Mara Jiménez Advocates Body Acceptance and Tenderness in Upcoming Andorra Talk

Mara Jiménez, known online as @croquetamente and an advocate for body normalization, has stated that no one should live feeling shame or guilt over their body. Ahead of her talk on “The Revolution of Tenderness” this Wednesday at 7pm at El Rusc in Andorra la Vella, the actress and divulgator shared how beauty standards and fatphobia fuel self-criticism, drawing from her experiences with childhood bullying and an eating disorder.

Jiménez, recipient of the Ídolo 2023 award for social awareness, is speaking as part of the SexCode Femení event organized by the Associació de Dones d’Andorra and the Andorra la Vella communal corporation. She described tenderness as a radical act in a world rife with hate and judgment, urging people to challenge limiting beliefs about body control, thinness as health, and appearance as self-worth.

From a young age, she recalled feeling different due to stares at her body, leading to harsh self-scrutiny and rejection. Bullying reinforced this, making her feel insufficient, while her eating disorder involved obsessive calorie counting, excessive training to the point of collapse, and a belief she was uncaring. “They said I didn’t take care of myself, and eventually you believe it,” she said. At 24, she decided another life was possible, beginning therapy that reshaped her self-relationship.

This journey birthed @croquetamente as a personal diary on social media, evolving into a judgment-free community connecting with thousands. “I wanted to help and stop hiding,” she explained. She highlighted everyday fatphobia—such as clothing sizes, seat dimensions, and workplace bias—and stressed internal dialogue’s power: “How we speak to ourselves shapes how we think and feel.”

A poor body relationship also hinders intimacy, she noted, blocking secure connections and pleasure. Practical steps include monitoring self-talk, surrounding oneself with supportive people, and daily body connection. Starting with self-respect, rather than demanding full self-love, feels more achievable.

Jiménez manages online hate through therapy and real-life focus, crediting family, friends, faith in God, and hope for a better world as anchors. Her core message: simply being is enough, without performing or producing. “There’s always a way out,” she affirmed, encouraging tenderness toward oneself. Today, she lives in peace, improving daily.