nxiety is something many of us face, and it can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s racing thoughts, a tightening chest, or a sense of unease, anxiety can take a toll on our mental and physical health. But the good news is, there are proven methods that can help. Here are five powerful strategies to reduce anxiety and regain control of your life.

1. Practice Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is one of the most effective ways to manage anxiety. By focusing on the present moment, you can reduce the power that anxious thoughts have over you. Studies have shown that mindfulness can decrease anxiety and improve overall mental well-being. A consistent meditation practice helps retrain the brain to react differently to stress.

2. Exercise Regularly

Exercise is a powerful anxiety-relief tool. Physical activity releases endorphins—your brain’s natural feel-good chemicals—which can elevate your mood and reduce stress. Even just 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, can lower your anxiety levels significantly. It also promotes better sleep, which is essential for anxiety management.

3. Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

What you put into your body can have a big impact on your anxiety. Caffeine, often found in coffee, energy drinks, and sodas, can exacerbate anxiety symptoms by increasing your heart rate and causing jitteriness. Similarly, while alcohol might seem to calm you down initially, it can interfere with your sleep and increase anxiety over time.

4. Establish a Relaxing Sleep Routine

Getting enough sleep is crucial for reducing anxiety. A lack of sleep can make it harder to manage stressful situations, while a regular sleep schedule helps your body and mind recover. Aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night by creating a calming bedtime routine—like taking a warm bath, avoiding screens, and practicing relaxation techniques.

5. Deep Breathing Exercises

When anxiety strikes, it can make breathing shallow and rapid, which exacerbates the feeling of panic. Deep breathing exercises can help reverse this response. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing—where you breathe deeply into your belly—can trigger your body’s relaxation response, calming your mind and reducing anxiety symptoms.

Dealing with anxiety can feel challenging, but by incorporating these proven strategies into your routine, you can take back control. Remember that everyone's journey with anxiety is different, so be kind to yourself as you experiment with what works best for you. With a little persistence, you can find peace and balance in the chaos.

For more empowering self-love content and natural wellness tips, stay connected with us at @SundayMorningView.

n a powerful celebration of sisterhood, 40 incredible Black women came together to embrace their unique skin tones, body shapes, and backgrounds. The event, aptly named "Sexy Shades of Black," was more than just a gathering—it was a movement honoring the beauty, diversity, and empowerment of Black women. In a society that often fails to recognize Black women’s beauty and contributions, this event sent a clear message: Black women are beautiful, powerful, and deserve to be celebrated.

"Sexy Shades of Black" was a celebration of the vibrant diversity within Black womanhood. From deep, rich hues of melanin to golden and caramel shades, these women proudly embraced their unique skin tones. Their diverse body shapes and sizes were equally celebrated, demonstrating that beauty is not defined by a single standard but found in the curves, strength, and individuality of each woman.

As the event’s powerful mantra stated:
“Sexy is diverse. It is fearless. It is proud. Sexy is loving the skin you're in.”

The event focused on breaking down traditional beauty standards that have long excluded women of color. These 40 women proudly showcased their natural beauty, sending a clear message of body positivity for Black women everywhere.

We all know far too well mainstream media often underrepresents women of color, Sexy Shades of Black created a space where Black women could celebrate their beauty without compromise. Body positivity for Black women was a central theme, encouraging attendees to embrace their natural bodies, from their natural hair textures to their unique body shapes.

Each woman’s story reflected a journey of self-acceptance, resilience, and pride in their identity. The event aimed to empower Black women to embrace their beauty unapologetically, reinforcing that self-love and confidence are the foundation of true empowerment.

This emphasis on body positivity for Black women resonated deeply, as many have faced challenges with self-image due to societal pressures to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards. Sexy Shades of Black was a reminder that Black women deserve to love their bodies and be represented in all forms of media.

A key aspect of the event was the unshakable sisterhood that developed among the women. Though they came from different walks of life—mothers, entrepreneurs, artists, activists—they found common ground in their shared experiences as Black women. This sisterhood was a powerful reminder of the importance of community, support, and empowerment among Black women.

The celebration highlighted the strength that comes from standing together, united by a shared mission of self-love, body positivity, and the empowerment of Black women.

By uniting these women and celebrating their unique journeys, Sexy Shades of Black provided a much-needed space for Black women to be seen, heard, and celebrated. In a society that too often overlooks their beauty and contributions, this event aimed to be a powerful reminder that Black women are fearless, proud, and undeniably sexy.

o, back in 2018, I took a trip to the vibrant streets of Miami. The city, with its sun-kissed beaches and diverse culture, was the perfect backdrop for my mission: capturing the beauty of women in their most natural form. One of the most unforgettable shoots from that trip was with the stunning Gabriela. Her Latina curves, cellulite, and hip dips were, and still are, some of my favorite features to capture through the lens.

Gabriela’s confidence in her natural beauty radiated throughout the entire session. It was a reminder that the idea of beauty isn’t about perfection, but about embracing the raw and real aspects of who we are. Her cellulite? It’s part of her story. Her hip dips? They make her uniquely her. Nothing is better than capturing the beauty of a natural woman. It’s these traits that define true beauty, and for too long, the world has been focused on altering or hiding them.

Cellulite, for instance, is something nearly 90% of women have , and yet it's still stigmatized by mainstream beauty standards. Sites like Healthline offer insightful articles that help break down these myths. We need to stop trying to “fix” what makes us unique and start celebrating it.

Gabriela’s hip dips are another feature that many women have but often feel pressured to alter through workouts or surgery. It's so important to recognize that bodies are meant to have these natural curves and dips. If you’ve ever wondered how common hip dips are, Refinery29 has a great piece on why we should stop obsessing over these natural features.

This shoot reaffirmed for me why I love photographing women in their most authentic state—without heavy makeup, editing, or artificial enhancements. There’s something liberating about allowing a woman to be seen exactly as she is. To capture that on camera is an honor.

It’s time we redefine what beauty looks like. Real bodies have curves, cellulite, and dips. Real women, like Gabriela, are redefining beauty by celebrating themselves just as they are. If you ever feel like you need to hide your natural beauty, remember that the camera—and the world—is ready to embrace it.

Let's stop hiding. Let's celebrate.

here’s something undeniably captivating about the natural curves of a woman’s body, especially her butt. These curves, often celebrated for their beauty, may also be connected to something much deeper—a mathematical phenomenon found throughout nature: the Fibonacci Spiral.

The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers that creates the Golden Ratio, a pattern seen in everything from seashells to galaxies. Surprisingly, the curves of a woman’s body, particularly the hips and buttocks, can be understood through this same harmonious design.

Let's Talk About the Golden Ratio and the Female Form

The Fibonacci Spiral is not just a concept found in nature—it can be seen in the elegant curvature of the human body.

The way a woman’s back arches into her hips and flows into her butt reflects a fluid, natural pattern similar to the spiral. Studies have shown that curves are perceived as more attractive when they reflect symmetrical patterns, and the Fibonacci Spiral may offer one explanation for why the human eye finds such shapes appealing.

