Morning Mess — Gayla is a model

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/05/2015 (4020 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I know a model. Her name is Gayla. In a moment I will introduce you to her.

It’s not very often I write a column that I hope is shared with the world. But this is one of those times. Because the subject matter is controversial and inspiring. It’s bold and it’s beautiful. It’s provocative and insightful. It’s about a woman in our community who is changing the world one person at a time, while changing the way we look at ourselves at each other.

I’ve known Gayla as a listener of my radio show since StarFM began back in the early 2000s. She was an easy woman to remember, since she would initially call the show to complain about the terrible windchills of January in her thick southern accident. I loved hearing from her, since it was always comforting to know I wasn’t the only one suffering in misery and darkness, yet I was born into it. She was not.

She met her husband online just months earlier, and after finding love, packed up her life and moved from West Texas to little ol’ Brandon Manitoba.

That in itself is somewhat of an interesting story. But far from the whole story.

You see, this woman, Gayla Neufeld, is a woman of size, and proud of it. And just a few weeks ago, Gayla received some serious international attention for her part-time job. That job is modelling. Plus size modelling on the Internet. And the truly wonderful part of this story: business is good for Gayla. Really good. And growing fast.

I was shocked to be on Facebook one day when she posted some links from media sites in the U.K. that have taken Gayla’s story and shared it with Western Europe. Social media has a way of taking stories like this and creating a phenomenon.

It was when I saw Gayla and her husband in an article for the Daily Mirror that I said, “hey, that looks like OUR Gayla. Wait a second IT IS OUR GAYLA.” (Articles have appeared in In Touch Weekly Magazine, Berra Brazil, The Daily Star, and papers in Chile, Japan, Korea and the list goes on and on.)

So here I am, reading about this woman and her new career in modelling. And while some find the idea puzzling and some quite frankly are just plain mean, many readers are enjoying the display. In fact, there are A LOT of people enjoying a self described “super-sized” model. And the byproduct of this newfound income source and fame? Reinforcement in her belief that “we are all beautiful.”

Although many will find it hard to believe, it really shouldn’t be that hard to believe at all. I sat down with Gayla for 30 minutes last week. Here’s a small bit of our conversation:

TG: How has the last few months been for you, Gayla?

GN: The actual modelling has been happening in three years. A member of Barcroft Media, which is a U.K.-based company approached me last year, and they wanted to do a segment for a magazine called BEST in the U.K.

TG: And it’s taken off. When I type your name in Google, your picture and articles are everywhere. Video too. Take us to the moment you thought “hey, I should be a model.”

GN: I had extra time on my hands; a little extra income doesn’t hurt anyone. I’m not getting rich by any means, but it’s something that I enjoy doing. I had a friend that found this website and she told me, “you’re beautiful you should model for them,” and so I contacted them, but there were a lot of hoops to jump through. I eventually told them no. I’m not going to do all that right now. But about a year later they contacted me and relaxed some of the ‘hoops’ and it felt like it was something I wanted to do. I sent them an audition and they were pleased, and they set me up on their web page. I model under the name of Ruby. They’re the bombshell websites. All their models have bombshell names.

TG: Who takes the pictures? Is that your husband?

GN: Yes, my husband Lance takes the pictures.

TG: What was it like the first time you logged on and saw yourself as a model.

GN: I was so excited! I couldn’t wait.

TG: Do you get fan mail?

GN: I do. I get fan mail through email all the time. Obviously I don’t post my personal address. I don’t want the rest of the world to have access to it, but I get people all the time. When this story broke, the next day I had 93 friend requests on my regular Facebook page. I don’t normally put people who are “Ruby’s” fans on my own personal page. I try to keep the two separated. I have people email for my phone number and people who ask if they can come see me in person.

TG: What do you say to people who are ashamed of how they look?

GN: That amazes me. I have friends of all different sizes. I never wanted to be known as the eight-foot belly woman. My point is I want people to be happy in their bodies. I want people to realize their body is a gift, and there is no way you can learn to love somebody, or somebody else can learn to love you, until you love yourself.

TG: What’s next for Gayla?

GN: I’ve just started a blog, but after that I don’t know. Haven’t even thought about it. I’ve taken this one day at a time and am just as surprised as everyone else it’s as strong as it is. I never expected to be popular in this magnitude. I’m not encouraging anyone to gain wait. That is not my purpose at all. I want people to know it’s OK to be different and to love who you are. Accept your differences. Own them. And sometimes you have to disengage in others’ lives (negative people) before you can engage in your own.

I know a model. Her name is Gayla. Thank you Gayla. From anyone who has ever put on a bathing suit and thought, I’m not good enough or I’m not skinny enough. From anyone who felt like looking like someone on TV, or in the movies was more important that living in reality. We realize attractive people will always get perks in life, as will smart people, rich people and people with amazing god-given talent. But as you have shown us Gayla, those who are truly happy with who they are, and can be blessed to have an opportunity to feel adoration from others who feel the same, is nothing short of inspirational.

You go Gayla. Just like the recent story of Bruce Jenner’s bravery, your own bravery and inspiration will help save lives. And change many.

JOKE THIS WEEK

Two elderly men were eating breakfast in a restaurant one morning. Stanley noticed something funny about Joe’s ear. He said, “Joe, did you know you’ve got a suppository in your left ear?”

“I have? A suppository?” exclaimed Joe. He pulled it out and stared at it. Then he said, “Stanley, I’m glad you saw this thing. Now I think I know where my hearing aid is.”

BIRTHDAYS

Jennifer Lynn • April Fearnley • Glenda E. Clarke • Joyce Kretchmann • Michael Clarke • Megan Usick •Darren Mckay • Petina Ferland •Nina Clark

» Tyler Glen is a radio DJ on Star-FM. He writes a weekly column for the Brandon Sun. Twitter: @Tyler_Glen