Lala is a person just like you and me in an imperfect world but inserting her love to be part of the change the world needs. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and no one should be judged for who they are and what they look like. God loves us all as we are.
You can follow her on:
Insta - @misscurvylala,
Facebook - Plus Size is ME
Website - http://plussizeisme.com
Enjoy the read and remember to spread LOVE
Dear Diary,
I read a quote that goes like this: “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder." What they don’t tell you is that you’re the beholder.”
I’m at a point in my life where I sleep a little more peacefully,
my relationships make a lot more sense and my internal battle has quieted down.
But before I tell you how I got here, let me tell you where I started.
I don’t remember much about primary school but I remember
how I consistently felt. I have proof of it written in this pink/almost red
diary (yes I still have it). I remember one day we were on the school bus
and one of the boys shouted “everyone who is fat raise your hand!” He then
looked at me and said “you’re fat, raise your hand.” I remember how often I
cried after school, how I tried skipping meals and how guilty I felt because I
looked nothing like the women I praised. Most importantly I remember how
emotionally exhausted I was defending myself.
High school came and as I went through it, something significant happened. Something unexpected but long waited for. I was
home watching America’s Next Top Model cycle 3 when I saw a plus size woman by the
name of Toccara Jones competing as one of the models. That moment changed my life. For
the first time I questioned the definition of beauty, my mind opened up to the
idea that skinny women were not the only face of beauty. That was the exact
moment my body-love/self-love journey began.
I abandoned my comfort zone. I didn’t want to be in it
because it was filled with nothing but self-doubt and misery. I did something I
never thought I would do. I posted a picture of myself online wearing swimwear
revealing my cellulite and stretch marks. There was nothing anyone could say to
me or about me that I hadn’t already said to myself. It was liberating because
with that picture, I let go of living for the approval of others. I stopped obsessing
over fitting into a particular size and started paying attention to curvy women
with style who own their bodies. That’s the key you know, OWN YOUR BODY.
The beauty in
taking ownership is that there’s no guilt, I’m not apologizing for the way I
look, not to anyone and especially not men. I’ve been in relationships before where I felt
grateful to the guy for dating me because I felt so unattractive, unworthy and
insecure. Anytime he would tell me I was beautiful or sexy I felt sick and
annoyed because I was convinced he was just trying to be nice to me. I cried
myself to sleep, tormented by the idea that when he wasn’t with me, he was with
someone else who was better in every way.
So I decided to start my own journey, a journey for me and by me, from the inside out. A journey I like to call, self-love. Self- love meant letting go and
finding myself. Once I began to understand who I was, I realized I’m worth all
that love and respect and if he didn’t know and respect that, then there was no us.
Part of the reason I’m in such a good space mentally is
because of the support I have, some of it from complete strangers but mostly from my loved ones. I’ve come to
be inspired by women who don’t even know I exist. Who would have thought I’d go
from hating shopping because it was a constant reminder of what the world
thought I should look like as oppose to what I really look like, to being a
part of a clothing campaign for Evans clothing? Who would have thought my role
model (Ashley Graham) would have conquered so much? A plus size model (first
size 14+ to feat in Sports Illustrated), body activist, motivational speaker
and designer?
I’ve gotten to see, learn
and do so much. I’ve started a body positivity movement called Plus Size is ME
for plus size women around the world, teaching them not only to accept but love
and celebrate their bodies.
If you keep going back and forth in your mind about whether or
not to take those drama classes, TAKE THEM! They are going to give you the
confidence you need to do you. Believe in yourself and don't fall short to the pressures of this world because they never stop. If you want to loose weight, do it but do it for yourself. Not anyone else. I remember feeling as if I was alone and how I
wished I had someone to talk to, so I created my own podcast series, to address
body politics so that young ladies/women would stop feeling like they don't belong. I now celebrate the premier of the second season of my podcast series, for more on it visit www.plussizeisme.com
In case you were wondering, I’m now a plus fashion blogger, body positive activist, and model.
In case you were wondering, I’m now a plus fashion blogger, body positive activist, and model.
If I had something to say to my young self, it would be this:
Beautiful One, yes you.
Wipe your tears and sleep peacefully tonight because life is
going to get so much better, far more than you can imagine. Wipe those tears, for tomorrow brings hope and more opportunities.
P.S
You will learn that me loving you means so much more than
anyone else loving you. Go to bed now, wipe your tears. I love you.