This connection becomes especially clear when considering the hourglass figure, long seen as a symbol of fertility and health. The curvature of the hips and butt aligns with the flow of the Fibonacci Spiral, creating a shape that resonates with the same mathematical beauty seen in natural forms like hurricanes or flower petals.

Ever Wonder Why We’re Naturally Drawn to Curves?

Our attraction to curves isn’t just cultural—it’s also biological. Research has shown that humans are instinctively drawn to symmetry and proportions that mirror the Golden Ratio. This natural preference helps explain why the hourglass figure, with its curves and balance, has been seen as beautiful across centuries and cultures.

In fact, the science behind attraction suggests that we may be hardwired to appreciate these forms because they represent health and fertility. The waist-to-hip ratio,

which echoes the Fibonacci Spiral, has been identified as a key factor in perceived attractiveness. The natural curves of the butt and hips represent a balance and harmony that the human brain instinctively recognizes and appreciates.

Let's Get in the Habit of Embracing Your Natural Curves

Understanding the connection between the Fibonacci Spiral and the curves of a woman’s body gives a new perspective on beauty. The shape of a woman’s butt, rather than being simply a matter of cultural preference, is tied to a larger, universal pattern. It’s not about fitting into a societal mold—it’s about recognizing that our bodies are reflections of nature’s most elegant designs.

For those who struggle with body image, this connection to the Fibonacci Spiral offers an empowering reminder. The curves you see in the mirror aren’t just aesthetically pleasing—they’re mathematically harmonious, a reflection of nature’s own proportions. Celebrating your body means embracing this beautiful, natural alignment.

Here's an Idea: Natural Beauty in Every Curve

The Golden Ratio reminds us that perfection isn’t about rigid standards—it’s about balance. Women’s bodies, in their variety and uniqueness, reflect this balance. From the roundness of the hips to the natural curve of the butt, each body tells a story of harmony, growth, and beauty. By embracing these natural shapes, we’re not only celebrating physical beauty—we’re connecting with a universal pattern that’s been shaping the world for millennia.

In a world that often pushes unrealistic beauty standards, it’s important to remember that natural bodies are already perfect by design. Just like the Fibonacci Spiral, there is beauty in balance, and our bodies are no exception.

If you’re interested in learning more about how women around the world are embracing their natural beauty and curves, check out more of our articles on this body positivity movement.

avigating the path to self-love and body confidence can often feel like a challenging journey.

Apolonia Calleja, aka Apples, is a seasoned fitness trainer and gym owner who embodies the spirit of embracing oneself fully. Her career, dedicated to helping others achieve their health goals, mirrors her personal mastery of self-love. Apples' journey offers inspiration for those striving to nurture both body and spirit. Her perspective on her body reflects a profound sense of growth and acceptance. With the wisdom that comes from experience, she explains, “As I get older, I am learning to accept how my body changes. If you continue to love and pour into yourself, you will always accept what changes your body is making and embrace it.” This mindset reminds us that loving yourself is a continuous journey, not a destination. The more effort we put into ourselves, the more we can appreciate the natural evolution of our bodies.

For Apples, fitness is much more than a way to stay in shape; it’s a lifestyle. She shares her passion with palpable enthusiasm, saying,

“Being able to stay active and just move my body is a blessing.”

Her role as a trainer and gym owner at LIV FIT (@livfitgymfacility) has reinforced her belief that fitness is crucial for longevity and vitality. “I want to live a long life and be the best I can be for my son and future kids!” To her, fitness is not just about physical appearance but about embracing the gift of movement and the promise of a vibrant life.

Apples' confidence is both inspiring and refreshing. As a mother who has worked diligently to maintain her body, she takes immense pride in her accomplishments. “The female body is remarkable, and recognizing that gives me confidence,” she explains. Her commitment is evident in her choices, such as her enthusiastic embrace of wearing a bikini. “After all those squats, why skip the bikini? No way—I’m rocking it!” This bold and joyful celebration of her hard work underscores how true confidence stems from both perseverance and self-acceptance.

Maintaining kindness towards oneself while working on fitness goals is another area where Apolonia excels. She emphasizes the importance of balance: “With all the hard work, I do my best to still treat myself.” Her approach is grounded in the belief that enjoying life’s pleasures while striving toward fitness is key to long-term satisfaction. “Work hard for a short time to enjoy the life you want without being miserable!” She advises finding harmony between diligence and enjoyment, listening to your body, and savoring the journey.

Apples' final piece of advice for women who feel shy about showing their bodies is both empowering and practical: “Work hard! You know what is good and bad for you. Stop comparing yourself to others and love on yourself!” She encourages focusing on personal progress and trusting in one’s own efforts. “If you are doing all the things that serve you, you will eventually find the self-love and confidence to be happy and proud to show off your beautiful body!” Her message is clear: embrace your individuality and celebrate the unique beauty that comes from being true to yourself.

Apples' journey is powerful and reminds us all that self-love, confidence, and a healthy lifestyle are deeply interconnected. Her insights inspire us to embrace our bodies with pride, find joy in our fitness journeys, and always be kind to ourselves along the way. As Apples vividly demonstrates, loving and celebrating our bodies is the ultimate act of self-respect and joy.

For our first shoot with Apples, click [here]. And if you haven’t already, follow here for more inspirational content: @apoloniacalleja

n a world where beauty standards constantly shift, Arielle stands strong as a beacon of self-love and empowerment.

Hailing from a rich cultural heritage of Guatemalan, Dominican, Italian, and German roots, Arielle's story is one of embracing her uniqueness and celebrating her identity.

At the age of 6, Arielle's journey took her from Guatemala to the vibrant city of Los Angeles. Now, at 28, she reflects on the struggles she faced in appreciating her body. With a curvy petite frame, Arielle battled societal pressures, comparing herself to others. She longed for unattainable ideals like a thigh gap, skinny legs, and a flat stomach.

However, a transformation began as she decided to embrace self-love and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Incorporating fitness into her life became Arielle's tool for empowerment. Regular exercise, consistency, and determination brought her to a place of self-pride. She recognized that strong is beautiful, curves are alluring, and her uniqueness was something to cherish. Arielle's story is a testament to the fact that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

One of the pivotal moments for Arielle was a bold photoshoot without makeup. This raw, unfiltered portrayal showcased her vulnerability and authenticity. She radiated confidence, portraying herself as she truly is, both inside and out.

Arielle's empowerment journey reached new heights when she posed nude for a photoshoot. The experience was liberating, as she viewed her body as a work of art. This shoot shattered conventional standards and highlighted the beauty in every individual's unique features.

Stretch marks and cellulite, often deemed imperfections by societal norms, became symbols of authenticity for Arielle.

She believed that embracing these marks brought a newfound peace and self-confidence.

In her words,

"these natural aspects are beautiful testaments to the realness of the female body."

For those struggling with body image, Arielle's message is clear:

"Embrace your uniqueness, for you were born perfect."

She urges women to focus on self-improvement and self-love rather than seeking validation from others. Confidence, according to Arielle, is a magnet for positive energy and opportunities.

