
EXCLUSIVE I have seen politicians, royalty and movie stars naked - this is why you need to stop hating your body
Von Hep co-founded the celebrated tanning brand Isle of Paradise and has over twenty years of experience spray tanning 'every type of person', from bridesmaids to politicians and movie stars.
After recently leaving the company he helped create, Von Hep now dedicates his time to spreading a body positive message to his over 109,000 Instagram followers.
Having struggled with body image issues throughout his career, the beauty industry insider has channelled the lessons from his personal life and career into a new self-help book, The Confidence Ritual, which is available now.
'Everybody, whether they're famous or not, has some kind of hangup when it comes to their body', Von Hep told Mail columnist Bryony Gordon.
'This was a massive learning experience for me, and I realised that everyone is conditioned to hate the way they look.
'Everyone I worked with – when they enter the spray tan tent and take their clothes off – the first reaction is always an apology.
'We are told to hate the way we look in order to sell products so brands can make money. They need to make us believe we have a problem which doesn't really exist.'
Von Hep has made it his mission to counter these sinister sales tactics by helping people love their bodies as they are.
He explained: 'I am not teaching anyone something new, I am teaching you how to unlearn the beauty industry's programming.
'We're not born hating our bodies – it's a learned behaviour through our teenage years and into our early twenties. That's when we first think there's something wrong with us.
'Whatever you think you have on your body – I'll tell you now, as someone who has stared at naked bodies for literally twenty years, someone else has it.
'Don't stress about it because your body is carrying you through this life. It's giving you every experience, every joy and every moment to be present.
Listen to The Life of Bryony podcast
Ever feel like everyone else has it together while you're barely hanging on? Join Bryony Gordon for honest, unfiltered conversations about life's messier moments – from anxiety and heartbreak to addiction and loss.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts now.
'You've got to be grateful. Don't waste time hating it.'
To prove his point, Von Hep recounted an experience from a fashion shoot that exposed the industry's distortion of body image.
'I remember tanning a very famous model for a fashion shoot', Von Hep said.
'She was naked, lying on the side of a pool. I was on the set with my little kit bag running on and off, moisturising her thighs and shoulders.
'I remember looking up at the monitor - she looked great in the pictures. Anyway, six months later, that image was on the side of busses and used in TV campaigns. It was everywhere.
'When I saw it, I thought to myself: f*** me, her ass didn't look like that on set. All her cellulite was gone; all her wrinkles had been removed.
'I was with my friends at the time, and I remember thinking, they don't know she has been retouched. They actually think she looks like that – and I know she doesn't.
'It was a light bulb moment. People need to know that every image they look at has been retouched. It could be a flyaway hair; it could be a wrinkle.
'I know celebrities who have it in their contract to remove one wrinkle from one hooded eye every time an image of them goes out.
'People are beautiful exactly the way they are – it's all so pernicious.'
Listen to Jules Von Hep's full interview, including his personal battle with body dysmorphia, on The Life of Bryony - available now wherever you get your podcasts.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Sun
Five savvy ways to make your punnet of strawberries last longer
WIMBLEDON tennis fans wolfed down more than 200,000 portions of strawberries – costing £2.70 each. The championships finished yesterday but you can still serve up some ace savings. Make sure your punnet goes further with these tricks and recipes. WASH 'N' GO: Extend the shelf life of your punnet, £1.58 from Aldi, by washing the strawberries thoroughly first. Combine one part distilled white vinegar with three parts of cold water in a bowl. Swish the berries around to get rid of dirt and bacteria before removing and leaving to dry on a kitchen towel. Store your strawberries in an airtight container lined with kitchen roll, to absorb any moisture. SPEEDY PUDS: For a quick pudding, use your berries to whip up an Eton mess in minutes. Buy a pack of eight Specially Selected Gluten-Free Meringue nests, £1.25, and Cowbelle Light Real Dairy Whipped Cream, 250ml, £1.39, both Aldi. Crush up the meringue nests, add the whipped cream and then mix in your chopped strawberries. This should serve about five people for £4.22 — that is 84p a portion. SWEET TREATS: Turn your strawberries into a healthy snack or topping. Slice your berries, then air-fry on the dehydrate setting or a low heat for ten minutes. Store in an airtight container and sprinkle over pudding or cereal, or eat as you like. ICE IDEA: Use up your strawberries by blending with Just Essentials Fat Free Greek Style Yoghurt, 87p, and a dash of Vanilla Natural Flavouring, 79p, both Asda. Pour this into a lolly mould, reduced to £1 at Hobbycraft. Freeze and enjoy in the heat this week. STRAWBERRY SYRUP: Simmer any bruised berries with 2tsp of sugar for ten mins until it reduces, to make strawberry syrup. Store in an airtight bottle and, once cooled, drizzle on pancakes or add to cocktails for a sweet hit. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability 7 Deal of the day KEEP an eye on your little one by popping them in the Bright Starts Little Speedster 3-in-1 Baby Walker, usually £59.99, now £47.99, SAVE: £12 Cheap treat 7 ADD Cadbury Brunch choc chip cereal bars to lunchboxes this week. A pack of five was £1.50, now £1.25 at Morrisons. Top swap HEADING to a wedding? A Jon Richard Medium Feather Bow Fascinator is £29.99, at John Lewis. Or get a similar fascinator, at for £15.99. Shop & save FOR a stylish picnic blanket alternative, pick up the Olivspinnmal throw, previously £10, now £5, at IKEA. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.


Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Nicole Kidman, 58, embraces her natural hair after ditching wigs as she sits in the Royal Box at Wimbledon
Nicole Kidman embraced her natural auburn locks at Wimbledon on Sunday after finally ditching wigs. The actress, 58, likes to keep her trademark hair under wraps on the screen and red carpet, opting for wigs and hairpieces to achieve bold new looks. While she didn't entirely show off her natural curly tresses, Nicole opted for a straightened look to avoid any frizz in the heat. She was seated alongside Vogue powerhouse Anna Wintour in the Royal Box, who sported her trademark blonde bob and black sunglasses. Nicole looked radiant as she fanned herself in the audience while battling the scorching heatwave. She recently gave fans a rare look at her curly hair while spending time with family in Europe. The film star was suited and booted in a white double-breasted blazer and matching trousers, which featured button detail. She wore a crisp shirt underneath the top, and added sunglasses to complete the look. Nicole looked elegant in a fedora hat as she continuously fanned herself beside Anna, who was in good spirits. As the games got underway, including the women's doubles final match, Nicole and Anna were engrossed in conversation. It comes after Nicole let her natural hair down earlier this week as she enjoyed some family time with loved ones. Nicole's niece, Lucia Hawley, 27, is currently enjoying a getaway in Croatia and took to Instagram this week to document the trip. One photo showed Lucia cuddling up to her mother, Antonia Kidman, 54, and Nicole, with the trio clearly chuffed to be in each other's company. Nicole also flaunted her naturally curly auburn hair, which cascaded down her back, in what was a rare sighting of her trademark locks. It was a far cry from the dramatically straightened look Nicole went for while attending the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week, just days prior. Nicole's habit of wearing wigs in Hollywood movies and on the red carpet has earned her a cult following over the years. Appearing on Sunrise in May, Nicole admitted that she 'loves changing her hair' and uses hairpieces to achieve new looks. 'As you know, I love changing my hair,' she said. Nicole also addressed her edgy short hairstyle that she debuted at the 2025 Met Gala earlier this month. 'For the Met Gala, everyone was questioning if I had chopped my hair off. But no, I didn't,' she added. Despite defending her love of transformation, Nicole recently admitted she regrets turning her back on her natural curls. 'Why did I straighten my hair?' she reflected in an Allure interview, after being shown throwback photos from Days of Thunder. 'I loved my hair there. That is my natural hair. Isn't that crazy?' She added a heartfelt note to young fans: 'So for all the little girls out there — embrace the curl. Do not follow in my steps and straighten your hair.'


BreakingNews.ie
37 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Bob Geldof says Live Aid still resonates today 40 years on
Bob Geldof has said Live Aid still resonates today, 40 years on from the two-venue benefit concert which brought together a stellar cast of celebrity musicians. The Dublin-born campaigner and rock star (73) said its resonance is why there are documentaries, radio programmes, and a musical dedicated to that day on July 13th, 1985, 'when something weird happened'. Advertisement Ahead of a special gala performance of musical Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical, Geldof told the PA news agency: 'I was at Oasis last night in Manchester, who were staggeringly brilliant. John Kennedy, Midge Ure, Harvey Goldsmith and Bob Geldof attend a gala performance of Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Live Aid (Ian West/PA) 'So I'm buzzing, and I'm still amazed that this old guy can be so thrilled by a great rock and roll band. 'But imagine 40 years ago, seeing all of the greatest rock and roll bands, one after the other, being exceptional for free, no contracts with anyone, they had to pay their own plane fares. 'For some reason, the performances were 'other', just like the day itself', he added. Advertisement 'They rose way above and everyone hung around to watch each other.' He continued: 'I've never seen it (Live Aid) because I can't watch or listen to myself. I can't stand all the stupid things I say. 'But I saw the end of Live Aid two weeks ago, which was the Christmas song. 'And here are the greatest creative talents of the rock era, and it's like the worst ever nativity play in school, like the kids haven't learned the lines, the teachers are going nuts, and they all hung around. They wouldn't leave.' Advertisement Midge Ure and Sir Bob Geldof (Ian West/PA) He continued: 'The sheer improbable exhilaration of it… that is what resonates… It's a time when Britain did something profound with their American brothers. 'And I think it resonates particularly now, because in the sort of age of the death of kindness, which [US president Donald] Trump and [vice president JD] Vance and [Elon] Musk have ushered in.' Geldof said he think it resonates 'more' than when it was 'possible for the boys and girls with guitars to corral the political and economic structures of the world', also encouraging 'the entire electorate and population' to give over money that would help the situation. 'I think that's why you've got musicals. It's why you've got documentaries, it's why you've got whole stations dedicated to that day 40 years ago when something weird happened', he said. Advertisement Co-organiser Midge Ure told PA: 'We were in the middle of this. We couldn't see just how big this thing was. 'It's like being in the middle of a cyclone or a hurricane or whatever. 'It's all going on around you. There's a weird stillness because you're dealing with the nuts and bolts of the daily process.' The Scottish singer (71) added: 'It seems to have grown over the last 40 years. It's now a historic, social moment.' Advertisement Sir Brian May also attended the 40th anniversary event (Ian West/PA) Set up by Geldof and Ure, the movement started with the release of the charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? on December 1984 which featured a number of celebrities and soared to number one in the UK singles chart. Then, in July, a concert was held in the US and in London, with the likes of Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Spandau Ballet and Queen performed. An estimated audience of more than 1.5 billion watched the broadcast and concerts inspired by the initiative were held in other countries across the globe. The US equivalent was held at the John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia and saw performances from Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and Tina Turner. A musical about Live Aid, which includes songs from Elton John, Bowie and Queen, premiered at The Old Vic theatre in January 2024 and is currently showing at London's Shaftesbury Theatre.