Earlier in the week I came across a blog titled 'Want to Sell Me Sportswear? Show Me an Athlete' 

By Ellie Krupnick.

I felt inspired to add my own voice to the debate because it's an important conversation.

This is a message to the big brands like Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Puma, JD...  are you listening? Do you want to sell me sportswear? I believe I speak for a large number of women when I say this is who we want to see advertising sportswear as oppose the Kylie Jenner's of the world. 

I want to see a woman who loves to move, who inspires me to move and enjoy my body because she does, not a starving model on 20 pack a day.

I want to see a woman who moves because it feels good to her, not just because she wants to look good in a bikini. Looking good is a bonus.

I want to see a woman who performs for herself, not for the male gaze and she works to achieve excellence in her field because this is who she is.

Advertise a yogi with correct alignment, a woman who has shown up on her mat day in day out to perfect the pose and to understand the practice, not a genetically lucky woman who doesn't know her Asana from her ass.

If she's genetically lucky and she's a yogi badass then show me her too alongside a fair representation of women in yoga across the board.

Show me a woman who sweats and who knows what it feels like to fail that last rep, not a girl who is afraid to spoil her makeup and who disfigures herself with a surgeon's knife to achieve physical perfection.

Want to sell me a sports bra? Show me an athlete. Want to sell me trainers? Show me a runner with calves she worked for. Want to sell me leggings? Picture a girl who wears those muthafuckers out. 

Focus on a woman whose feet are fucked from dancing, who has achieved inner peace standing on her head, who runs like the wind and can really whack a ball, the woman who did pull-ups to get over her abusive ex, the one who defies gravity on her skateboard and her own expectation, the one who grunts on her dead lifts, the one with the dirty hair and feet but with sparkling eyes and a shining soul. 

The woman who fights everyday to love her body despite the noise around her that tells her she doesn't quite measure up to impossible airbrushed ideals. The woman who can't help but love herself and all her body is capable of especially as she stands looking at herself in the mirror, dripping with sweat after smashing her PB. The woman who has to move because it's who she is, it's what she does and she lives it day in, day out. Don't sell us poor imitation, give us her.

I am representative of your market and I want to see athletic women endorsing your brands 

Lifeless  

Passion  

Fierce  

You're using this to sell me yoga clothes? Try again

I'd believe this woman

Nope  

More of this  ( Misty Copeland for Under Armour) 

Gisele for Under Armour - FAIL