Tag: body image

  • Coffee Break: Shamed If I do, Shamed If I don’t 

    Coffee Break: Shamed If I do, Shamed If I don’t 

    “To some I’m too curvy. To others I’m too tall, too busty, too loud, and, now, too small — too much, but at the same time not enough. When I post a photo from a ‘good angle,’ I receive criticism for looking smaller and selling out. When I post photos showing my cellulite, stretch marks, and rolls, I’m accused of promoting obesity. The cycle of body-shaming needs to end …What type of example are we setting for young girls and their self-esteem if grown adults are on Instagram calling other women ‘cowards’ for losing weight, or ‘ugly’ for being overweight? … I refuse to let others dictate how I live my life and what my body should look like for their own comfort. And neither should you … My body is MY body. I’ll call the shots.” — Ashley Graham, August 2016

    To those who don’t know her – Ashley Graham is the first ever plus size model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine (I’ll get to that story later). She’s also a body activist and model making a huge difference in the body image movement. But for now, I want everyone to read the above statement from her – and really soak it in. I’ve witnessed people being criticized for being too big, too small, whatever it is, and it’s time to let people be who they are. It’s also time to accept ourselves for who we are – and screw the haters.

    Most of us aren’t the internet trolls largely responsible for criticizing her, and may not even be criticized like this ourselves on a daily basis, but let’s take this down as a life lesson. What I want you all to take away from her rant is this: “I refuse to let others dictate how I live my life and what my body should look like for their own comfort. And neither should you… My body is MY body. I’ll call the shots.”

    Photo credit: Ashley Graham 

  • “Happiness is a journey, not a destination”

    “Happiness is a journey, not a destination”

    One of my favorite life quotes and words to live by, this is something we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

    I’m at the age where girls are starting to either get serious with their relationships, get out of them, or get scared of the lack thereof (🙋). And we’re all guilty of putting that time clock on getting married or having kids (i.e., “if I’m not married by 30, I’m giving up”). I’m not going to lie, I’ve made pacts with friends that we’d adopt children if we were still single at a certain age, and I recently told my family that I’m buying a dog at 27 if I’m still single (AKA setting myself up for success). But in all seriousness, there is no time clock ever needed on life, and these “deadlines” we’re setting need to stop.

    Though we all want that knight in shining armor, a woman’s success and happiness is sure as hell not defined by having a man. And that life we all yearn for (a hot guy, kids, dog, and a house per say), is going to happen eventually. But that “dream life” is not going to be perfect, and shouldn’t be the only thing that’s going to make you happy.

    Being present, loving yourself and your life for what it is now – this is what will bring you happiness today. And if you’re not content, then do something to change that immediately – whether that’s changing jobs, getting out of shitty relationships, or picking up a new hobby.

    There is no time clock or “end in sight” when it comes to achieving happiness, and that’s because it’s a constant journey that we’re all on day in and day out. Don’t get me wrong, everyday is not going to be rainbows and butterflies, and we all have tough times. But how you come out of those situations and how you face life everyday – that is up to you.

    Yes, I am single as a pringle and there is literally no love interest in sight. But that doesn’t define me. I define me. And someday, I will find my perfect guy. But until then, I’m working on one of the most important loves: the one with myself.

    Take a moment today to be thankful for your amazing body, your wonderful friends and family who give you constant love and support, your beautiful self and your beautiful life. Because it’s your choice to make it a happy one, today and everyday.

    Keepin’ it short and sweet this Sunday, peeps. Now go kick some ass 😎

  • Intro: The Curve Confessions

    Intro: The Curve Confessions

    First things first, thanks for visiting the Curve Confessions! Before diving into my posts, I wanted to explain why I created this blog.

    My entire life, I’ve struggled with poor body image (definition: the subjective picture or mental image of one’s own body). From a young age, I was bullied for being fat, and from that point forward, my perception of my body has almost always been negative. I’ve also witnessed countless incidences of other people’s bodies being criticized (from friends to celebrities). Some of that criticizing is done by other people, some of it is done by themselves.

