what was it like? Because I look to you as a as a life role model.

Celeste [00:27:24] Oh, you’re very kind. Don’t do that. I um. It was it was a bit and it still is hard. I find Apie and I’ve been together for eighteen years.

Jameela [00:27:36] Shit.

Celeste [00:27:37] And something I have realized about us is that we are very good at missing each other. So when I’m away at work was very good at going oh I miss you and I love you I love you. And then when I come back, it’s lovely and delicious. And then I go again and it’s always been like that. He has two daughters to a previous relationship and we he would have to leave to go to the girls a lot, obviously. And so we were always together at all times. And that’s been eighteen years of that and that’s worked. And now with, you know, lockdown, it’s just, you know, he’s here in front of my face at all times. And we are two we are both taureans. So we’re there’s two bulls in the house and I don’t really know how much I believe in all that stuff until I need to and I need to now. And there’s two fucking bulls in the house. I like to objectify him. And people find it crazy because I imagine that objectifying a man is easy. Just flip it. You just. It’s just you just.

Jameela [00:28:37] Trophy husband. I understand.

Celeste [00:28:39] Yeah. And but I’m very. Careful. No, I’m very. Clever at what I put out there to do with my marriage because that’s mine. I’m you know, I heavily I’m heavily aware of what I put out there. You have to see my kids and that’s for a reason and all that stuff. But sometimes it’s not. Most of the time it can be not fucking pretty. It’s hard. Marriage is hard. When you say those vows, I will love you forever. Then you realize that forever is a very.

Jameela [00:29:14] Yeah.

Celeste [00:29:17] And you go oh fuck. Oh, God. But one thing that Oppie and I have always had, and I think we are very lucky it. We just absolutely love each other. We just. We just absolutely, absolutely have this passion and love for each other. We don’t always get along. We don’t always jam. And that doesn’t always look like he’s my best friend and he’s always got my back.

Jameela [00:29:41] Not the case.

Celeste [00:29:43] Not the case at all. Sometimes I’m like, Why the fuck are you sitting over there when I’m over here and I need you to be backing me? And he’s like, because I don’t want to. And that’s its own, its own thing. But he just. You just got to get on with it. You know.

Jameela [00:29:56] Oh totally. You know, it was hard. It was hard. I have a great fuckin relationship. And it was hard at some point because you just no one is supposed to see that much of each other. It’s never it’s not normal. It’s not okay. Yeah, we did all right. But it was just like, you need some fuckin space and you can’t go outside. And there’s so much anxiety everywhere, and you just don’t get time to do all your, like, you know sort of private, single person behavior we need.

Celeste [00:30:23] Yeah.

Jameela [00:30:24] We need SPB I almost said V almost. we need the SPB. You know, like we need that time to just. You know.

Celeste [00:30:30] Do our own shit and not have to explain it. But also like energetically as well. That doesn’t always mish It’s not always great. And so we just miss each other. Like in the end, our energies are just fucking off and it can breed stuff that doesn’t need to breed. You just need to get through it. I remember we had a massive fight and I was like, Fuck, I just don’t like this is just really intense. And he was like, he felt exactly the same and he was like, this fucking pandemic, it’s because, well, you know, it’s not normal for us to be spending this much time together. And I had to listen to that because I thought, No, no, it’s not the pandemic. It’s you and me, and we’re done. But he it was so good they said that he’s like, No, this is fucking weird. This is a weird thing to be doing all the time. He got offered a job to go away for three months and he said no. And I went, Why? And he looked at me and I went yeah. And he goes, Because I’ll be away for three months. And I went, Yes, but you’ll be away for three months. Like, come on.

Jameela [00:31:38] Take one for the team!Yeah. My my boyfriend has been happily waving me off as I go off to do different jobs. Bye!

Celeste [00:31:47] Yeah all the best, here’s a packed lunch. Don’t hurry back.

