My name is Erin Tharp. I’m a marine scientist who is passionate about the ocean and sustainability, a home baker, a yoga instructor, and a body-positivity advocate.

After battling an eating disorder since 2020, I struggled in silence fighting my way back to a healthy body and mind. Through these articles and photos, I walk you through my struggles and battle with ED. My goal is never to let anyone feel alone again and show that every body is a beautiful body.

The battle for control

“The feelings of strength and power that I have in the water are unmatched by the feelings I now reflect on in the darkest moments of my disorder. I am beautiful, I am strong, and I deserve to eat.”

Set point

“The true work begins when you realize that now the battle is all internal. Every person struggling must realize that they have been given the gift of this body and now they must learn how to love it.”

Movement forward

“We all eat because we are hungry, we all move because we are human, and we all have different bodies because we were all born uniquely different. Isn’t that a beautiful thing? I am proud of my natural body because it is mine.”

This is my story of how I learned to love my body again.

Mother Nature is arguably considered the strongest, most beautiful, powerful woman in the world, but nobody ever called her thin.

We are all children of the earth, therefore we are naturally, intrinsically beautiful