The rise of social media has inevitably led to a global increase in bullying, anxiety and even teenage suicide. Yet, despite its negative impact, it has also given many people an opportunity to speak up and encourage others. Model and fitness guru Erica Ransfield (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa) shares her experience of being bullied at school, to later representing Māori culture on the runways in San Francisco and Paris.
Images CARLENE RASCHKE
You’re no stranger to bullying. What is your story?
It first happened at primary school. We were having a break, when the girl next to me started looking at my legs. She reached over, grabbed my calf muscle and said, “Your legs are fat!” How was she even aware of body image at this age? My view of myself really took a turn from then on. I would always find myself tugging on my shirt and wearing my jumper on hot days just to keep my stomach hidden. When you’re a kid, you take in everything. This messed with my mentality a lot.
Step-by-step my confidence came back. I took to health and fitness – it was the only thing that made me feel strong and beautiful. But even though I train, I still find myself getting sucked back into that weak mentality scrolling through social media. You start to compare yourself to the images you see on Instagram, thinking ‘I wish I had her abs, I wish I had her arms, and her hair, and her body’, and you get dragged right back to square one.
The turning point for me was last year in Paris. We were at a photoshoot and one of the organisers called me fat and heavy. I knew the industry was harsh, but to have come so far in my training and nutrition to be told that I was heavy really consumed me and I felt like that vulnerable kid at primary school again. I felt like my years of hard work had gone out the window. But I also knew that I couldn’t let her one comment get to me.
I decided to put more time and effort into myself and to use it as my push to grow. I know I’m strong and I had come too far in my life to let anyone speak to me in that way. I wasn’t going to accept that and let that affect me negatively. I know so many other women who have the same struggles, so I decided my first step was to share that experience on my social media, and the reaction I had was unbelievable. I’m glad I did share it! I’m glad I could help other women find their own honesty as well.
The power of social media is incredible! How else did it help you?
I’ve had a lot of business opportunities through social media. Recently I had the privilege of working with Tammy Hembrow and her brand Saski Collection in Australia. I’ve looked up to Tammy ever since I had an Instagram account, so working with her was the best experience ever! I’ve travelled to the US and Paris as a runway model, also thanks to social media. And because of social media, I am a sponsored athlete for one of the biggest supplement brands in the world which I have used religiously for four years.
Erica Ransfield for Saski Collection
Talking of San Francisco and Paris, you went there as a part of Māori modelling agency. Though you’re no longer with this agency, can you tell a little bit about how important was it for you to represent Māori company at that stage?
I never wanted to be a model but I’m also never one to say no to any given opportunity and I hate being stagnant in life, so I put myself forward to take part in a project that this agency was holding, and ended up being cast.
I think there aren’t enough opportunities or support for young Māori to showcase their talents and their beauty. As a culture, we are quite humble which makes us shy to put ourselves forward and to stand out. I came into the modelling world on the basis that I could familiarise myself with the agency on a cultural level. For me that made it easier to say to myself, ‘They get you. They will understand your tā moko. They will understand your beliefs. You don’t have to worry.’
I didn’t want to put myself into a team or agency I couldn’t connect with, especially when I had spent the majority of my life surrounded by my own culture. I know who I am, what I represent, and I didn’t want to have to be a certain way or conform to anything else to fit into an agency.
San Francisco Fashion Week
Did you get a chance to demonstrate your culture while modelling abroad?
In San Francisco, I was able to educate people about my culture through my tā moko as there were many people interested in them and the meaning behind them.
You could always see when us Māori girls walked into the room, people were captivated by our look – we looked completely different to everyone else. We were ‘exotic’ and that alone made us stand out to designers and even to other models.
If ever I doubted myself while I was on the runway or backstage, I would think back to what I represent and my tā moko and how proud I am of who I am. So, I’d pull my shoulders back, chin up, walk with mana and ‘moko the world’. One city, one stage, one runway at a time.
In Paris, we had a photoshoot at the Eiffel Tower and we took some poi with us. There were crowds of people around and we were just playing with the poi, not thinking anything of it. We looked around and people were watching us, so we stepped out into the middle of the Eiffel Tower and put on a little bit of a show. That was a really beautiful moment!
What advice can you give women who are still struggling with self-love and confidence?
That’s a difficult one because I’d be lying if I said that what people say about me doesn’t hurt me anymore. Know your worth and remind yourself every day of how much better you are than all these words people are calling you! Learn not to be afraid to block people. If it doesn’t benefit you, it shouldn’t worry you.
My favourite quote says: “Your competition isn’t other people. Your competition is your procrastination. Your ego. The unhealthy food you consume. The knowledge you neglect. The negative behaviour you’re nurturing and the unrealistic millionaire celebrity lives you idolise. Compete against that.”