Arielle's personal haven is the gym, where she finds therapy and solace. The transformation she experienced physically mirrored the transformation within. From once critiquing herself in the mirror, she now stands as a testament to self-confidence and strength.

Beyond self-empowerment, Arielle is also an environmentalist. Her focus on sustainability and positive impact on the planet mirrors her ethos of spreading love and caring for oneself and the environment.

In a world flooded with trends, Arielle's story serves as a reminder that self-love is timeless.

As styles shift, self-acceptance remains constant.

This empowered woman encourages us all to focus on personal growth, love, and positivity. By doing so, we can illuminate the world with our unique lights and make it a better place for ourselves and future generations.

To see more of Arielle, please follow her on Instagram: @alilsirenita

t the age of 23, with a rich cultural background that combines Dutch and Mexican heritage, Alejandra has embarked on a powerful journey of self-discovery and self-love. In a society that often sexualizes women and imposes rigid beauty standards, she found herself struggling with her body image. However, through introspection and a shift in perspective, she has emerged as an empowering figure, embracing her natural body and inspiring others to do the same.

Alejandra candidly reflects on her past experiences, recounting how she was subjected to objectification and the pressure to conform to society's narrow definition of beauty. Believing that her worth was tied to her physical appearance, she yearned to fit a certain mold to gain acceptance and feel good about herself. Yet, she soon realized that true self-acceptance and genuine confidence stem from within.

The turning point came when Alejandra recognized that external validation, be it compliments or attention from others, couldn't fill the void within her. It dawned on her that she had been viewing her body through the lens of how men often perceive women, reducing herself to a mere object of desire. Discovering her inner strength and beauty required a paradigm shift—one that acknowledged the ephemerality of physical appearances and celebrated the uniqueness of her body at every stage of her life.

Unveiling the essence of her journey, Alejandra proclaims that feeling beautiful extends far beyond adhering to societal beauty standards dictated by men. Rejecting these external expectations, she embraced her ever-changing body and the perpetual self-discovery it entailed. The mirror became a portal to deeper understanding, where she continuously unraveled new facets of her identity.

In a courageous act of self-expression, Alejandra embarked on a liberating photoshoot with SMV without makeup. Challenging the notion that one must be "all done up" for a shoot, she aimed to inspire other women to recognize their inherent beauty, untouched by external adornments. By capturing her raw, authentic self, she sought to demonstrate that beauty transcends superficial societal constructs.

Not a stranger to nudity as a form of art, Alejandra delved into the transformative experience of shooting herself in the nude without objectifying her own body.

Liberated and empowered, she felt as though she was creating an artistic masterpiece—an intimate portrayal of her skin and emotions, free from the constraints of objectification.

To women who struggle to love their bodies, Alejandra offers a heartfelt message of empowerment and individuality. She urges women to recognize that the beauty standards they've been exposed to since childhood are often manufactured by mass media with ulterior motives. Instead, she advocates for embracing personal standards of beauty, celebrating the miraculous ability of women to carry life within them.

Alejandra candidly shares her own experience with body dysmorphia, revealing how the gym initially exacerbated her struggles. Eventually, she learned to shift her focus from pursuing an aesthetic ideal to prioritizing her mental and physical well-being. She advocates for a holistic approach to fitness—one that celebrates overall health rather than fixating solely on physical appearance.

Looking ahead, Alejandra has ambitious goals rooted in empowering women to connect on a deeper level, beyond superficial interests. She aims to dismantle the restrictive beauty standards perpetuated by society, fostering a culture of self-love and acceptance. Additionally, she envisions a fitness journey that prioritizes mental and physical wellness over conforming to societal norms.

May we all embark on our own paths of self-discovery, armed with the knowledge that our unique beauty is a force to be reckoned with—a force that can change the world, one empowered woman at a time.

To see more of Alejandra visit her instagram @goddessalej or her TikTok @goddass_ale

tretchmarks? Scars? Texture? Cellulite? A big belly and thighs. All things that we have been conditioned to hate and avoid at all costs, but that’s the thing. The cons of the way we’re expected to look far outweigh the pros. The cost to our self-esteem, self-worth, mental and physical health is just not worth it to please ‘that’ type of shallow, uneducated person.

My three top tips to loving my body begun with accepting compliments, and complimenting myself (no, that’s not vain).

Tip number two is to re-discover a positive relationship with food. This, was and still is difficult, but if I know anything I know that I can do this. I began standing naked in front of a mirror daily, and often studying those so-called “flaws”, I really tuned into my body. I taught myself that not a single opinion matters except mine…And I certainly don’t want to live my life halfway because I’ve been TOLD that the way I am is not okay. Because it is.  

Tip number three, compliment yourself in front of the mirror, run your hands over your insecurities and remind yourself that they are a part of you, a home, a story

If you love Sommai's tip please follow her on instagram  @sommaisgallery

e had the pleasure of capturing Willow Johnson's beauty. SMV is all about capturing women's natural beauty, and we did just that, capturing Willow's beauty with no-makeup, dimples (aka cellulite) and all!

"I can workout and be fit, and still have cellulite, and that is OK!"

What is your ethnicity?

I am Russian, Latvian, German and Mongolian.

What is your age?

24 years old.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I played professional volleyball and love fitness. I enjoy going to the gym, playing video games, and anything involving art (photography, painting, guitar, singing, etc) I also am a foodie and I love trying new recipes.

How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

I used to hate my rolls when I would sit down or my side profile, or the rolls on my back when I moved in a certain direction. Now I have learned to embrace these “flaws," and see them as part of me. Now I know, there is nothing wrong with my body when I sit a certain way or move a certain way.

"Take the differences you have from everyone else and embrace them."

How do you feel about your cellulite on your butt? 

I think it is completely normal. Even as an active person I am flawed and not airbrushed. I can workout and be fit, but still have cellulite, and that is OK!

What do you love most about your body now? 

I used to hate how tall I was always being shamed or bullied for it, but now I embrace being 6'2 and stand tall. I think it is beautiful having long legs and being tall. 

How was it shooting with no makeup ? 

I normally only wear makeup if I am going to an event, but must often do not wear makeup. It was amazing being able to shoot without makeup to enhance my normal and beautiful skin and be true to my beauty without makeup.

Was it empowering shooting naked and how did it feel? 

I was definitely nervous about some of the photos. How my body would look or if the photos would turn out good, but I was shocked and so happy to see the outcome, at how beautiful the photos turned out.

What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies? 

There is only one you in the whole world. Take the differences you have from everyone else and embrace them. you are beautiful and the "flaws" on your body are beautiful. I hope a young woman out there can see my photos or SundayMorningView in general and be inspired to love her own natural body.

econd generation Mexican-American with a dream to pursue modeling in Los Angeles, came with its fair share of No's and turbulence. But, that never stopped Angelina Love from conquering her pursuit to happiness.

"Someone, somewhere has an opinion of me but I've learned to love my body no matter the shape or size."

"Remember there is only ONE you, that's what gives you your character."

What is your ethnicity?