Jameela [00:31:51] Yeah. And we don’t really text well while I’m away. Like, neither of us are talking to each other when we go away. It’s just like, let’s just use this as, like, a reset. So we’ll be happy when we see each other again.

Celeste [00:32:01] Yeah, absolutely. I realized as well that. There are a handful of straight heterosexual men that I have in my life. I have I don’t have many in my life. And that’s for a reason. Girls and gay are my jam and hanging out with this straight guy all the time when I don’t really have my outlet of, you know, other people, my my jam. I’m like, yeah, that’s right. Straight men. That’s right.

Jameela [00:32:33] That’s so. Were you able to do. I mean, you don’t have to answer this question, but were you able to do any kind of like online therapy? I know some people have been doing that, like kind of couples therapy together? No? Didn’t do that.

Celeste [00:32:43] No. Probably should have. We probably really should have. But no, we didn’t. We just went. I got a treadmill. That’s what I got. I put it on my roof and I go on that every now and then. Teddy the Tready to try and run it out.

Jameela [00:32:57] Teddy the Tready!

Celeste [00:32:59] So end of fights would end like this. I’m going to Teddy and storm upstairs.

Jameela [00:33:05] That’s really productive. I go and stress eat until I can’t breathe and I have to sit on all fours because that’s the only way that my stomach doesn’t push against my lungs.

Celeste [00:33:14] Oh mate.

Jameela [00:33:15] It’s the exact opposite. I’ll just sit there, just shovling food. Just the whole pandemic’s just been stressful.

Celeste [00:33:19] Yeah. I mean, there’s been a lot of screaming in pillows for me as well. A lot of closing doors and then just screaming into a pillow.

Jameela [00:33:29] Yeah. I think I’m sure it’s a relief for everyone to hear. Everyone is going through this shit. There are either single people who are who are wondering, would I have been happier stuck inside with someone? Highly unlikely.

Celeste [00:33:41] Highly unlikely.

Jameela [00:33:42] Or there are people in relationships wondering is it us or is the is it the pandemic? And who knows, maybe it’s one or maybe it’s the other. Maybe the pandemic’s helping show you that maybe you are in the wrong relationship, but often try as often as possible. Try to just give this a beat. We’re not in the clear yet unless we’re in New Zealand.

Celeste [00:34:02] You’re fucked if you’re over there.

Jameela [00:34:03] If you’re a couple fighting in New Zealand the problem is you.

Celeste [00:34:06] Break up.

Jameela [00:34:07] OK, it’s not the pandemic, break the fuck up, get a divorce.

Celeste [00:34:10] Break up. Absolutely.

Jameela [00:34:10] But outside of that.

Celeste [00:34:12] Do you know what blows my mind? Hearing people say, oh, so many babies are going to be made during the pandemic, I was like, I could think of nothing fucking worse. Really? Like who’s just getting all sexy during this? No way.

Jameela [00:34:27] Yeah.

Celeste [00:34:27] No way.

Jameela [00:34:30] I know. I know. That’s so. That’s so funny. It’s so true. So many people are are conceiving. Loads of my friends are popping out babies at the end of this. But I think I think that they all got pregnant in like March at the beginning, you know, when everyone was like, great, we’ve got time together and everyone still loved each other. I think that’s when that that shagging happened. I then I think after that it’s just been pregnancy. I don’t think anyone’s been fucking throughout the pandemic.

Celeste [00:34:58] Yeah. And since March. Now it’s just like now I’m fuckin pregnant. Fuck you.

Jameela [00:35:03] Yeah, exactly. Oh, my goodness. So any any sage words of wisdom saying that you did manage to stay together throughout 2020? Anyone any any words of words of advice to anyone out there who’s just about to fucking gouge their partner’s eyes out?

Celeste [00:35:21] I sometimes imagine that my husband’s dead and how sad I would be if that happened. So I think, oh, I would really fucking I’d be so sad if you were dead. So I’m going to give you a cuddle and try and be nice. Is that advice. I’m not trying to kill him.

