Category: Inspiration

  • Why you Need to Drop Everything and Follow Celeste Barber on Instagram

    Why you Need to Drop Everything and Follow Celeste Barber on Instagram

    Wow guys, it’s been a while. The past few weeks have been INSANE (happy 2017?) and I have missed y’all. But I have the perfect post to keep things short and sweet today, so during the next coffee break you have at work – have a read.

    Per the title, no it’s not The Curve Confessions’ Instagram (but def follow that too). This post is actually all about one of the best people on Instagram ever, Celeste Barber. Celeste is an Australian comedian with a killer Instagram account – which in short, parodies celebrity photos (see Celeste’s Instagram here).

    As you’ll see in her feed, she’s got major body confidence, and I think this is something we should all take note of. The Instagram platform can make us all a little overly aware of how “perfect” we look (i.e., finding the right lighting, pose, background, filter), but Celeste’s complete mockery of it all just gets me every time. And not to mention, she reminds us that these celebrity photos can be downright outrageous, and completely unattainable for most of us in real life.

    Which brings me to why I follow her:

    1. We should all take ourselves a little less seriously sometimes
    2. We should all be more REAL/flaunt our bodies proudly

    Thanks for always bringing that much needed humor into my days, Celeste. You make me want to try less (I mean that in the absolute best way possible). 🙂

  • The Media’s Photoshop Problem – and this Lane Bryant Model’s Perfect Photo Clap Back

    The Media’s Photoshop Problem – and this Lane Bryant Model’s Perfect Photo Clap Back

    Scrolling through my social media feeds and flipping through magazines, I’ve questioned my fair share of photos for their authenticity. Airbrushing, tightening, whitening, and everything in between HAPPENS, and probably a lot more than we think. We all look at these perfect people depicted in magazines or on Instagram gawking at them, but do we really know how many rounds of photoshop that picture has gone through? Nope, we don’t.

    I recently came across an Instagram photo of a Lane Bryant model, Denise Bidot, and man is it refreshing. It’s refreshing because she looks like a normal person, and she is definitely not airbrushed – the stretch marks on her stomach are completely visible (and beautiful, might I mention). Her caption says, “Loving this new image and how real it is. Thank you @lanebryant for loving my body, stretch marks and all.”

    I love it, I love it, I love it. Okay, can you tell I love it? I love it because we’re all so conditioned to think the way perfectly airbrushed bodies in the media look is ‘normal.’ It’s not. But this photo from Denise Bidot IS normal – and in my opinion, her stretch marks shouldn’t be considered not normal. A lot of women have them, and they’re perfectly okay. So why do so many of the media make these ‘imperfections’ not normal?

    I’m sure you’ve all witnessed instances of celebrities being photoshopped, but this article outlines some horrible ones. A few highlights – Katy Perry’s stomach being smoothed out, thighs being thinned, and boobs being lifted in Rolling Stone, or Meghan Trainor’s waist being slimmed in her “Me Too” music video (which she corrected, thank goodness).

    Thankfully, some celebs call people out when they notice the nipping and tucking (like Zendaya and Kerry Washington, for example). It’s great that they’re acknowledging this problem, but why does the media want to depict them as something they’re not? I truly don’t get it.

    But that’s part of why I started The Curve Confessions – because our views of beauty are constantly skewed in the world around us. These kinds of photos are already changing our beauty ideals – making us think what we see from these perfectly framed women is what’s considered beautiful. But if we look at Katy Perry’s photoshop mishap in the article above, that makes it even worse. Because a celebrity like her, who is considered extremely attractive, is getting edited. I can’t help but think, what the hell would they do if I went in for a photoshoot? It’s just not okay to even have to compare ourselves to this (which is why we shouldn’t).

    I love the media (reading the news is part of my job), and I love following celebrity news – it’s something I really enjoy keeping tabs on. But, I want us all to take a critical eye to this stuff, and realize that it can be a complete fairy tale land. Yes, a lot of celebrities have killer bodies and look very similar to how they look in magazine articles we all see – that’s going to happen. But next time you’re scrolling, just remember that it COULD be photoshopped. And if it’s not, you should also remember that this is not the norm, and you don’t have to strive to look like this to be beautiful.

    Also, remember my post on Refinery 29? 67 percent of women are considered plus-size, but only TWO percent of them (or should I say us :)) are depicted in the media. We see things in the media that give us a completely skewed view of the real world – so let’s all make an effort to look around and remember the normal, beautiful and diverse bodies we see every day.

    I just had to get this photoshop stuff off my chest, because I hate seeing all of us compare ourselves to these people who live such different lifestyles than us (and if you don’t compare yourself to these beauty ideals, keep on keeping on!). I want you all to set your own beauty standards. You are beautiful, and you need to believe it – no matter what.

    PS – I think this goes without saying, but any photo you ever see of me for the rest of time will never be photo shopped or altered. 🙂 Also – you go, Denise Bidot, you go.

    Photo credit: Denise Bidot

  • #PerfectNever

    #PerfectNever

    The olympics may have come and gone, but gymnast Aly Raisman has remained an inspiration. But this time, in the body image movement. In case you missed it, she recently posted an Instagram calling out “all the boys in middle school who made fun of her for being ‘too strong’” (see post here), as part of Reeboks’s #PerfectNever campaign.

    In short, Reebok’s campaign is making a point that there is no perfect body type that we should all be yearning for, and the campaign has support from not only Aly, but other celebs – including Ronda Rousey and Gigi Hadid (see more here).

    Shape magazine went in-depth on Aly’s involvement in the campaign (you should watch the video), where she dishes on being a normal person who has insecurities, just like we all do. She said something that particularly resonated with me. And that is, “Nobody looks at you the way you look at yourself.”

