Tag: positive body image

  • 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

  • “Surround yourself with people who want to see you grow”

    “Surround yourself with people who want to see you grow”

    Okay, so at this point you guys have to know I love quotes (yep, I’m pretty cheesy). This quote is compliments of the Vallette Cleaners sign in my hometown – but it couldn’t be more true and completely stuck with me this past week. So heck, why not do a post focused on it?

    Since launching The Curve Confessions over a month and a half ago, I’ve seen copious amounts of love and support – extending from friends and family, to old peers and people on Instagram that I’ve never even met. It absolutely warms my heart to feel this kind of support in something so close and personal to me, and I’m sharing it with you all in hopes to make a difference. I truly hope it does in some way.

    Every single person I’ve talked to about the blog has been so supportive – and this is a shout out to all you beautiful people. I’ve completely found something that I love – and it’s exciting – but it wouldn’t be possible without you all. Seriously.

    This quote stuck with me because the people I love want to see me grow. And because of that, I am growing. So on this gorgeous Sunday, give some love to those close to you. Be grateful for everything you have and the people around you, and focus on all the good things in your life today. I 💜 YOU ALL.

    Shout out: to my colleague Alice, who helped me come up with this entire idea and helps me become a better writer every single day. 

    Shout out: to my colleague Meghan, who shot my first big photoshoot for the blog, and also keeps me so excited about it day in and day out. PS-don’t worry guys, more photos are coming 😉

  • Refinery 29’s Moving Campaign: #SeeThe67

    Refinery 29’s Moving Campaign: #SeeThe67

    Meet the invisible majority. 67% of American women are plus-size (considered size 14 and up), but they make up less than 2% of the images we see in mainstream media.

    Refinery 29 is making an effort to change that. If you’re unfamiliar, Refinery 29 is an online lifestyle site focused on fashion, beauty and style. Just recently, they launched a campaign called the 67 percent project. In short, it’s their pledge to feature plus sized models on their site, in their newsletter, as well as on their Instagram and Snapchat channels 67% of the time – from this point on.

    The mainstream media is consistently promoting stick thin models, but in reality, this is not what the majority of us look like. Refinery 29 wants people to see themselves depicted when scrolling through their content, or at least people who look more like the average woman, and this project is making that possible. Not only that, it’s pushing other media outlets and people everywhere to #SeeThe67.

    I can’t express enough how important this movement is – and how proud I am of Refinery 29. It’s not easy. It’s different – and it’s hard. But it’s beyond needed in this world. People need to be constantly reminded that they are beautiful no matter the size. And the more the media can promote this message, the more people like you and I will start to believe it.

    This past week, I got the opportunity to meet with top-tier lifestyle media outlets for a work event in NYC, one of them being an editor at Refinery 29. It was a super cool office, and an exciting moment for me in my career. But my visit there was meaningful in more ways than one. It was most definitely a great opportunity for me to meet with an editor of this caliber and get face time on behalf of my company. But it was also incredibly special to be there on behalf of The Curve Confessions, since their #SeeThe67 campaign is admirable and inspiring (and what The Curve Confessions is all about).

    Taking a stance like this is no easy feat, as the publication has been planning for months and faced hardships already, stating, “Not only have we faced practical challenges, but we’ve had to reckon with deeper issues of bias and prejudice along the way.”

    Refinery 29 bringing this issue into the public eye makes them a top publication in my book. So all I can say is thank you, Refinery 29. Thank you for taking your public forum and using it for good – and validating all those people out there who don’t feel worthy enough, or question their size due to the pressures of our society.

    Your message and campaign means a lot to me, and it also means a lot to women everywhere. But this campaign is only the beginning, and I’m damn proud to feel like I’m a part of it.

  • 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