Jameela [00:35:38] That;s so dark and so funny and also just so effective.

Celeste [00:35:43] Because I think, well, if he’s not here, I’d be really sad and then I’d be furious at myself when he has died that I was a bitch before he died. So come on, be nice.

Jameela [00:35:52] Oh, my God. That’s amazing. I feel like we should think that before we make every single decision in life. Like what if I died? What if that person, like we should have? I think about death constantly as a positive, as a way to keep myself positive of, like, you know, I think that was a big part of getting out of my eating disorder was thinking when I’m old do I want to look back on my entire life as I would my twenties, which is just spending it counting calories and weighing myself? And I think having that realization, if I died today, that’s all I’ve done in my twenties. And I think that’s why when I got to the end of my twenties, I was like, Right, I’m throwing everything at recovery because I don’t want to look back on the rest of my life as just just an attempt to have my my hip bones, like, jut out over my jeans. I just wear leggings now.

Celeste [00:36:45] Yeah. I think it’s important. Yeah stretching and I know it sounds really macabre, but it’s kind of important to think that we’re dead in a minute. It’s all. It’s all done.

Jameela [00:36:54] Yeah. And 2020.

Celeste [00:36:55] It’s all done in a minute.

Jameela [00:36:55] 2020 brought that home in more ways than just the pandemic. Just everything we saw going on racially or going on with different groups or going on with fires or catastrophes or floods all around the world. Like this year, we could not escape the reality that really you’d like. You just don’t you’ve really don’t have any control over what’s going to happen. So try and live your life accordingly in a way that will make you feel peaceful if shit does hit the fan.

Celeste [00:37:18] Yeah. And I think in the same breath, by doing that, you need to give yourself a break. If you’re fucking struggling, if you, if you’re hating on whoever you’re living with or hating on yourself or trying to go through stuff that’s you’re allowed to be upside down. You’re allowed to not fucking be okay for a minute. I think people think, you know, Oh, well, we’re just at home. I should be making the most of it. It’s it’s terrifying because there’s no end date. There’s no even I know I can’t talk about fires, but even with the fires that those seasons end, you know that, we don’t have an exact date, but we know around March in Australia it’s going to cool down, you know. And but these what the fuck’s we’ve got second wave, third wave all over the country. New strands, people are allowed I think to first and foremost, just give yourself a break. If you’re not okay, let yourself be not okay, just and then call a mate or text someone. And if it goes on a bit and be like I’m not okay and that and give yourself space in that stop always trying to think that what you should be doing. One thing my husband has told me take the words should out of your vocabulary. What? Oh, I like that. Yeah, I like that. Take it out.

Jameela [00:38:30] So have you taken have you ever taken that facetiously and be like, yeah, I should I should empty the dishwasher, but I won’t, because he told me to take that word out of my mouth.

Celeste [00:38:40] You know word you should get in your mouth.

Jameela [00:38:43] Should give a blowjob but

Celeste [00:38:44] What you should put in your, in your vocabulary, babe? Laundry. Wipe that into your vocabulary Api see how that goes. That but the words should and deserve done. Also, I don’t like giving people advice. Do what you want. Just be kind to yourself.

Jameela [00:39:00] Yeah, but I also love getting advice from you, so. I’m sorry. I know you don’t like giving it as if you are as if you are some sort of a a deity. But I do think you’re just like you are one of my more practical and thoughtful friends. And so that’s why I just like hearing what you think about everything. I think a lot of people don’t know that you started as an actor. Little parts here and there in Home and Away. You know, there are so many things that you’d been working at in entertainment for such a long time. The Instagram thing was a total fluke, kind of a joke between you and a friend that just took off across the world.