I am a mutt; Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spaniard, Lebanese, and Italian 

What is your age?

I am 23 years old

How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

I've struggled loving my body my whole life. My body somehow seems to go against whatever the current beauty standard is. When the ideal body was stick skinny, my body was on the curvier side and vice versa. What helped me is not letting beauty standards and media affect the love I give my own body. This is challenging, but essential in today's world. We are all beautiful in our own ways and as a woman I can now say that our so called flaws really do make us stand out from the crowd. 

How have you struggled loving your slender body?

It's been an interesting battle because many view my body as ideal, even perfect, and to some, I’ll never be perfect or ideal. They key was when I stopped listening to outside opinions about my body, that’s when I found peace with my myself. Beauty standards are always changing and that will never stop, so why pay any attention to it. 

Many women might believe due to your slender ideal physique, that you do not have any self-love issues, is this true?

To believe only certain people face moments which they are unhappy with their body, is baffling to me. Just like anyone else I have my own insecurities. We live in a world where my body is constantly under scrutiny for imperfections. I’m constantly told I’m too big, too short, too tall, or too skinny. Someone, somewhere has an opinion of me but I've learned to love my body no matter the shape or size. I gained control of my own power, and nobody can take that away from me. 

What do you love most about your body now?

The definition I see in my muscles, because that wasn't always a thing for me. I was always more on the slender side. I used to call my body type skinny fat, cause I never had definition and now I love my definition.

How was it shooting for the first time?

This was my first time ever showing skin. At first I was super nervous, because I had never done anything like this before in my modeling career. Facing completely new territory I surprisingly became much more confident and comfortable posing with my body oppose to shaping my poses around materials. I almost immediately felt very empowered in my body which made me proud in the moment. Also, knowing my story and photos will be shared with women around the world who may face the same difficulties about feeling comfortable in their own skin, made me feel even more empowered during my shoot.

How was it shooting with no makeup and topless?

I personally love the rawness of taking pictures with no make-up. I love to see the imperfections, in others anyway. Of course, it was a bit challenging at first because we are our own biggest critic. Finding and pointing out all of the flaws and shaming yourself for them is never the way to go, but it’s often how our minds operate. After taking a moment to appreciate my imperfections (dark circles) and truly understanding that those are what make me unique and beautiful, I once again gained all confidence I needed. As for shooting topless, I FOUND A WHOLE NEW LOVE FOR MY BREASTS! They've always been on the smaller side and I used to hate that, but now, I just LOVE their shape…cute lil things.

What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

Dear ladies, how can the world love and appreciate your body if you don't allow them to? If you don't give yourself the love first then it won't matter who calls you beautiful, you won't believe them. Remember there is only ONE you, that's what gives you your character, something no one can EVER take from you. So, I urge you to take the time to love yourself and your body in and out. We only have this one body in this life and what you want to do with it is up to you, remember to love the process. Never forget that everyone, including men, have body goals, or wish they could change or alter something about themselves, be one of the few who is happy regardless. much love, always spread it. nothing is worth closing your heart over, especially someone's negative comment. 

Anything else you’d like to add?

Yes! I'd like to thank SundayMorningView for giving me this experience, for reminding me how much love there is to have. The modeling world is not an easy one but thanks to you I am able to step out and show up more confident than I was able to before. I now stand strongly in my body. Thank you for the endless love and to all readers, thank you for your time in hearing a bit about my story. 

A little bit more about me. Being a second generation Mexican-American wasn't easy back home. It was a bold step to be the first in my family to pursue my dreams, and move across the country by myself to LA to take up modeling full-time. I’m the oldest sibling and have always had the burden of being the responsible one. Growing up I went to school with girls who didn't look like me, they were all stick skinny with straight hair and I was a bit thicker with hips and boobs and curly hair. I remember wanting to be like them, and wondering why we didn't look the same. As I got older my metabolism picked up and it has been very difficult to gain weight. I’ve been modeling since I was 7 years old and have been constantly battling with loving my physique. My body was always too big or too small or just not curvy and voluptuous enough, especially in today’s world of big butts and boobs. Going to auditions and being turned down all the time for my size or shape was a hard bullet to bite. Eventually you get turned down enough times that you start to build thick skin and then suddenly those no's turn into a yes. For a very long time loving myself wasn't easy for me, being with shitty people will make that even harder on you. With time I learned I had to put myself first and I have to be in love with myself before I can allow anyone else to. if I didn't take the time to love myself I would've listened and believed all those negative things said by others. Thankfully I've made it to this point and plan on going a lot further in my career. I am now a signed model in LA, hoping to soon release some of my music. Being comfortable in my own skin has lead me to be more confident in other areas of my life, like creating things. All judgement is gone. I am at peace. 

ur SundayGirl Kendall Peabody (@k_lockss) showed us that loving yourself is truly a carefree act!

"Don't compare yourself to others and learn to appreciate and love the skin you're in."

Here's what she had to say during our interview.

How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

I've struggled with having thick thighs, cellulite on my legs and rolls on my stomach. I've overcome that struggle with learning to love the beautiful, curvy body I have.

What do you love most about your body?

I love my natural curves

Have you struggled loving your cellulite?

I've struggled in the past with my cellulite. But I realized that cellulite is beautiful, normal and natural and all curvy women have cellulite.

What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

Don't compare yourself to others and learn to appreciate and love the skin you're in.

To see more of Kendall make sure to follow her on IG: @k_lockss

'm a bra-lover, I get it! but sometimes bras just don't make the cut when you have to be out wearing a strapless top, or backless dress to a beautiful gathering or dinner. Well there is a simple solution to this puzzle... boob tape. Yep, that is right! It is easily shaped into whatever form you need it to be, so all boob sizes are welcome.

It has a very strong adhesive  — because, Goodness, my boobs sure need them — we found a brand we simply adore and we think you will too! and they are women owned specifically targeting underserved consumers in this space - women of color.

januarydecember is a luxury intimates brand based out of New York City specializing in undergarments and accessories in various shades of nude. The brand seeks to be all inclusive while specifically targeting underserved consumers in this space - women of color.

januaryDecember says, "Our focus is to cater to this untapped market of women's fashion. Similar to the beauty industry, the nude or skin tone shade within the intimates market has always been subjective."

Most products have limited hues that mostly target those of a lighter complexion. Even within those categories, shades are typically limited to one color – beige.

januaryDecember aims to be the go-to for all things nude intimates because Representation Matters.

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Now you can go braless with impressively strong boob tape to support your breast. Januarydecember is designed to lift and support up to an H breast cup. It's easy to cut and customize to your desired fit. Must be worn with nipple pasties or silicone nipple covers.

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Make sure to follow them on Instagram for more: @januarydecember_official

Use SMV20 for a 20% discount.

- Watch this video for how it works -

e had another photoshoot with Britney Lee (@__babybrit__) because the last one was so beautiful, we had to capture more!

We asked Britney how she felt about her tummy during our photoshoot, and she shared: 'When Karlo Gomez first asked me to sit naturally, without angling or flattening my stomach, I felt so uncomfortable. To some, my tummy rolls might seem insignificant, but to me, they are not. We all have insecurities, and it’s important not to invalidate others' insecurities just because they differ from your own.'

