Mia Kang: Sports Illustrated model discusses struggle with eating disorder

‘I still have a disease that I have to live with for the rest of my life’

Mia Kang (Instagram)

A former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model has opened up about her past struggles with body dysmorphia on Instagram, encouraging others not to let their body insecurities stop them from living life to the full.

Mia Kang is a 29-year-old model, Muay Thai fighter and body positivity advocate currently living in New York.

She’s come a long way in the past three years, striving to overcome the tribulations of eating disorders and gradually learning how to embrace her body.

On Wednesday, Kang shared a collage of two photos on her Instagram account, one taken in 2015 and the other taken more recently.

At the time in which the first photo was taken, Kang revealed that she’d been an American size two in clothing (the equivalent of a size four in the UK), hadn’t eaten solid food for 10 days and would regularly smoke an entire packet of a cigarettes on a daily basis.

“I was obsessed with my collarbones, ribs and hip bones showing,” she wrote. “I was obsessed with having a thigh gap.”

Kang had aspired to achieve a body akin to those of Victoria’s Secret models, as she’d been preparing to take part in her first Sports Illustrated photoshoot at the time.

“I was told by the industry I never looked better but still had a little more weight to lose,” she said.

“I hated how I looked so much I thought I was fat and lived in constant anxiety.”

Kang, now a size eight, has faced an uphill battle over the past few years as she’s come to terms with the impact body dysmorphia had on her overall wellbeing.

“I love my thighs, my curves. I love my strength and the fact I can probably whoop your ass,” she wrote.

“I still have insecurities as I adjust into my new body, just like everyone else. But I know my body, respect it, and love it.

“It isn’t easy for me to post these pictures because I still have a disease that I have to live with for the rest of my life.”

As Kang explained, eating disorders don’t simply disappear overnight. However, she’s managed to adopt a healthier mindset in order to heal both mentally and physically.

The post currently has more than 14,000 likes, with many people expressing their admiration for Kang and their appreciation for her honesty.

“I wish I could like this 1,000 times. You look beautiful, happy, healthy and strong as hell. Thank you for being real,” one person commented.

“Such a courageous post - your strength and beauty come from what’s inside,” another individual remarked.

“I’m going to show this post to my daughter as an example of how to love yourself."