Celeste [00:39:41] My sister and I would send these photos to each other, but I mean, I always had in the back of my head as well that this was I knew it was. I know I’m funny. I knew this was funny. I knew this would cut through and that this would get me in front of people. I knew that I, I wanted to I wanted this to create work for myself. I mean, I had a meeting with years ago now when I started doing these photos four five years ago now with like a production company here. And they were like, Yeah, you’re funny, you’re really good. And that was when I my Instagram it started. I’ve got like maybe 10,000 followers or something. And then like if you can kind of get you can come to us with an idea and an audience, then we can maybe talk about a show. And I was like, Cool, what the fuck is it that you do then? Why am I doing all the things? I’ll just do it on my own then. If I’m coming to give you everything and then you control it, I might just hold off and kind of.

Jameela [00:40:34] Do it myself.

Celeste [00:40:34] Do it my own way. And that’s kind of yeah, what it’s done. And then of course, you know, America wakes up to it and then bang, it’s everywhere. But work has come. And that is that was always the plan to work, not to be an influencer, fuck a duck, not to be an influencer. Yuk, but yuk for me. Yuk yuk for me. Influencers are fine.

Jameela [00:40:53] Hey, hey, hey, hey. We both feel that influencers are fine.

Celeste [00:40:56] Whatever blows your hair extensions back.

Jameela [00:40:58] Yeah exactly.

Celeste [00:40:58] They’re fine.

Jameela [00:40:59] You’re having such as you’re wearing what you’re selling us fucking hair growth gummies. You asshole.

Celeste [00:41:05] Fucking asshole.

Jameela [00:41:07] You get so angry. I get so angry seeing these adverts. Christ.

Celeste [00:41:13] This is my skin. This is my skincare regime. Well, why are you telling me that? Just put your doctor’s name, your plastic surgeons name at the bottom of that in your comments. Don’t tell me you put cream on your face. That’s not true. It annoys me.

Jameela [00:41:26] I know. I know. And, this is the whole thing. I mean, this is why you and I first kind of found each other, because I think people kept on sending us to one another. We were doing very different things, but with the same kind of intentional message of just like, Can we just be real for a moment? Can we just be normal? Can we just quit with the editing and the filters for a second.

Celeste [00:41:50] Absolutely.

Jameela [00:41:52] And just let women live.

Celeste [00:41:54] And the thing for me with the Instagram stuff. Like for me back in the day, magazines right, you know, you flick through. I actually write about this in my book, you flip through and you’d see a photo of Cindy Crawford, and she’s on a motorbike on the top of the building, and she’s got hair that goes all the way down the stairs. And it’s amazing. She’s got crazy, gorgeous makeup on. And you look at that and you go, Well, Cindy Crawford is the only person that can do that, that is highly curated.

Jameela [00:42:25] It’s a fantasy.

Celeste [00:42:25] Exactly. And that’s what they’re selling. They are going, don’t think that you could ever do this. This is Cindy Crawford. Sure. But then Instagram came along and blurred those fucking lines and went, you know, a girl in activewear on a yacht going, I’d just love me some school drop off. And I’m like, Hang on, that’s not dropping off a kid in like those made bullshit life seemingly attainable. And if you can’t be doing what they’re doing, you don’t deserve love. And that’s why I was like, Hang on a minute. I’ve got to cut through this shit real quick because that’s not that you’re selling that to us, like that’s what we should be doing. Whereas Cindy Crawford on a motorbike on a roof. Sure. Oh, my God. Put that on my wall, because what a fun photo. But now it’s that idea of going, isn’t this how you wake up every morning at 3 a.m. and get your smoothie and get your yoga in and get your body shaming in and it’s not even 6 a.m.

