SM: Did she ever get over it?
Sue Johanson: No, not while I knew her.

SM: Is there a particular body part or body image issue that you hear about a lot?
Sue Johanson: It can be anything from facial hair, down to a turkey neck that’s starting to appear. Breasts too big, breasts too small, armpit hair and armpit odor. And fat anywhere on the body. Under their arms—the bulge under the bra line is really disconcerting for many females. The other thing, of course, is the tummy. 

SM: What’s your advice to women who have these body image hang-ups?
Sue Johanson: You just—in short terms—get over it. Either they like you or they don’t like you and if you’ve got a little bit of fat around your belly, hey, I bet they have some too. There is no such thing as the perfect body. We look at fashion models that are anorexic—and without clothes on they are downright gaunt; they are ugly. Now, fortunately, there are many males who do not like very thin women, who like women with some flesh on their bones; it’s a symbol of fertility, of femininity, pleasure. It means she enjoys life, she enjoys eating and she enjoys sex.

SM: So your advice is to simply get over your body image issues? That can be harder than it sounds.
Sue Johanson: If you don’t like yourself it’s kind of unrealistic to expect your partner to really like you. So we’ve got to come to the point of a new self-conception and self-esteem. Tell yourself: “I will never make the centerfold of playboy magazine, but I am one beautiful broad.” And come to believe that, so that you’re okay. Because you are okay.