When Miss America Speaks, Girls Listen

The Academy for Eating Disorders is grateful to have the voice of Miss America raising awareness of eating disorders and providing leadership to young women. Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008, has chosen eating disorders as her platform. Kirsten highlights a defining moment in her life as when she realized that she had an eating disorder and then "making the decision, my own decision, to recover."

Kirsten will join the Eating Disorders Coalition Lobby Day on Capitol Hill on April 9-10 to raise awareness of eating disorders and help launch the FREED bill (Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders Act).

Kirsten’s message is broader than just eating disorders awareness. She is speaking directly to young women who are so often trapped by the societal pressures to be thin and perfect. Kirsten states “I am using my year as Miss America to stand up and tell young women that they are valued and they are successful because of their character and their wonderful unique qualities, not because of the measure of their waistline.”

We applaud Kirsten’s efforts in helping us bring eating disorders out of the shadows.

Lobby day details are available at www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org