Jameela [00:43:26] Get your body shaming in. No, but it’s how I feel about porn, weirdly, that, you know, when you know a lot of young people, children, you know, sort of 11, 12, 13 years old are watching pornography. And what I say about the issue with such young people watching pornography is that when they’re watching, like, I don’t know, Avatar or the Transformers, they are aware that that is fantasy, right? The people are dressed, blue. There are signals that say this is not real or this is animated. The problem with pornography is it looks like real people. So therefore they just see that as accessible people who might look like a much more toned version of mom and dad, you know, with with bigger bits and or smaller bits or shaved bits. And they they therefore process that as complete reality. And then they have a false expectation of what sex is going to look like and feel like and what it should entail. And I think that we’re doing the same thing when it comes to our esthetics and expectations on social media. It’s exhausting.

Celeste [00:44:26] It is exhausting.

Jameela [00:44:26] Just even reading the statistics of what’s happening to women’s minds and to the teenage girls minds based on all these lies that people tell. And, you know, you started this to be funny, but it’s definitely become kind of accidentally, socially political. And I think that’s why we are often like referenced in a lot of the same spaces because we’re just like, listen, we don’t want to hurt anyone. We’re not trying to kill anyone. We’re not trying to cancel anyone, but let’s just be fucking real because it’s a crime against women. To not do so.

Celeste [00:44:54] It really is. And I’m I remember Ricky Gervais saying when he hosted the Globes, one of the many times he hosted the Globes, he was in an interview. And they, I think, was with Ellen maybe. And she said, Do you ever feel bad? Like do you feel like you’re being mean or anything? And he was fantastic. He went, I’m I’m grilling or getting into I’m in a room with 250 of the most privileged people in the world. They’re all right. If I have a if they can’t handle an hour of him going, um you guys need to pull your fucking heads in. He doesn’t care. He’s like, it’s. And I feel the same thing too when people like. Do you feel mean or anything? And I’m like, I’m, no, I’m, I, I, a) I only use photos that they post. It’s not like I’ve got a drone going into Miley Cyrus’s backyard and I’m trying to get photos.

Jameela [00:45:45] Oh, I do. Is that weird?

Celeste [00:45:47] I’ll just borrow yours. I if it’s a paparazzi photo, I won’t use it unless they’ve reposted it. So it’s kind of the images that they’re putting out there. And again, they’re the most beautiful, privileged people in the world. So it’s not like I’m going to a burns unit at a children’s hospital.

Jameela [00:46:04] Also what people don’t know, is that you have celebrities actually asking you to parody them now, I guess I always say they’re using you for promo. This is this is hilarious. So anyone who’s worrying that she’s being mean. They’re fucking reaching out to Celeste personally to be like, can you make this funny?

Celeste [00:46:20] And I always think if Cindy Crawford’s okay with it and Gwyneth Paltrow is okay with it, you can all fucking be okay with it.

Jameela [00:46:25] 100%.

Celeste [00:46:26] Some people don’t like it, but people are allowed to be sick of being made fun. I get it. Fine. Some people are blocked and uninto it. No problem. Moving on.

Jameela [00:46:36] You had a big and really important moment recently when you called out Instagram, when you had copied a photograph of a Victoria’s Secret model and you had exactly replicated the photograph. And really the only difference between that photograph, you know, that you’re nude and she’s nude. You’re kind of covering your your bits with your hands or like with a bit of, I don’t know, silk and you’re both in an identical pose showing all the identical bits, but your body is really not even that much bigger than her body. And yet yours got taken down of Instagram. Hers wasn’t hers was up is still up now. Yours was repeatedly taken down off of Instagram because it was what they basically claimed that that was inappropriate and it was nudity. Can you explain more about what happened?

Celeste [00:47:25] Yeah, well, they didn’t actually take mine down.

Jameela [00:47:28] Oh right.

Celeste [00:47:28] They just that they’re clever. They just blocked that people couldn’t share it. Now now that was I was wearing more than what the model was wearing. She was naked like completely naked, but had like a jacket hanging off the back of her shoulder type thing. And then she had a hand over her holding her breast. I actually had a thong on. I had a like and she didn’t she didn’t have pants on. And I was holding my breast. Now, it was a breast covering issue, supposedly, and I just called bullshit. I was like, It’s this body that you are blocking. And if you and I just didn’t in two quick insta stories, I was fucking livid. And I said, If you I said something like, you know, Instagram, if you want to let me know why you’re taking my phone, you’re not letting people share my photo.