I'm beginning to truly understand that it’s perfectly normal to have tummy rolls, whether they’re small or large. We all need to embrace and love them! Tummy rolls are a natural part of the human body, and they deserve to be celebrated rather than hidden away. Embrace your stomach, your natural curves, and yes, your big butt too—it’s a beautiful part of who you are.

Cellulite and curves are not flaws but unique features that make you, you. Remember, you’re not a doll or a flawless image from traditional magazines; you’re a real person with unique and beautiful attributes. Embracing these aspects of yourself is a powerful step towards self-acceptance and confidence.

For our first shoot with Britney, click [here]. And if you haven’t already, follow her on Instagram @__babybrit__ to see more of this powerhouse in action.

e all have a voice. Use it to create art, to write, but most importantly, use it, to create change in the world.

"Don't be silent! End racism!"

Models:

Lyric Mariah @phenixsoul

Honey Luv @honeyluv

polonia Calleja, aka “Apples,” knows fitness is more than a routine—it’s an art.

With her fierce dedication and radiant smile, she’s sculpting her body like Michelangelo, swapping chisels for squats.

For Apples, it’s not just about looking good (though she nails it in a dress); it’s about feeling powerful and unapologetically herself.

From her home in San Diego to the bright lights of LA, Apolonia’s recent fitness photoshoot captured all the energy and grace that make her unstoppable.

Whether she’s running up an intense flight of stairs or embracing the California sunshine, Apolonia’s confidence shines through every shot.

During our photoshoot Apples showed the world exactly how fierce and fabulous fitness can be.

For our second shoot with Apples, click [here]. And if you haven’t already, follow her on Instagram @apoloniacalleja see more of this powerhouse in action.

hen we first connected with Alyssa Ross (@itsgibsonross) back in July 2020 for a FaceTime photoshoot, it was a time when the world was learning to adapt to new forms of creativity. Even through the virtual lens, Alyssa’s radiant natural beauty shone brightly, leaving us eager for another opportunity to capture her in her element. Fast forward to today—she’s now in Los Angeles, where we recently had the chance to photograph her in person, celebrating her natural curves and undeniable confidence.

Alyssa’s beauty goes far beyond the superficial. She’s a woman who embraces her body just as it is, from her soft curves to her naturally gifted derrière, complete with cellulite—a feature she proudly celebrates. “It’s just part of who I am,” Alyssa says with a smile, noting how she’s learned to love every inch of her body, imperfections and all.

In a world where so much pressure is placed on women to conform to narrow beauty standards, Alyssa stands out for her refreshing sense of self-acceptance.

Freckles have long been a signature of Alyssa’s look, and rather than cover them up, she chooses to let them shine.

“My freckles are part of what makes me unique,” she says. “They’re a reminder that beauty isn’t about perfection—it’s about embracing what makes you different.” It’s this same mindset that fuels her unapologetic approach to her curves, her cellulite, and the features that make her feel like the best version of herself.

During our recent photoshoot in LA, we sought to capture Alyssa’s effortless beauty in its most authentic form. No filters, no heavy makeup, just Alyssa as she is—confident, glowing, and unapologetically real. Her message is clear: love the skin you’re in, because true beauty lies in self-acceptance.

In a city that often celebrates the artificial, Alyssa remains a shining light of natural beauty, reminding us all to embrace what makes us unique. Whether it’s her bold curves or the delicate freckles that dot her skin, Alyssa proves the power of self-love, and we’re here for it.

hen it comes to loving the skin you’re in, Alisha Adkins—known to her Instagram followers as @shesoyspicy—offers a masterclass in self-love and body positivity. With her signature blend of wit and wisdom, Alisha proves that loving your body isn’t just a trend—it’s an art form.

“I’ve always said the human body is an amazing vessel,”

she tells us, a twinkle in her eye that suggests she’s on a mission to change the world, one self-love post at a time. “I celebrate that I am able to move and change in ways I never felt possible.” It’s not just talk; Alisha’s dimples don’t merely appear—they make a grand entrance, and her tiger stripes? They roar with pride.

Let’s be honest: the journey to body acceptance isn’t exactly a smooth ride. If Alisha’s life were a movie, it’d be a rollercoaster with a soundtrack by Beyoncé and a few plot twists thrown in for good measure.

“My body tells so many stories,”

she says. “If you had time, she would tell you about all the adventures we’ve been on and the struggles we’ve been through.”

And isn’t that the truth? Our bodies are living, breathing diaries. From the exuberant leaps of youth to the quieter reflections of adulthood, every curve and scar is a testament to the chapters we’ve lived. Alisha’s message is clear: celebrate every part of yourself, no matter how much the world might try to dictate what’s "perfect."

But let’s not forget the twist in Alisha’s tale. Her philosophy extends beyond self-love; it’s a call for universal kindness. “Be nice to everyone, no matter what you perceive on the outside,” she advises. “You don’t know a stranger’s story.” In a world where we often judge before understanding, Alisha’s words are a refreshing reminder that empathy and compassion should lead the way.

So, what’s the takeaway from Alisha Adkins’ body-positive manifesto? It’s simple: Your body is not just a vessel; it’s a narrative. Every dimple, every stripe, and every adventure is a page in the story of who you are. And while we might not all have the luxury of an Instagram audience, we can certainly adopt Alisha’s attitude of fierce self-love and boundless kindness.

Want more of Alisha’s journey and the stories she’s living? Follow her @shesoyspicy and join the celebration of every body.

Alexis Turner is a force to be reckoned with. By day, she’s a fitness instructor at PopSugar, also known as @PS.Fit on Instagram, pushing clients through workouts while dropping jokes that somehow make the pain feel worth it. By night, she’s behind the camera as the photographer behind @zparkleproductions, capturing beauty in its most authentic form. And if that’s not enough, she’s also a model, proving her versatility both in front of and behind the lens—all without a speck of makeup shooting with us.

In a recent makeup-free photoshoot, Alexis effortlessly radiated confidence, loving every inch of her natural beauty.

Here’s to Alexis Turner—the ultimate multitasker, fitness guru, model, and photographer. She’s the perfect blend of strength, and beauty, showing us all how to love ourselves as we are.

orget perfection—this season, it's all about flaunting your stretch marks! We’re thrilled to unveil our latest photo series featuring Bianca, where her tiger stripes take center stage. In each stunning shot, Bianca’s natural beauty and confidence shine through, turning what society often labels as imperfections into powerful symbols of strength.

Bianca’s poses highlight her stretch marks with pride, showing that these marks are not flaws but beautiful badges of her journey.

The series embraces every curve and line, celebrating the raw, unapologetic reality of her body. With soft, flattering lighting and colorful backgrounds, each image is a love letter to self-acceptance.

In showcasing her stretch marks, Bianca challenges conventional beauty standards and encourages us all to see our own bodies in a new light.

Her bold, authentic approach proves that true beauty lies in self-love and embracing every part of ourselves.

