Last night, Patricia Arquette called for equal pay... IN HER OSCAR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH-- to which she got an incredible "YAAASSSS" power point from THE Meryl Streep! It was truly an epic moment.
This year, I think because of feminism the big push beyond equality and equal rights-- is about body positivity:
- NYFW hired their first "plus-size" model.
- Sports Illustrated had their first "plus size" model & an ad using a "plus size" model
- Target is creating an actual, honest to goodness, in-store plus size line, "Ava + Viv"
- Bloggers are everywhere: Kelsey Miller, Nicolette Mason, Nadia Aboulhosn, & Gabi Fresh
- Models like Tess Munster aka Tess Holliday are causing a scene.
And honestly it's a beautiful thing to behold.
While discussing the "body issue" phenomenon, my friend said:
"Why don't people think of weight as a personal choice? Like I can decide what color I want my hair to be, why not my dress size?"Which is truly an amazing concept-- because the thought that people have a right to weigh in (pun intended) on how you look is ridiculous. Why is that appropriate? I have naturally curly hair, but I love my hair when it's straight, I'm coming around to feeling just as fierce when it's curly as when it's straight- but my friend the other day said to me- I like when your hair is curly- neat. Thanks? He didn't mean it offensively but after watching TV and reading and seeing the same thing pop up- I got to thinking- what business is it of yours how I decide for the world to see me that day. Accept it and move on- with no comment necessary.
Being comforting and confident is the key to loving the skin you're in.
Read Nina Beck's This Book Isn't Fat It's Fabulous, it's a great book and now that I'm rereading it- realizing maybe it was before it's time the first go around. I wasn't prepared for the first time I read it, wasn't ready for the discussion it would stir up in my head and now I am. Excerpt:
"I like how I look." I stop automatically. It's just not ok for a girl who is overweight to like how she looks.I am the first one to say that I used to apologize when I looked less than "perfect" -- now I realize if you have a problem with it, that's your fault. If you don't like how I look, don't look at me. It's as simple as that. I wrote about it over the summer, I've accepted the skin I'm in. As cliche as that may sound. Sure, I may wish my stomach was a little flatter and I definitely wish I had a bigger derrière but ultimately- I am happy with myself and my body. And once you're less critical with yourself, you're less critical of others and you can start to be genuinely happy.
I'm happy to be looking to join an industry that expresses the inside of a person by decorating the outside, especially now that they're starting to be more all inclusive. Clothes can be as tight or loose as you choose but it is self expression regardless, and how neat is that?
So while you can think whatever you want and really say whatever you want... I hope we can all agree- if your opinion isn't solicited- keep it to yourself. Just like slut-shaming should be a thing of the past so should body-shaming... big or small, it's no one's business.
"Confidence is the only key. I can't think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself." -- Emma Stone
Treat yo self, Love yo self
xxoo
KJB
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