Jameela [00:48:20] But you are allowing her photo to be shared.

Celeste [00:48:22] Yeah. And I said to I was like, Because it’s this body, that’s what your issue is. Don’t fuck around. This is the body that you have the issue with. Don’t come at me with your policies. And if you want to have a chat about it, my contact details are in my bio, thanks. Like then I took my kids to school, I was just pissed and then it fucking went nuts. Everyone was like, Yeah, hang on, what’s going on? And then Instagram reached out. And what they say we’re already in the process of changing the breast covering policy because an excellent lady in the UK, Curvy Nyome. Is that her name? She posted she posted something months earlier again of herself covering up and it was taken down. And so she has started this thing. This movement really was she was like, well, fuck that, what’s going on? So Instagram had already started changing this policy. Then they contacted me and they were like. Do you um thanks you know, thanks to your posting, we are now more aware of what we’re moving toward making this happen quicker. And do you want to be a part of us announcing it? And I was like, not on your fucking life, because I just. I’m cautious of it because I don’t think it’s over. I don’t. I think they go, well, the breast covering policy has changed now. I’m like, Yeah, well, until the next photo I post and you say It’s some other bullshit thing, because at the end of the day it’s not. It’s your body shaming, it’s you thinking my body is offensive and someone else’s isn’t. So.

Jameela [00:49:53] Yeah, I mean, we hear I hear about this all the time because I have so many friends who work within activism or who are plus-size models, etc., who all tell me constantly that their photographs are taken down and. And. I mean, sometimes they’ll be wearing like a T-shirt and shorts and their photograph will be taken down for too much nudity, for example, like the algorithm has detected too much nudity. Now, what I believe that is, and I am no tech expert, but what the theory is online is that it’s because they are bigger. So visibly the ratio of clothing to to actual skin showing. Means that the algorithm detects it as nudity or it detects it as an inappropriate amount of skin showing. But it’s like just someone bigger wearing like a bikini. But then you take someone absolutely tiny.

Celeste [00:50:43] Oh that makes me want to flip a fucking table.

Jameela [00:50:46] Exactly. But then you take someone absolutely tiny who’s just wearing like, you know, I’ve seen pictures of and I in no way as a beautiful photograph and it’s amazing. And she looks wonderful. But Emrata posting about abortion with truly just like a flower covering the the the most explicit part of her genitalia. And I think then her hand may be covering her nipples, which is fully naked and she’s wearing a flower.

Celeste [00:51:09] Absolutely.

Jameela [00:51:09] And that was left up and kept up and celebrated and and shared millions of times. And other women who are bigger can’t post in a fucking bikini like this is super problematic. And I love that you were able to put it in a way where they had to they couldn’t run away from it any longer. And it’s given a lot of people a voice to be able to talk about this issue because, you know,

Celeste [00:51:31] It’s still happening.

Jameela [00:51:31] Oh for sure.

Celeste [00:51:31] People are sending me photos like this got pulled down.

Jameela [00:51:33] Same. Yeah.

Celeste [00:51:33] And like that. Yeah. I mean, I’ve seen photos of people with women with no top on tipped completely tits McGee. Great. Knock yourself out and like maybe half their finger over the vagina. And that’s like yeah I think I’m empowering. Yeah. Feminism. And I think great go nuts do what you want. I’m happy for anyone to be able to do what they want, but if they can if they can do it, why can’t I? That’s the question. That’s my question.

