Tall, short, fat, thin, bald, hairy, dark-skinned, light-skinned, young, old(er), Aboriginal, Irish, Basque, Uruguayan, Indian, English, Australian, New Zealand-born … there are many words you can use to describe the people who feature over the next few pages, but the one word most of them used to describe each other was beautiful.
And it was a beauty, that when conveyed, ran more than skin deep.
Of course, the physical attributes are part of it – strong arms; an athletic physique; deep eyes; soft, sensual, skin – but often it’s the whole package, the animation behind the physical, that inspires and sustains the attraction.
The responses of the couples we interviewed serve to remind us yet again that beauty is much more than physical appearance; it’s the heart, spirit, the very soul of someone’s presence that can uplift us and make us feel alive.
It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to stop and reflect on what it
is that you love about your partner’s body and how it makes you feel, but from these reflections comes not only a celebration
of body love and acceptance in its many glorious expressions, but also a celebration
of togetherness and connection.
Inspiration, perhaps, for you to stop for
a moment and think about what it is you
love about your own partner’s body and how
it makes you feel.
Warning: your responses may make you smile – and possibly even blush.
SARAH & MEGAN
All the world’s a stage for Sarah Barry, 34, and Megan Oliver, 46, who share a love for performance, dress-ups and meditation.
Sarah “The first time I spotted Megan she was on stage and the first thing I noticed was the outline of her backpiece … it was beautiful to look at – I’d never seen anything like it before. I also noticed the quality of her voice, the depth of it, the resonance to it. Over time I’ve come to love everything about Megan. All of it’s Megan, my love … her strong arms, curvaceous arse and little head – I like that she is littler than me and I can cuddle her and feel like a big lady. When I look at her I see flashes of colour … Megan is beautiful, colourful, strong, smooth and warm. She is my own personal heater. I feel really comfortable and at home in my body when I’m with Megan. She has claimed her body and it’s inspiring.
I feel sexy when I’m with her.”
Megan “Sarah was on stage the first time I saw her and I thought, ‘Who’s this breathtaking, heart-stopping, show-stopping scene stealer?’ Someone finally told me, ‘That’s Sarah Barry – she doesn’t drink or smoke.’ That added to the attraction (I don’t either). Sarah is strong, athletic and very graceful. We started doing yoga together and I was amazed at her gracefulness and agility. As well as seeing a beautiful, strong and androgynous woman, I also see all the unfinished tattoos I have to do [Megan is a tattoo artist]. I think, ‘Oh, the pressure. I have to make them utterly fabulous.’ I am amazed and grateful to be with such a lovely lady. Sarah is stunning and monumental. it’s like the land of the giants when I go to visit her family.”
JOHN & ERIKA
Passion and an irresistible chemistry fuelled the connection between John Simmons, 50,
and Erika Gonzalez, 32.
JOHN “I first met Erika when she came to stay with my neighbour who lives upstairs. She was walking down the stairs to put the washing out, laundry basket on her hip, bum wiggling, a personification of the feminine. I was playing the guitar and said, “Flamenco guitar for the Spanish lady.�� She turned around and snapped, “I’m a Basque.” And I thought, “Oh, there’s a feisty one,” and it spurred me on to pursue her. It was definitely a case of gynonudomania. Erika’s body is beautiful, curvaceous, sexy, exquisite and ‘grabbable’ … it makes me feel good, grounded and warm. After a long day at work, I know I’m going to get into bed and spoon this lovely cuddly body … I feel a sense of belonging. I also put my big nose to good use and am very sensitive to Erika’s smell. There’s actually a word for our type of relationship: alphamegamia.”
ERIKA “It was John’s cheeky blue eyes that attracted me initially. The chemistry was so full on it was like a weight dragging me to him … it made me go a bit cuckoo. I have always been a practical and sensible person but I was led by my passion … I left my life behind to be with him. John’s body provides comfort and pleasure. I love his cheeky buttocks and I also love to rest my head on his chest … it’s a safe place, a refuge. John’s body is sensual, attractive and warm. It makes me feel whole, happy and grounded. I thought the passion would fade over the years, but it has only gotten stronger and more holistic. It’s great to still have the passion and initial chemistry, even with a child. John’s body to me is just perfect. There’s a cheesy Spanish saying, ‘I love it more than yesterday but less than tomorrow.’”