    With obsession over Hollywood celebrity bodies and the media’s focus on people’s figures (women especially), this issue is getting bigger and bigger. There isn’t a voice out there advocating for and discussing body image in an honest and open way. That’s where the Curve Confessions comes in.

    I want to be a voice among the curves, empowering people everywhere who feel insecure about their bodies, who have witnessed someone else’s insecurity or issues, or simply who think it’s an important issue that needs to be addressed. And I don’t just speak for ‘curvy’ women, I am an advocate for all shapes and sizes (though I do consider myself curvy :)).

    Body shaming is defined as inappropriate negative statements made towards someone about their weight or size, and it happens to men and women everywhere. Honestly, we don’t even realize the extent we’re doing it. Passing judgment of someone on the street, talking about a celebrity who has lost or gained weight, thinking a negative comment to yourself when you’re about to get into the shower – these are all examples of negative body image and body shaming.

    There are so many stories to dig into around this topic and the Curve Confessions is my outlet to do just that. If you’re looking for inspiration, a laugh, a pick-me-up, or just simply a good read, you’ve come to the right place.

    But body image to me isn’t just physical, it’s mental. Mental health is so important, and is half the battle when it comes to how you see yourself in the mirror (and how you see others). To those who want to focus on keeping their mind in the right place, and are seeking solid advice to do so, you’ve also come to the right place.

    I want to be clear that nobody is perfect – we all make negative comments and wish to look a certain way at times. But it’s time to work together to start accepting ourselves for the way we are, and being happy and supportive of others in their own body journeys. We can always make changes for our health, our happiness, or any other reason we might have, but there’s no reason to talk down to everyone’s most precious and unique gift: their body.

    The conversation around body image is an important one to be had – it’s a part of our everyday lives and something that can, and should, be addressed. I love to write and I love empowering people – so I’ve put a lot of thought into the Curve Confessions. I hope it’s a blog you continually visit and find purpose in, whatever that purpose may be.

    Just remember a few things about your body… It’s yours. It’s unique. It’s worth worshiping.

    Thanks again for visiting – now read on and enjoy the Curve Confessions! Also follow along to see my posts on Instagram, @thecurveconfessions.

    -KP (creator of the Curve Confessions)

  • Khloe Kardashian’s “Revenge Bod”

    Khloe Kardashian’s “Revenge Bod”

    If you pay any attention to pop culture (especially one of my guilty pleasures, the Kardashians), you may have noticed Khloe Kardashian’s recent weight loss. Dubbed her “Revenge Bod” since her break up with NBA star Lamar Odom, Kardashian is down about 30 pounds or so. But who’s counting? Actually, a lot of teens and women my age are.

    A prime example of the public obsessing over body image, Khloe’s new physique is something that’s hard to ignore. The thing is, body shamers have been attacking Khloe for quite some time, and this revenge body follows many years of harsh criticism. In an E! Online article, Khloe talks about how she discovered that people considered her the “fat sister” (compared to her slimmer sisters Kim and Kourtney). Khloe dished on how hurtful it was and how “f–ked up people are,” but that she’s lucky she was able to walk away and actually says it made her stronger.

    Think about the amount of comments she’s received about her weight. I can’t even imagine hearing those hurtful comments and having it so in your face all of the time. Paparazzi, magazines, comments on social media… it’s scary to think about. However, through all of this, Khloe decided to make changes the healthy way, by eating healthier and hitting the gym hard with her trainer. But not everyone takes this route — so many women take more drastic measures, such as developing eating disorders or becoming depressed.

    But, don’t you worry. People have found something wrong with her new body, too. In fact, some are now saying she’s “too skinny” (see article here: http://usm.ag/2agLxJi). But she’s “clapping back” at the haters–and so she should! I especially like when she says, “Yeah, it’s a revenge body. But it’s just as much for my critics who called me the ‘fat one’ for my entire existence.” I can’t say I’m shocked that people have flipped a switch on her, it happens all the time. People are always going to have their damn opinions, but it’s up to you to clap back at the haters.

    Here’s why I can’t stand any of this. First things first, I want to make something clear. I think she looks absolutely rocking and I don’t believe in skinny shaming. But, in the same token, Khloe looked freaking awesome before. I know she’s morphed into a new body and a much thinner frame, but what on earth was wrong with her body before?

