The Connected Girl: Becoming Body Confident with Dr. Phillippa Diedrichs

Loading player...
“What we know from the research is that up to 80% of girls will struggle with body confidence.”
- Dr. Phillippa Diedrichs

It is estimated that young girls are exposed to nearly 600 media images per day, unable to escape the barrage of messages about the perfect look, the perfect weight, the perfect size, the perfect skin tone. Research tells us they are internalizing these images, likely to start believing their body image defines who they are. Far too many girls are held hostage by their own negative body image issues and need powerful counter messaging that reminds them they are so much more than their weight on the scale.

In this episode, Dr. Phillippa Diedrichs, a professor of Psychology at the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England, in Bristol, England, shares research-based strategies to build body confidence in girls. Dr. Diedrichs, who delights in smashing beauty stereotypes, is the Founder of Everybody Consulting, a global consulting group of thought leaders and social scientist experts in body image, appearance diversity and mental health. She believes we all play a role in helping girls become “body confident” and offers an abundance of resources to empower us.
19 Mar 2025 English South Africa Education · Kids & Family

Other recent episodes

The Connected Girl: Give them a sporting chance with Dr. Nicole LaVoi

Participating in school sports and physical activities is proven to boost confidence, resilience, and the ability to work as part of a team. These benefits extend beyond childhood into adults’ professions and relationships, making a positive difference in almost every aspect of life. But the UN reports that girls drop…
18 Mar 38 min
 trailer  

Introducing The Connected Girl S3

In this new season of The Connected Girl, a podcast series curated by the International Coalition of Girls Schools, we’re exploring agency. The idea that girls have the ability to own their own decisions and their own directions in life. Why does this matter? And how can the adults around…
18 Mar 3 min

The Grown-Ups Guide to Girls: Learning to disagree without disconnecting

👂🤝 In a healthy democracy, it’s inevitable that we will disagree with others. In fact, it’s necessary! What would it look like if we spent more time engaging in debate without tearing each other down? How can we teach respectful disagreement in classrooms and beyond? In this episode, we hear…
4 Feb 11 min

The Grown-Ups Guide to Girls: When Good Enough is the Goal

🏆🥇Do you know a perfectionist who struggles when things don’t go according to plan? A so-called good girl who works hard to please everyone except herself? (Maybe this is you!) For expert guidance, we turn to Nicky Whitham-Blackwell. As associate principal at Westlake Girls High School in Auckland, New Zealand,…
7 Jan 13 min

The Grown-Ups Guide to Girls: Talking to Girls Who Don’t Want to Talk

🖇️💌 Does the question “How was your day?” elicit a one-word reply? Do you find it difficult to connect with a girl you care about? For expert guidance we turn to Ann Muno, a girls’ rights advocate and acclaimed author of Powerful Girls: Raising Strong, Just and Compassionate Young Women…
3 Dec 2025 15 min