So here’s to celebrating your stripes and making self-love the ultimate style statement!

SundayGirl: Bianca @b.ian.ca

n the final chapter of our two-part series, Bianca takes her celebration of stretch marks to new heights, reaffirming her role as a trailblazer in redefining beauty standards. This concluding installment features striking new visuals where Bianca’s natural beauty and confidence are on full display, showcasing her stretch marks as bold emblems of personal strength and self-love.

Each photo in this series captures a new facet of Bianca’s journey, from graceful poses to powerful expressions, illustrating how her marks have become integral to her identity and allure. By embracing her stretch marks with such pride, Bianca continues to inspire us all to see our own unique features as sources of beauty and empowerment.

As we wrap up this empowering series, Bianca’s radiant confidence reminds us that celebrating our authentic selves is the ultimate form of self-expression and strength. So here’s to embracing every stripe and loving the beautiful story each one tells.

tep aside, airbrushed perfection—Bianca is redefining beauty in our two-part photo series! In this latest installment, she flaunts her stretch marks with undeniable confidence, transforming these often-hidden marks into powerful symbols of self-love and resilience. Each part of the series celebrates her natural beauty and inspires us to embrace our own unique stories with pride.

In this captivating series, Bianca’s tiger stripes take center stage, proving that what some might see as imperfections are actually marks of beauty and strength. The photos, bathed in soft lighting highlight her natural grace and celebrate her body’s unique story.

Bianca’s fearless embrace of her stretch marks sends a clear message: true beauty isn’t about erasing flaws but about loving every part of yourself. Her bold stance encourages all women to see their own marks as badges of honor and to rock their natural beauty with pride. So here’s to celebrating your stripes—because your body’s unique story is always in style!

et’s face it: society’s beauty standards can feel like trying to dance on a tightrope in stilettos. But when you come from a traditional, conservative culture where showing skin is as welcome as a cat at a dog show, finding the courage to flaunt your body is nothing short of REVOLUTIONARY!

Enter my latest photo series, where tiger meets woman. These stills aren’t just about revealing skin—they’re about showcasing the strength and beauty of a woman's body in all its unapologetic glory. From stretch marks that tell tales of tenacity to cellulite that could rival the dimples on a cheek, and thighs that could probably lift a car (thanks to countless squats), each photo is a love letter to the female form. Every woman on this planet, yes, YOU, is shaped like a different piece of art, each with a story of its own.

Remember this: you have every right to admire and adore your body just as it is and at every stage it takes you through. Sometimes, it takes a little pause and a playful wink to see the true beauty in our reflections. But with an open heart—and maybe a bit of sass—you’ll find that your body is a masterpiece worth celebrating. So go ahead, step out of that comfort zone and strut your stuff. You’re stunning, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

"I no longer hate my body, instead I love every part of her now!"

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"It takes bravery to do the things that scare you the most!"

yley Gordan (@RyleyGordon) was a former model who currently disrupts beauty standards with her authentic self on social media.  

Despite criticism from professionals and insecurities stemmed from them, she came to a realization that her worth was more than her appearance.  Now she focuses on what’s best for her well-being rather than being obsessed with the number on the scale or any “flaws” reflected in the mirror.  She reminds us that our bodies and appearance goes through changes and that it’s okay,

“Don't be so hard on yourself, you are doing great”.    

1. Please share a brief background about yourself.

I grew up in Southern California and fell in love with surfing, plant based living, and art. I am a huge animal lover and feel the most empowered when I am out in nature. I have been painting my whole life and feel that my love for the human body stemmed from my artistry

2. What led you to modeling and what pain points do you see in the modeling industry? Please feel free to share any thoughts and experiences.

When I was a little girl I always dreamed of becoming a model. I looked up to some of the top Victoria Secret models, envied their lives, and thought they were a symbol of health and success. As I grew older, I soon learned that the industry was actually filled with eating disorders, competitiveness and unrealistic beauty standards that can be detrimental to younger girls. What "hustle" culture promotes has actually hurt a lot of women mentally and physically.

3. What do you think of while you’re modeling in front of the camera? What do you feel when you’re modeling?

When I am modeling in front of the camera, I feel connected with my mind and my body. It is a side of myself I get to share that I don't normally in my day to day life. It's a tool to bring out my fierce goddess energy and express myself as a work of art.

4. What kind of comments do you hear or what kind of interactions do you see while on set/modeling that may affect women positively or negatively?

When I am on set I have been criticized by how short I am and that I needed to lose some weight, or I was told I looked too "commercial" which normally means I don't fit the "model standards". I really never thought of these as issues before I started working in front of a camera. To me, this messed with my identity a lot and made me self-conscious that people were judging me when I showed up to castings or photoshoots.

5. Why do you think women struggle with self love, self acceptance, and accepting how they look?

I believe the way the media portrays women has affected women in a negative way and has conditioned us to feel like we are not good enough. We are constantly told to buy diet programs, shaving equipment, anti-aging formulas, belly fat hacks, plastic surgery, and the list goes on.  We aren't really told that it's ok to change, it's ok to age, it's ok to gain and lose weight, it's ok to be different. Now we live in a world with social media editing tools and influencers who create a false reality of what beauty looks like. Little girls look up to that and think "why don't I look like that?" or "why don't I have that perfect of a life?"

6. Have you struggled with your appearance in the past or present?  If so, how did you overcome that struggle?

Before I overcame my insecurities about my appearance, I would spend so much time planning my whole week around working out and eating extremely clean. I felt like I was always too fat and that I would be happy once I looked a certain way. I would even skip out on going out with friends because I felt like everyone was going to notice my body. As I got older and I stepped away from the modeling industry, I grew to accept my body by practicing intuitive eating and ditched checking weight scales. I listened to my body's signals and stopped working out as much. Health is still a huge part of my life now, but instead I eat well and workout to FEEL good, not to look good.

7. What do you love the most about yourself and/or your body? How did you gain that confidence?

These days I try to focus more on what amazing things my body does for me everyday rather than spend too much time in the mirror. I am grateful I am able to surf, run, hike, yoga, travel, dance, walk my dog, etc. I practice daily affirmations whenever I feel low about myself such as

"I am beautiful" "my body is meant to change" "my confidence shines through stronger than my dress size".

8. What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

I would tell them that no matter what you look like, or what insecurities you are facing, you are enough. There are a million other reasons to appreciate your body that don't have to do with your looks. Be proud of the little things that make you unique and who you are today.

9. How can women uplift each other?

Vulnerability and honesty have been such a powerful tool in uplifting women. It is a way for us to feel safe and authentic. The more we learn to accept ourselves, we give other women around us the encouragement to do the same, which then leads to a happier and healthier community.