ZAK & CRIS
Zak Mann, 42, and his wife, Cris, 38, have a mutual appreciation for good health and fitness,
which inspires their love.
ZAK “A combination of Cris’s slim athletic physique and positive energy attracted me initially, and what I have come to love about it over time is the deep understanding she has of her body and how to best look after it to ensure a healthier life. This has had a positive effect on the rest of the family in how we exercise, eat and rest. However, I am still amazed at her flexibility. Cris is flexible, aligned, spiritual, elegant and energetic, and when I look at her I see a body I am in love with and attracted to. It makes me very proud that we are aligned in terms of looking after our bodies so that we can have active lives, allowing us to have more energy to do things. Also, Cris’s focus on meditation has had a major calming influence on the whole family and how we handle everyday situations.”
CRIS “Even though Zak was very active and had a healthy approach to his body, this isn’t what drew me to him. It was more his whole persona, his story. Physically, though, I love his biceps, large hands and beautiful brown eyes. I also love that his fitness gives him the energy to not only keep up with our two boys, but to outrun them completely. When I look at Zak, I see a body that is being taken care of and respected. Zak’s body is beautiful, strong, tall, healthy and dark, and his large stature makes me feel protected. His strong physique makes me thankful he takes care of his body, not just for aesthetic reasons but also so we can do things together. While I am definitely more relaxed when it comes to exercise, it’s nice to know we can plan a trip to Nepal when our boys have grown and we will do it. Our physical state won’t stop us.”
MICHAEL
& LARISSA
A professional relationship became a much deeper connection for former Attorney General Michael Lavarch, 50, and NSW Australian of the Year 2011, Larissa Behrendt, 42.
LARISSA “Michael and I first met in the late 1990s when we were doing work for the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. One of the things I first noticed about Michael was his kind, sexy eyes. I also liked his height and strong shoulders. Over time it became apparent that we fit well together. I like being wrapped up in his arms. It makes me feel safe. Michael is also very masculine and strong, and I find that sexy. His skin is surprisingly soft and I like feeling it against mine. And he smells great. When I look at Michael I see his boyishness, which I like. His intelligence shows on his face, but there is something fun-loving about his manner, too. I think he is the complete package. Michael is great to touch and he makes me feel lucky and happy. He keeps me feeling young and makes me feel good about myself.”
MICHAEL “Larissa and I had admired each other from afar initially. I was attracted to her long, dark hair and her brown eyes, which I thought were intelligent with a slight hint of mischief. Larissa had asked me to launch her second novel and at a dinner afterwards, sparks flew. Within a few months we had fallen more deeply in love. I like the way Larissa’s head fits into the nook in my shoulder, and the feel of her skin. I also like the way Larissa dresses. She does so in a way that highlights and complements her body shape. When I look at Larissa I see a beautiful, stylish, accomplished individual who has a wonderful presence, a kindness and a grace. The five words I would use to best describe Larissa’s body would be sensual, desirable, beautiful, alluring and feminine. She makes me feel good about life.”
TEDDY & KATY
Teddy Cook, 32, and Katy Jones, 26, found each other while on separate journeys exploring the magic and mayhem of India.
TEDDY “I met Katy in India, two weeks before I had to come home after six months there. I loved the way she moved. She walked with confidence and I found that really attractive. Katy has a spark and such a bangin’ body. We’ve been together for 18 months and getting to know her is almost like figuring out a map. It’s been a pleasure to see Katy’s sense of self develop and grow over this time. Her connection to her body has grown and become powerful and fierce, and I really enjoy that. I love the ways Katy enjoys her body and discovering how I can be a part of that. I feel a really deep sense of happiness that Katy walks the world and that she challenges the stereotypes of the way society says we should be. Katy is fun and soft … she’s my beautiful, fat babe.”
KATY “I was initially attracted to Teddy’s tattoo, but then it was the things that came out of his mouth. Lots of stuff that made him sound really awesome. He’d been in India for six months, I’d been there for six weeks, and we had a really interesting debate about permaculture and India’s hijra community. Being with Teddy has been a journey of rediscovering his body as it changes … learning to love a rugged boy. Teddy is furry, strong, gentle, ‘squeezeable’ and beautiful, and when I look at him I just see my bear. After Teddy and I met In India, I got really ill, India ill, and I was on my own in a dark room. Teddy came to visit and he gave me a big hug. It made me feel really safe, cared about and comforted – he’s so good to hug.”
