While packing for a recent shoot, I started playing dress up in my new lingerie from Hips & Curves. I couldn’t help but realize how much I love adorning my body with garments I used to fear.
Frankly, I have always loved to be naked and lacked modesty at home, but never with a partner until my current one that is. The bigger I became, whether through having a son, trauma, etc., the thought of someone seeing my body, at what I used to consider “my worst” nearly brought me to tears.
Now I cannot imagine a life without cage bras (like the photos below taken tonight) corsets, negligees, or dare I say… bare. How did I get there, to a place of lingerie and self-awareness heaven?
Well, it just took a little strength to try on something.. again and again. Before I knew it, after what felt like ages I looked in the mirror and realized what a disservice I was doing not only to my body, but my self-worth. A ton of tears were involved, but they were necessary in the process of mentally uncovering the years of shields I had covered my body in… my emotional armour.
Even as a model, I still have a belly, cellulite, stretch marks, and thanks to nursing a son- not the perkiest boobs. However, that doesn’t devalue me at all. I think if anything, it makes my body more interesting. Like my tattoos, they tell a story and I can tell you where I was or how I was feeling at that moment, similar to when I look at my body. “This scar is from when I had a C-section.” “These scars are from crashing my bike on the gravel after not wearing a helmet even after my mother warned me multiple times.” “My stretch marks are from puberty, and many years after,” etc.
Our bodies tell a story, and everyone’s journey is different, everybody is different, unique, and exquisite. The only problem is that not everyone one respects that or comprehends that we don’t have to all look like a cookie cutter or perfect picture of “health.” We have so many forces around us that try to influence us otherwise. Why be our own worst enemy? Even if you don’t have a partner to dress up (or take it off) for, do it for yourself. Our relationships with ourselves and our bodies are the most important ones we will ever have.
You are worthy of feeling:
SEXY
DESIRED
… AND BEAUTIFUL.
Yes… you.
This post was originally published on Tess’ blog here.
Tess Munster is a plus-size model, make-up artist, blogger and activist. She writes a blog called The Plus Size Life. You can follow her on Twitter .
Top Comments
She has a beautiful face and a beautiful positive attitude and I absolutely wish her the best. I've been overweight, not, healthy, not healthy, smoker, non-smoker and had (have) a questionable relationship with food and body image for more than 30 yrs.
It is a difficult balance between totally embracing and loving who you are - and realising that carrying more weight than is healthy is not good for you - and this is no criticism. We must also realise than in society we are supposed to be attracted to people, and find people attractive, so noticing beauty is fine and good. Its the overemphasis on SIZE or appearance while ignoring everything else about the person (usually women) that is a problem.
When we don't need to have these discussions ONLY then will body image NOT be an issue. Until then, the fact that her size is discussed, debated means that this society STILL judges, and has an opinion on what is acceptable and what isn't. Victory would be silence.
I NEVER mention size to my kids and only ever talk to them about being fit and healthy. Totally agree with changing thinking about what our marvellous bodies can do and should be able to to do to be fit.
She is gorgeous but what also concerns me is the growing trend of pretty young girls (of all shapes and sizes) thinking it is awesome to be taking naked selfies to....women can be sexy and beautiful with clothes on too!!
She is not taking her clothes off just so she can be ogled. If you look at her previous modeling, she had always covered up and strictly alluded to her shape. The fact that she has decided to pose naked has nothing to do with her morals; she is simply trying to make herself an example for women who feel inferior because of their size. She is making a statement by this that conveys to curvy women that they have sex appeal, too. Young girls are often triggered into developing eating disorders because they see pictures of skinny (and often photoshopped) girls that make them feel inadequate. I personally would rather see large bodies celebrated rather than kept hidden and secret because this is the norm, and "pretty young girls" should be exposed to that.
Young girls shouldn't be looking to the morbidly obese as role models. That is just taking things to a ridiculous opposite extreme.
Let's just represent a broad spectrum without targetting these extremes.
keymatches: " I personally would rather see large bodies celebrated rather than kept hidden and secret because this is the norm,"
Are you saying this woman represents the norm? Cause I don't know where you live but I have never been anywhere where this would come even remotely close to being the norm.
I also have to question the notion that young girls go through life oblivious to what they see in their everyday lives- their peers, their community, their relatives, strangers in the street, and totally base their self image on magazine models and pop stars. That would make them ...well ...stupid. And they are not.
Sorry I did not mean to say she has low morals or should hide her body or anything like that, and totally I agree with you that it is important to convey that it's ok to have a different body shape. I was just observing generally that it seems like we females are constantly taking off clothes to prove some point or to validate our sex appeal and with the internet that can be dangerous for younger girls.
you are absolutely right. you don't get it!