Jameela [00:52:02] Yeah and the many, many women who are also much bigger than you, who can’t even post even even in just sort of like regular summer clothes that is detected as nudity and taken down not specifically on this one like app, but just across social media. This is a this is a huge problem. And we are denying people work and we are also harming their their self-esteem personally. And by erasing these bodies online. We are we are then. Not, I don’t say we as in like you and I are involved, but us as a society by not representing those bodies, not allowing those bodies to exist among the kind of realm of photographs then other people don’t get to see them. And then other people who look like that don’t get to see. Or even people who don’t like that don’t look like that, don’t get to see that there’s a perfectly normal, beautiful, wonderful way to live and exist. If we don’t see it we can’t be it, you know so.

Celeste [00:52:54] That’s the word normal. What’s normal? So the. The. The model photos. We are still in society pushing that that is normal. Your thighs shouldn’t touch because that is normal. And if they do touch, then you are brave for showing that. And that’s the issue. What is seen as normal and it’s one it’s a it’s usually a thin white woman that is normal. A Victoria’s Secret model is what is being pushed out still as normal.

Jameela [00:53:26] This stuff is getting to you more now, isn’t it? Like over the we’ve known each other now kind of a little bit over the years, but I can see visibly, but while we’re looking at each other over Zoom. I can see that this is definitely emotionally starting to hit home in a new way for you.

Celeste [00:53:41] Yeah. And it will starting to piss me off now. Cos like come on. And it’s, it’s it is easily fixed. It is easily fixed like especially on social media. It’s a click of a button. It’s a un click of an algorithm thing. It’s that’s that’s what it is. You just take those limits off women who don’t look like a model, and then. Then they’re free. It’s it. I should not have made the news. I should not have made international news for that, but I did because of the way I look.

Jameela [00:54:13] Which is, by the way, you don’t look bad. There is nothing that looks bad. But also you aren’t even. The thing I found the funniest about that photograph is that you’re not even much bigger. So that means who the fuck else is being policed on this thing? Because they’re really not. You’re not that much bigger. This wasn’t some dramatic photo difference. It really wasn’t. It might maybe even feel that way to you, but it really wasn’t. As an objective person who knows you who who’s also just has eyes. It was so un extreme that I was a I was astounded by it truly. But I am. Yeah, I really obviously I feel you because I’ve been so upset about this stuff for such a long time. And I wanted to ask and I don’t feel like we’ve spoken about this much because we’re normally just bantering on or just sort of just talking about, just talking our shit. But how are you with your own body image? Like, you know, you go out of your way to kind of, I don’t know, promote just being okay in your own skin. How have you gotten to how have you. Like how just. I don’t even know. I don’t even know where you’re at on it. Like, where are you out on your own body image considering that you’re seeing all this stuff, all these things are happening, etc.. I would really love to know.

Celeste [00:55:26] Well, it changes like everyone’s and I, I think, you know, going back to like I was saying before about. Learning my currency early and knowing that how I look is not the most interesting part of me. I’ve never been brought up to think that and you know, I struggling at school. So like I say, knowing my currency, knowing my strengths and playing on those and realizing that that’s having a great personality is a fucking great thing. You know, people use it. Use it as a joke going oh well she’s got a great personality. I’m like that is not I don’t know why people say that like it’s rude,.

Jameela [00:56:05] It’s a really grea, big deal. I know.

Celeste [00:56:05] But sometimes I have to drink my own Kool Aid though sometimes if I’m doing a photo as an example or I’ll have to be like, Whoa, I’ll see the photo. I’ll be like, Whoa, all right. Okay. And then I go, Come on. And I have to have a minute where I go, You’re doing good work. You know, it’s funny, that photo as an example that what was talking about I, I had to drink my Kool-Aid for that. I was like, oh shit, you are looking like that okay. With your big wrinkly belly and it’s got cellulite and all that sort of stuff. I had to have a minute where I just took stock and bought into what you and I are selling in that body positive and it’s a good thing. And how you look doesn’t matter, but sometimes it can be. Tricky like it is for everyone, I guess.