10. Anything else you'd like to add/have readers know?

Keep in mind that most of what you see online is fake or only capturing the "best" moments. Even fitness and health influencers only capture the best angles of their bodies. At the end of the day, we are all human, we all change, and we all go through the same cycles of the good and bad times. Don't be so hard on yourself, you are doing great.

rtistic photographer and model Dominique Muscianese is like any other woman in the sense that she loves to spend time with her dog, labels herself as a homebody, explores to try new things, and enjoys eating.  With years of experience in the modeling industry, Dominique is passionate about striking poses and capturing individuals in their most beautiful forms.  Found on her instagram photography page @DOMONIZIA

Prior to her passions, she struggled with the idea of modeling because she felt she looked different.  She expressed, “Before I had my glow up stage at 18, I never felt pretty enough to be a model because I would constantly look up to supermodels and compare myself to their similar pretty features”.  It wasn’t until she got out of her comfort zone, took a leap of faith, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue the profession which drew her to embrace her uniqueness.  With time, she gained more confidence to participate in artistic nude photoshoots and overcame the struggles of insecurities.  Her message to other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies is,

“There is no secret way to fall in love with yourself, it’s just a matter of putting yourself first and telling yourself you’re beautiful during both high and low times.”  

Her self-love tip is to give yourself a compliment everyday despite how you feel and advises being around people who give you positive energy.  

"A women’s body is the closest thing there is to Magic"

1) Please let us know about yourself?

My name is Dominique and I am a model and an artistic photographer. I love to paint and eat,  I love hanging out with my dog and I am a very big home body but I love adventuring and doing or trying new things too. I am a goofy and chill person,

but also take my passions very serious. Being in the modeling industry for all these years I’ve really developed a love for posing and capturing people in there most beautiful form. Because of that I also have a passion for helping others grow in the same way by being a posing instructor.

‍2) How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body?  How have you overcome that struggle?

I feel like why I had such a hard time is because growing up I was always told to model, but deep down I always felt like I looked different. Before I had my glow up stage at 18 I never felt pretty enough to be a model, because I would constantly look up to supermodels and compare myself to their similar pretty features. It took until I moved to LA and pursued modeling that it forced me out of my comfort zone and made me embrace the things that make me different. I started to participate in beautiful, artistic nude shoots and I think doing that I got to see my full self in a whole new light and that’s when I started to overcome that struggle.

3) What do you love the most about your body?

I love my curves, my skin color and my eyes and lips.

‍4) What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

There is no secret way to fall in love with yourself, it’s just a matter of putting yourself first and telling yourself you’re beautiful during both high and low times.

‍5) What makes you feel confident with your body and who you are?

I personally enjoy taking photos of myself, learning my body and the poses that fit well with it. I feel like what makes women feel bad about themselves also is because they see photos of them that might not look so flattering. Either being because they are shy or feel awkward not knowing what to do with their body, thats why learning your shape, curves and your angles is important when trying to appreciate who you are.

‍6) Do you have any self-care or self-love tips? If so, what are they?

Give yourself a compliment everyday even you’re not feeling yourself, taking a shower and getting ready for the day will help boost your self esteem and just being around people who hype you up will help.

7) What do you think makes you beautiful?  

I really love my smile, because I do a lot of strong and fierce shoots so I rarely get to see it. So when I get to do a shoot where I get to smile, I absolutely love it. It gets to show a part of my personality that not a lot of people get to see. There is a stereotype where people say pretty women are mean, but something that I feel makes me beautiful to people is actually my happy and upbeat personality.

8) Anything else you'd like to add/have readers know?

Being inspired by posing and how it’s helped me love myself more, I created a service where I teach people how to pose and love them selves a little more too. It’s called, “MODXDOM,” made for those who want to be inspired and be apart of a community thats uplifting and full of women positivity. Check it out !

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Also please make sure to follow her @dominique_muscianese and check out her new book release:

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recently had the privilege of photographing the amazing Sharon, and during our session, she opened up about some powerful insights that many of us can relate to.

Like so many, Sharon grappled with the rigid beauty standards imposed by society—standards that dictate an 'ideal' body size and shape. The relentless pressure to conform left her struggling with self-acceptance, a feeling all too common in a world fixated on appearances.

Our Makeup Free Photoshoot

Stretch marks, a natural part of the body’s evolution, initially became a source of confusion for Sharon. She wondered why they existed. The answer came in embracing the very imperfections that make each person unique. As Sharon reflected on her journey, she realized that the idealized curves and sizes promoted by society were not only unattainable but also unrealistic.

Sharon’s journey took a profound turn when she stopped seeing her body as the enemy and began appreciating all it could do. Instead of fixating on perceived flaws, she started to recognize and celebrate her body’s strength and capabilities. This marked a transformative shift—from self-loathing to gratitude.

In her pursuit of society’s definition of perfection, Sharon once resorted to starving herself. Now, she harps the importance of nourishing the body with everything it needs. Her story is a powerful reminder to prioritize health and wellness over unattainable beauty standards.

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Reflecting on her past, Sharon recognized the profound impact of negative self-talk. Rather than criticizing herself, she now advocates for treating oneself with the same kindness and compassion one would offer a friend. Her journey has shown her that self-love is not just important but essential for living a fulfilling life.

Today, Sharon is deeply grateful for her body and the journey that brought her to this place of self-acceptance. The days of self-loathing are behind her, replaced by a genuine appreciation for her body and the empowerment that comes from embracing who she truly is.

My session with Sharon provided the opportunity to capture her beauty, strength, and empowerment. The essence of her journey is vividly portrayed in these photographs, reminding us that true self-love begins with embracing our imperfections.

Sharon's story is just one among many, yet it stands as a powerful example to the power of self-acceptance. Her journey encourages us all to strive for a world where everyone can celebrate their uniqueness without yielding to societal pressures.

veryone loves a good skincare routine. We are diligent about moisturizing our face twice a day, but what about our most sensitive area, the vagina? Our intimate area needs moisture and care too.

It’s not an often talked about topic, but vaginal dryness, itching and discomfort is a common problem for a lot of women.

Vaginal dryness can occur around menopause, as a side effect of breast cancer or ovarian cancer treatment, severe endometriosis, or an autoimmune disease such as Sjögren’s syndrome. Birth control, hormones or mental health may also play a big role in your vaginal health.

It’s not just awkward and uncomfortable. It can affect your daily functioning, your mood and your sexual relationship with a partner[1].

A good skin care regime can provide relief for vaginal dryness

Vaginal moisturizers help hydrate your vaginal skin to keep it moist and healthy, just like moisturizers hydrate dry skin on other areas of your body. Vaginal moisturizers stick to the vaginal lining and are actually absorbed into the skin, thereby hydrating it[2].

By maintaining the health of delicate vaginal skin, you can help prevent other problems associated with vaginal dryness, such as pain, bleeding and increased risk of infections.

But with so many products on the market, it can be hard to know what vaginal skincare regime to choose. It’s important to make sure that your vaginal moisturizer is not just effective, but safe too. After all, we’re talking your most sensitive, intimate area— not just moisturizer for cracked heels!

Finding “natural”, “safe” or “clean” vaginal skincare

As part of a healthy lifestyle, many women are looking for “safe” or “clean” skincare products. So how do you know if your vaginal skincare is safe?

