“No matter your body, your age, you have the right to exist and try things without putting up barriers,” assures Mélissa Bédard, who participates in the documentary web series All day, directed by Anicée Ouellet, alongside Mélanie Couture and Guylaine Guay. The objective of this flamboyant trio? Debunking the stereotypes associated with fatphobia and proving that everyone, without exception, can indulge in the joys of yoga, pole training, climbing or even paddle boarding. “We want to help other women to emancipate themselves and let themselves go by doing activities that, too often, curvy women don’t even take the time to try because they tell themselves that it’s not right. for them,” adds the singer, presenter and actress, convinced that it is time to stop being embarrassed and open up to possibilities.
And his accomplice, Mélanie Couture, who initiated the series with her friend Christine Morency, continues: “The intention, with All day, is quite simple. We’re never seen on flyers or in advertisements, so it becomes a sensitive thing because people who aren’t comfortable with their fat bodies are embarrassed to ask questions about whether or not they can do an activity. » Fortunately, the comedian is not shy and does not hesitate to ask his questions loud and clear. “Let’s go and clear the ground for those who are more fragile! » she enthuses. In fact, with Mélissa Bédard and Guylaine Guay, they first highlight the obstacles, often the prejudices, which exist even before a fat person decides to do anything. “Then, we want to see if there is inclusiveness in the way of doing these activities and what are the limits, if any, of our bodies,” explains the comedian.
In broad daylight
With his documentary The gray revolution, one strand at a time, Léa Pascal addresses another major challenge for women by focusing on the perception of graying hair in society. “Women, despite all the progress, still suffer prejudice based on their appearance, while men have been allowed everything for a long time. “, she points out, describing the diktat of eternal youth as being from another era. To embody this gray revolution, the filmmaker notably follows the actress Geneviève Langlois, one of the rare ones to wear unadorned hair on screen – long and white. “It’s like we’re going back to square one to give ourselves the right to be more natural, and it’s very confronting for women, especially in my profession,” says the woman who refuses to submit to the tyranny of the dyes since he was in his fifties.
According to Geneviève Langlois, this recent “transition” was synonymous with self-affirmation. “It’s no longer trying to be young, to accept the age that I am,” she confides. In fact, the actress regrets the severe ageism towards women of our time. “It’s terrible and it’s scary. We are still evolving, but it takes a long time…” she says. Thanks to The gray revolution, one strand at a time, she can thus wage her fight in broad daylight. “Women have the right to do what they want with their hair! It’s incredible that we’re still talking about it in 2024, but it’s the reality,” adds Léa Pascal, who, never before embarking on the adventure of the film, would have believed that the subject was a hot one. news. “It’s good that we can open the discussion,” notes Geneviève Langlois. According to her, it is essential to take the path of visibility and go all the way, “each for herself”. “Being a woman and growing old is a personal journey, so I don’t want to judge,” she recalls, however.
“The more examples we see in the media, the more gray will become a new color, just like blonde, and the more society will adjust,” believes Geneviève Langlois. On this subject, same story on the side of All day. “Strength in numbers is important and representation is just as important,” says Mélanie Couture. In this fight to counter the invisibility of women who do not tick the boxes of beauty standards, laughter is also essential. “The show is funny because we’re funny and we’re having fun, but we didn’t want to be the joker because that goes against what we want to do. It’s not just a club for fat people,” she emphasizes.
Laughter as an outlet, then? “It was therapeutic, doing this series, to learn about our bodies and feel like ourselves,” says Mélissa Bédard. “Each activity had its challenges and brought its bugs. It made us cry, sometimes out of relief, and old sadness came to the surface, because we have all already felt rejection in our lives,” mentions Mélanie Couture. According to her, there is no need to glorify anything in All day. “But we have the right to be happy and it’s not true that you’re going to criticize me for being happy to move! »