Melanie C, Toddler 'skinfluencers', Bryony Gordon

Woman's Hour explores themes of identity, resilience, and societal pressures through powerful conversations with Melanie C, Bryony Gordon, and Maddy Haining. Melanie C reflects on her journey from Spice Girl to solo artist, embracing her 50s with confidence, authenticity, and a new album infused with dance energy. She opens up about past struggles with body image, eating disorders, and the toxic nature of fame, while advocating for self-acceptance and the importance of saying 'no' to people-pleasing. Bryony Gordon, author of the new novel *People Pleaser*, discusses how perfectionism and people-pleasing have shaped her life and work, drawing from her seven memoirs and her own mental health journey. Her novel imagines a world where a woman finally breaks free from the need to please, offering a bold, liberating vision. The episode also confronts urgent social issues, including the rise of toddler 'skinfluencers' on TikTok, raising alarms about child exploitation and psychological harm, and the case of 18-year-old wheelchair user Maddy Haining, who was unjustly ejected from a Manchester nightclub, sparking a national conversation about disability rights and the enforcement of the Equality Act. Callie Hauger-Thackeray shares her inspiring story of running the Boston Marathon at 22 weeks pregnant, highlighting the strength and support systems that make such feats possible. Together, the episode celebrates courage, self-worth, and the ongoing fight for inclusion and authenticity in a world that too often demands conformity.