Was Katy Perry's "Confession" About Her Period at 2024 MTV VMAs really TMI???
Oct 03, 2024
"My mission as a Menstrual Cycle & Emotional Eating Coach is to empower women to honour their menstrual cycle, move from their powerful femininity, and let go of guilt and shame around their incredible bodies. "
- Alexandra Morgan
At the 2024 MTV VMAs, Katy Perry made waves by candidly mentioning she was on the "first day of her period" during her acceptance speech for the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
After delivering a standout performance that included a medley of her greatest hits, she humorously acknowledged the physical challenge of performing while menstruating, which sparked both support and controversy online.
Her speech, besides the period reference, also emphasised themes of authenticity, resilience, and female empowerment, encouraging young artists to remain true to themselves in the face of industry pressures​
(Bored Panda)​(Grazia)​ (AOL.com) (Source: ChatGPT)
Was it really TMI?
This could only be TMI to someone who has no concept of what it means to be menstruating while "on the job" or someone playing host to some unprocessed shame around what it is to be a woman.
Firstly, I'd like to entertain who these people might be who don't know what it means to perform a high-energy show (or task) on the first day of their period:
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Men with little understanding or respect for what a period feels like. (Most men I have met are compassionate and understanding)
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Women who have altered their natural female state by taking hormonal birth control.
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Women who are out of touch with their bodies.
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Non-menstruating women.
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Women who try to out-tough other women.
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Women who do not experience any menstruation symptoms.
- Politically correct people who uphold unrealistic and robotic expectations of themselves and others.
Some do not experience symptoms when menstruating, but for most, at a bare minimum, we get fatigued the week before and around the period due to a rise in the hormone progesterone which has a sedative effect on the body.
There are a few reasons why some women can miss this feeling or signal:
- If she consumes stimulants like coffee, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and too much sugar she can be unaware of how she feels or disconnected from her body.
- So busy that she doesn't hear the subtle messages her body is sending her.
- In response to trauma, may have mentally "checked out", in functional freeze, meaning she is in survival mode and not really "in" her body. (Dissociated)
- We can all react differently to our hormones; we are all different and can have varied hormone levels.
- Many of us are unaware of the female cycle and the impact it has on our body, energy, and life.
As you can see there are varied reasons why we don't understand each other's experiences, we may think, "I feel fine, what is she on about", or "Stop talking about periods, it's embarrassing".
The reason we are talking about it is because it's reality.
We have a huge number of women in the workforce now, especially in male dominant industries who are struggling with their physical and mental health because they feel the need to deny their body's natural rhythm to fit into the structure that governs our society that was initially set up to support men at work, while women were focusing more on children.
(Note: it's not to say women can't work, just not in this way).
It is HIGHLY recommended that we rest around period time, because our bodies are undergoing the huge process of menstruation, and this fact gets little to no respect considering the reality for most women.
What Katy Perry was saying at the VMA's was... her performance was a pretty big ask, at a time when her body is most likely telling her to lie down and rest. (Obviously, I do not know Katy and I can't comment on her reality).
My worry about this story is that women will think they "should" be able to achieve flamboyant displays of strength at work and do more, while on their periods...
And before that thought gets out, I want to crush it!
My mission as as Menstrual Cycle & Emotional Eating Coach is to empower women to honour their menstrual cycle, move from their powerful femininity, and let go of guilt and shame around their incredible bodies.
All of our bodies function and react to our circumstances in different ways and forcing our bodies to look and act like someone else's sets us up for disappointment and failure.
If you are struggling with menstrual symptoms, weight, or emotional eating and you are looking for a supportive community to heal, follow my page and reach out to me.
Feel free to share your experience so we can all support each other.
Joy and good health to you
Lex x
About Alexandra Morgan
Alexandra Morgan is a Female Cycle Health Expert specialising in Emotional Eating, Emotional Trauma Healing, and PMS support.
She empowers women to break free from negative eating cycles and manage PMS symptoms through alternative and holistic health approaches.
Drawing from her journey of overcoming challenges like narcissistic abuse, C-PTSD, PCOS, and eating disorders, Alexandra helps women heal emotional trauma and achieve a healthy, joyful relationship with their bodies.
Her signature program, "Heal by Cycle," helps women transform their relationship with their menstrual cycle and emotional eating, turning what was once a struggle into a source of strength and freedom.
Connect with Alexandra for more insights on Instagram @alexandramorgan.joy and read more articles from her here https://www.alexandramorgan.com.au/blog
