"Ha sido más difícil decir que soy cristiana que decir que soy gorda": Mara Jiménez | 8M

In this special interview for International Women's Day (March 8), Mara Jiménez speaks with La Vanguardia about mental health, beauty standards, and the debate surrounding reconciling her Christian faith with fatphobia activism. Is it possible to be a feminist, a fat activist, and a Christian in 2026? In this special feature for International Women's Day (March 8), we welcome Mara Jiménez (@croquetamente__), actress, content creator, and a leading figure in body diversity, to La Vanguardia. "Self-esteem isn't about loving your body; it's about respecting yourself." Mara Jiménez reminds us that vulnerability is, now more than ever, a political act. Episodes: 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:50 Who is Mara: influencer, activist, and creator of “Croquetamente” 02:25 Her most vulnerable moment: leaving Madrid and starting over 06:25 Autism diagnosis in adults: how it changed her life 08:24 Bullying, eating disorders, and how to help young people 11:05 Croquetamente: turning pain into community 12:11 Mental health on social media: real help or viral content? 13:45 The Dark Side of Being an Influencer and Making a Living from Social Media 18:28 Feminism and Body Diversity 21:29 Artificial Intelligence and the New Beauty Standards 23:03 What Is Self-Esteem, Really? 25:08 Faith, Spirituality, and Controversy on Social Media 29:40 The New Direction: Absolute Surrender After years leading the fight against fatphobia and the stigma surrounding mental health, Mara is experiencing a moment of "absolute surrender." In this exclusive interview, we discuss: The Taboo of Faith: Why declaring her Christianity has been more complex than talking about her body. Neurodivergence: Her recent diagnosis of Level 1 autism in adulthood and how it has changed her understanding of herself. The Trap of Success: The precariousness after reaching half a million followers and the need to move back in with her mother. Feminism and International Women's Day (March 8th): Why there is no real feminism if it excludes identities that don't fit the mold. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/suscribeteLV Read this and more stories at https://www.lavanguardia.com/ Follow us on: Instagram:   / lavanguardia   Twitter:   / lavanguardia   Facebook:   / lavanguardia   Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/suscribeteLV Read this and more stories at https://www.lavanguardia.com/ Follow us on: Instagram:   / lavanguardia   Twitter:   / lavanguardia   Facebook:   / lavanguardia