    I find that so interesting and relatable, as we’re all guilty of thinking (sometimes horrible) things in our head, but in reality, NO ONE else is thinking them. And let me tell you, if they are, screw ’em.

    #PerfectNever reminds us that no one is perfect and there is no perfect body type. Especially as we approach my favorite thing ever next week… The Victoria’s Secret Fashion show (sense the sarcasm). I’ve been seeing all sorts of social media posts from the angels who will be hitting the stage on TV come next week, and every year it’s the same thing: girls get all “ugh, I want to be them” and guys get all “ugh, I want them.”

    Just PLEASE, if you’re planning on watching, remember the #PerfectNever campaign, and remember Aly Raisman. Because I’m so tired of girls watching and thinking they’re not worthy, or wishing they had these women’s “perfect” bodies. I want us all to realize our true uniqueness and beauty, and not compare it to these women (or anyone for that matter).

    So for anyone who’s gotten flack about their body (like Aly Raisman for her strong arms), has a certain body insecurity that you’re dealing with, OR is planning on watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, remember that being different and being YOU is enough. We are all #PerfectNever (wait, I lied, you’re perfect now).

    Photo credit: Aly Raisman

  • Selena Gomez’s Powerful AMA Acceptance Speech

    Selena Gomez’s Powerful AMA Acceptance Speech

    If you missed the American Music Awards and Selena Gomez’s acceptance speech for Favorite Female Artist last night – she just got real.

    If you didn’t know, Selena recently had to take a break from everything for self-recovery (including canceling shows in her Revival Tour), due to her struggles with depression and anxiety. She says in her moving speech, “I had to stop. Because I had everything… and I was absolutely broken inside. And I kept it all together, enough to where I would never let you down, but I kept it too much together to where I let myself down.” See the full video here: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/selena-gomez-emotional-speech-ama-awards-article-1.2882029

    Selena’s honesty is something that’s not always seen, and I commend her for doing it so publicly. She’s reminding us that it’s okay to admit you’re struggling, and okay to seek help for your own well-being.

    She also says, “I don’t want to see your bodies on Instagram. I want to see what’s in your heart,” which is also a great reminder in the wake of many (young) celebrities showing a bit too much skin.

    For example, Kylie Jenner posting an extremely revealing Instagram photo of her and Tyga over the weekend. First of all, young girls are following her and looking to her as a role model, and what kind of example is that to set? Second of all, I totally get that she’s launching a lingerie line and that requires some risqué photos (eh, I guess I get it), but come on. This is too much.

    Selena’s speech was inspiring, and encouraging women to show what’s in our hearts. And I have to agree – it’s not all about our bodies and how we look (and we certainly don’t need to look for that validation on social media). There’s a lot more going on inside, and that’s way more important.

    And though The Curve Confessions sheds light on body image issues facing us all, that’s not to say there are SO many more important things. In fact, that’s part of my point. The way people look shouldn’t be such a focus for our world, but it always feel like it is.

    Her inspiring speech was a great reminder, in my opinion, to:

    1. Respect ourselves and our bodies
    2. Be honest and vulnerable, and seek help if you need it

    Thanks, Selena, you really inspired me with your words last night – and I’m sure you inspired other people, too. ❤

    Photo credit: Disney | ABC Television Group

  • All About Ashley

    All About Ashley

    “Stand up for curves. Confidence is sexy.” is a tagline straight from her website. Gosh, I love her.

    You guys have heard about her before on the blog – but it’s finally time to do a post on one of my biggest inspirations in the body image movement – Ashley Graham.

    I was first introduced to her when she became the first ever plus size model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition – and I’ve honestly been hooked ever since. I watched a couple of videos of her on Instagram after all the news started hitting about her, and she was so confident in her own skin it was contagious.

    Ashley was signed to an international modeling agency at the young age of 13, and has been killing it from the beginning. But since I’ve been introduced, she’s pretty much hit the ground running, with magazine covers and features on the regular (in Shape, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and more), being named to Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30,” and even having her own fashion line (okay, there’s so much more, but these are some highlights).

    This past week, Ashley was recognized at Glamour’s Women of the Year awards for “instantly bringing size acceptance into the mainstream with just one (fabulous) photo,” which references her Sports Illustrated cover. In her acceptance speech, she tells girls and women everywhere: “I let my body hold me back for so long. Don’t let your body hold you back. Don’t let your body insecurities hold you back from doing anything that you want to do.” Preach, girl.

    While at the awards on Monday, Graham was presented with a custom barbie doll that was modeled specifically after her. But this Barbie doll came with curves – as Graham’s number one request was that the doll’s thighs touched (ha, I love her so much).

    Mattel’s Barbie brand, the ones that created the doll, had already expanded the Barbie squad with curvy, petite, and tall body types last year – but this custom Ashley Graham doll is just another step in the right direction. And Graham’s public effort to make girls and women everywhere feel good about themselves, no matter their size, is a force to be reckoned with.

    As all celebrities have dealt with, Ashley’s been criticized on both ends of the spectrum – from “promoting obesity” to “selling out and becoming too thin.” But through it all, Ashley has stayed true to herself, and ladies, that’s all we can do.

    In a world sometimes filled with disrespect, judgement and anger, it’s important that we all channel our inner Ashley Graham. A woman that stands by her body and herself – empowers other women to do the same – and embodies the term f*** the haters, Ashley’s message applies to us all.

    And to me, it doesn’t just apply to our bodies, but it applies to our jobs, our relationships, literally everything. Never be ashamed of who you are – and don’t ever change who you are for the sake of others. Be true to yourself, love yourself, and you’ll find your way in this absolutely crazy world (just like Ashley has).

    And Ashley, just a heads up, this won’t be the last time I obsess over you on the blog 😉 ❤

    Photo credit: Allan Slank