    Khloe’s revenge bod has opened up a door that shouldn’t be ajar. It’s allowing women the right to disapprove of their bodies, past or present. How is someone who thinks Khloe looked fine before supposed to feel when they hear these comments? I, for one, am offended and angered for her (and women in general).

    Khloe comes off as a fun-loving, confident and sexy girl—but here’s the thing, she always has. Khloe had that same amazing personality before she lost all that weight. And remember that she got her new body thanks to spending hours in the gym to escape her tough times. And do people now think she has a perfect life just because she’s considered skinny? Well, you’re wrong. She’s going through shit just like we all are, revenge bod or not.

    Being skinny, having a revenge bod, or whatever the hell everyone’s doing these days doesn’t create a perfect life, and doesn’t warrant comments that your body was not okay before.

    If you’re undergoing a weight loss, a weight gain, a rough patch, whatever it is, don’t forget that you are beautiful. No matter the size, no matter the situation. And that, Khloe Kardashian, goes for you too, queen. Your revenge bod is rockin’, but you’ve always been rockin’ in my eyes.

    Photo credit: https://hotcelebswallpapers.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/khloe-kardashian-sexy-photoshoot-for-yahoo-style/

  • Surreal Moment: Skyping Meghan Trainor on the E! Red Carpet

    Surreal Moment: Skyping Meghan Trainor on the E! Red Carpet

    As most of my friends know, a recent life-changing moment happened to me: Skyping Meghan Trainor on the E! red carpet for the iHeart Radio music awards. My friend, Paige Thoreson, kindly tagged me in an Instagram contest (I was Meghan for Halloween last year and am obsessed, duh). E! Producers ended up contacting me, “interviewing” me, and I was chosen to Skype Meghan on the red carpet. It actually took a lot of prep and time over the weekend – but man was it worth it (see video here: http://eonli.ne/1W3Ke4G).

    In the clip, you’ll notice that I tell her she’s a huge role model to me (and girls everywhere). But there’s actually a story behind that. Meghan Trainor is a role model to me because she embodies everything this blog is about: She empowers women with her lyrics, embraces her curves, and on top of that has major talent.

    She wrote her first hit, All About That Bass, for other artists – including Beyoncé — but they all chose not to record the song themselves. Trainor then recorded the song herself, which went on her first album, Title. This is how she got famous, but there’s so much more to her story than that.

    Meghan began making music when she was just seven years old, and wrote her first song at age 11. Woah. Not only that, but by the time she was 18, she had self-released three albums and scored a publishing deal. She then moved on to sign with Epic Records, where her career skyrocketed with Title.

    Even more recently, Meghan released an album called “Thank You.” For one of the songs on the album, Me Too, she dropped a video. This was the moment where Meghan made huge moves in the body image movement (yep, that’s what I’m calling it). She released the video, and people noticed she was looking particularly thin in it (of course they noticed). Meghan had no idea, but it turns out the producers of her video had actually used Photoshop to make her waist look much slimmer. When she saw all of the comments, she figured out what had happened. Like a true gem, Meghan ordered the video down right away and posted the original (she even snap chatted about how she was embarrassed and thinks her own waist looks just fine). Honestly, what a boss.

    I’m following her ”Untouchable tour” on social media and she is absolutely rocking it.  I’m so thankful I got the opportunity to tell her that her message does affect women in a positive way. She sends an important message that needs to be heard – that it’s important to love yourself, embrace yourself, and that curves are good, y’all (listen to her album if you haven’t, it’s woman power to the max).

    Even though she’s younger than me (22, how crazy)… I still look up to her in major ways. She’s for sure a voice among the curves and is using her talent for good. Her public display of body image pride is one to be reckoned with and I my friends, will forever be a Megatron.

    Oh, also, whenever I’m having a bad day, I remember that Meghan liked AND commented on my Instagram post about the Skype experience (the photo with this blog). That is all.

    Photo Credit: My dear friend Paige Thoreson–this wouldn’t have happened without her!