Southbank bookshop hosts local conversation on body image

Mary Martin Bookshop at Southgate will play host to an important community discussion on body image this September, as Australian author Chi Chi Wang brings her story and message of self-acceptance to Southbank.

The free event, taking place on Thursday, September 4 from 6pm to 7.30pm, aims to create a safe and welcoming space for teenagers, parents, educators and local residents to reflect on the impact of appearance-based pressures in today’s visually driven culture.

According to the Butterfly Foundation, 73 per cent of Australians wish they could change the way they look. For many, this quiet dissatisfaction influences daily life – from confidence in the classroom to interactions in the workplace – leaving people to wrestle with feelings of not being good enough.

For Chi Chi, these struggles are deeply personal. Growing up, she recalls constantly feeling inadequate about her appearance. When she migrated to Australia alone at the age of 19, she realised body image issues transcend culture and nationality, affecting people everywhere. Her journey of self-reflection, study and personal growth eventually led her to challenge the beauty standards she once believed in, reshaping her understanding of self-worth.

Her book, From Ugly to Beautiful Without Surgery, weaves these experiences together with insights into human behaviour, encouraging readers to rebuild confidence without altering their appearance. At the Southbank event, she will expand on these themes, offering guidance on how individuals and families can navigate a world that places immense value on physical looks.

“Many of us are quietly holding ourselves back,” Chi Chi says. “We avoid being seen not because we don’t care, but because we care too much. True confidence begins not with changing the body but with changing the way we view ourselves.”

The event will take place within the intimate surrounds of Mary Martin Bookshop on the upper level of Southgate. Seats are free but limited, and bookings are essential via www.ccwithin.com or by phoning 0421 492 026.