Jameela [00:56:53] Well, you’re doing specific, actual comparison culture and the fact that you’re putting your photograph right alongside hers or like a video of J.Lo. I understand that, like, you know, this is I mean, you’re you’re still having to live and survive the toxicity of our comparison culture obsession.

Celeste [00:57:08] Yeah. And also the flipside of that is. If I have lost a bit of weight as an example, because of because of my medication and I do a photo they’re like not, not funny anymore. You’re too skinny. Oh, you can’t fucking win, can you? Women can’t win. And it’s still funny what I. I did that J.Lo photo, and the caption was, I’m on the right. I thought that was fucking hilarious. J Lo was on the left. I was on the right. The caption was just, I’m on the right because no one can look like J.Lo, but people still no. You’re looking too good. So you kind of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Again, I will say to my husband sometimes when he takes my photo, this is the other side where I just think I’m banging and I’m like, Babe, hang on, just wait. I need to just check because I don’t want to look too good. And he’s like, You’re fine, you don’t, it’s like, you’re fine, but it’s. It’s a pendulum swing for all of us. For all of us.

Jameela [00:58:01] Yeah, absolutely. Well, look, I’ve taken up loads of your time, and thanks for coming on and being just so sweet and fun, and cool. And thanks for everything that you do for women, even though you just meant to make us laugh. And and thanks for setting just a really good example of what a responsible and thoughtful role model or person with a big platform is. I It’s been a great joy getting to know you over the last couple of years and, and also knowing that the women that we see represented online is exactly who you are behind the camera.

Celeste [00:58:32] You’re very kind.

Jameela [00:58:34] I’m actually a bit of a dick sometimes, but I really mean this.

Celeste [00:58:36] No I know that.

Jameela [00:58:37] Yeah.

Celeste [00:58:38] I don’t want to say that because it’s recorded.

Jameela [00:58:38] But before. Before we leave, I always ask people at the end of the show, what do you weigh? And I do not mean in pounds or kilos. You know, the I Weigh movement by now. Celeste, while I have you here, will you please tell me, what do you weigh?

Celeste [00:58:55] I weigh my children. I weigh my sense of humor. I weigh how much I give a shit? About others. I weigh how empathetic I am. I weigh my positivity. I weigh my marriage. And I weigh my drive and ability to hustle. Well, they were good.

Jameela [00:59:36] They were so good.

Celeste [00:59:38] Oh, I’m just going Oh, what do I weigh? That’s good. And then I was thinking, what do I like, weigh on the scales?

Jameela [00:59:46] And that’s how we like it. Well, love you loads will catch up soon.

Celeste [00:59:52] Big love darling. Stay safe.

Jameela [00:59:52] Thank you so much. And. And remember everyone. Remember everyone. Imagine that you or your loved ones could die any minute now and then make your decisions for happiness accordingly. Good night. Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode. I Weigh with Jameela Jamil is produced and research by myself, Jameela, Jamil, Erin Finnegan and Kimmie Gregory. It is edited by Andrew Carson. And the beautiful music that you’re hearing now is made by my boyfriend, James Blake. If you haven’t already, please rate review and subscribe to the show. It’s a great way to show your support. I really appreciate it and it amps me up to bring on better and better guests. Lastly, over at I Weigh we would love to hear from you and share what you weigh at the end of this podcast. You can leave us a voicemail at 18186605543. Or email us what you weigh at IWeighpodcast@gmail.com. It’s not in pounds or kilos, so please don’t send that it’s all about your just you know you’ve been on the Instagram anyway and now we would love to pass the mic to one of our listeners. I Weigh trying to be a better person every day for myself and those around me. I weigh my journey with my mental health. I weigh my compassion and determination to understand and love everyone, no matter how hard it can be sometimes. I weigh my care being experienced. I weigh being open minded and speaking up for myself and others around me. And I weigh my achievements.