When considering a product’s safety, it’s important to avoid irritants and potential sources of infection from your vaginal skin area. That’s why you should wash your vulva (the skin on the outer part of your vagina) with clean water only, since soap can be irritating. So can lotions, detergents, body wash, and bubble baths, because these can have fragrances and dyes that may irritate your vaginal skin.

It’s important to consider not just what irritants might be in it, but how the product is produced, whether it has contaminants and what its shelf life is.

Oils can help moisturise your body

There are a lot of options for treating vaginal dryness on the market, mostly oils. These are great natural moisturizers to give you dry skin relief for your body, and are generally safe to use on skin. But vaginal skin is super delicate and sensitive.

Many “natural” oils, such as CBD Oil, Hemp oil and Coconut Oil may lack adequate safety information. Do you know how pure the oil is? How and where it was produced? Whether it has contaminants?

And do you know if the oil has preservatives to prevent microbial contamination? Do you know how long its shelf life is for, and do you stick to that? If the oil doesn’t have this information, you can risk getting an infection.

Do you know if the oil is still good to use? You may not know if an oil is rancid until you happen to notice that it smells bad. Oils become rancid, which is caused by oxidation due to heat, light and oxygen, so you’ll need to know its date of production and track its freshness and quality each time you use it.

Choosing a safe moisturizer for your vagina

A proven safe and effective moisturizer is the best option for delicate vaginal skin. FemmePharma’s water-based vulvar moisturizer Mia Vita™ Gel

and vaginal moisturizer Mia Vita™ Personal Lubricant & Moisturizer

provide relief from vaginal dryness, itching, burning, and other discomfort, with naturally-occurring and proven safe hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is an ultra-effective skin care ingredient that hydrates and soothes, especially for dry and wrinkled skin. It has proven to be a powerful skin care ingredient that is safe for use on your vaginal skin[3].

Despite its hard to pronounce name, hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our bodies, and the highest concentrations are in our eyes and joints[4].

It is used in a wide variety of skin care products, from serums to moisturizers to help maintain and lock in moisture. This results in hydrated and plumped up skin. It’s great for any skin type, particularly wrinkle-prone skin, and it’s safe to use daily, or in multiple products, as part of your regular skincare regime.

Mia Vita™ Gel Intimate Skin Moisturizer and Mia Vita™ Personal Lubricant & Moisturizer are exclusively made in GMP-certified facilities in the United States. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. This means they are of the highest quality and are completely safe to use in intimate areas.

And these products don’t contain perfume or dyes or any other irritants or contaminants.

With regular use, Mia Vita™ Gel Intimate Skin Moisturizer and Mia Vita™ Personal Lubricant & Moisturizer can make a big difference to your vaginal health. When it comes to looking for natural products for your most sensitive, intimate parts, you don’t have to compromise on safety.

[1] Naumova I, Castelo-Branco C. Current treatment options for postmenopausal vaginal atrophy. Int J Womens Health. 2018;10:387-395. Published 2018 Jul 31. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S158913

[2] Kagan, R., Kellogg-Spadt, S. & Parish, S.J. Practical Treatment Considerations in the Management of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Drugs Aging 36, 897–908 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-019-00700-w

[3] Jokar A, Davari T, Asadi N, Ahmadi F, Foruhari S. Comparison of the Hyaluronic Acid Vaginal Cream and Conjugated Estrogen Used in Treatment of Vaginal Atrophy of Menopause Women: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Int J Community Based Nurs Midwifery. 2016;4(1):69-78.

[4] Bayer IS. Hyaluronic Acid and Controlled Release: A Review. Molecules. 2020;25(11):2649. Published 2020 Jun 6. doi:10.3390/molecules25112649

What is feminine odor?

Also referred to as vaginal odor, feminine odor is how your vagina smells. The first thing you have to know is that it's completely normal for your vagina to have a slight smell. You should only be worried if it starts to smell a lot or smells funky and abnormal to you - but more on that later.

The reason why your vagina naturally smells a bit is because not unlike your gut, the vagina contains bacteria, yeast, and all that good stuff - most of which are healthy but unfortunately, comes with a smell.

When is vaginal odor bad?

Like we mentioned, a slight smell is a-okay. But trust your nose because if the smell is very strong or a bit off to you, it can indicate an infection. Things that might cause your vaginal odor to go awry:

• Menstrual cycle
• Sexual activity
• Sweating
• Douching
• Poor hygiene
• Forgotten tampon
• Diet
  

There are many causes of a smelly vag - read on to find out what’s causing certain smells down there.

Metallic

During your menstrual cycle, your vaginal odor may take on a metallic or coppery scent. This is totes normal because blood has an elevated pH so it can change the natural pH of your vagina, which should be between 3.8 to 4.5. But don’t worry - the odor should go away once it’s no longer Code Red.

Fishy

A fishy smell may occur when there are too much bad bacteria. If the odor increases right after sex or is accompanied by increased discharge, it could be bacterial vaginosis (also known as BV or vaginitis), an excess of vaginal bacteria. In some cases, BV also comes with symptoms like itching and burning but is easily treated with antibiotics.

Bleachy

If you find that your vaginal odor smells like bleach, lubricants and condoms may be throwing your delicate pH balance out of whack. If this is the case, try a different brand to see if that clears up the odor.

Rotten

The most common cause for a rotten smell down there is a tampon that’s been left in your vagina. While never pleasant, the smell should fade away once you’ve removed the forgotten tampon. While not normally life-threatening, in some cases when the tampon has been left in for too long, the bacteria may trigger toxic shock syndrome.

Sweet

Alas, you are what you eat. While not scientifically proven, diet may affect your vagina’s smell and taste. Rumor has it that fruits like oranges, pineapple, and grapefruit sweeten your vaginal fluids, while onions, garlic, broccoli, and asparagus contribute to an unpleasant smell.

Tips to reduce unpleasant feminine odor

How to make your vagina smell better. If it’s a recurring nightmare that you’re the unfortunate answer to someone’s “what’s that smell?” question, below are some tips that help you maintain vaginal odors at a healthy, non-offending scent.

1. Keep it clean

A daily feminine hygiene routine will keep your vulva (the skin outside of your vagina) clean of blood, sweat, and dirt, keeping unwanted odors at bay.

Wash down there regularly with a natural cleanser like I Love My Muff which are all natural Plant based Feminine Hygiene Products.

avoid heavily scented perfumes soaps that will alter your vagina’s pH. While you may think scented products will help you cover up any odors, the synthetic fragrances can wreak havoc on your pH levels and cause even more odor - it’s a vicious cycle!

One thing to note is that while you need to clean the outside of your vagina, your vagina itself has superpowers and naturally cleans itself. It maintains a healthy pH and prevents unhealthy bacteria all on its own - employee of the month, right here! Douching will only upset your natural pH levels and get rid of everything, including the good bacteria, resulting in odor or even irritation.

Make sure you wipe front to back and use wipes between showers and after exercising, especially during your period, to remove sweat and other discharge. To help manage odors, remember to change your underwear daily and use unscented, non-irritating products to wash them.

2. Air it out

Ah, cotton - the fabric of our lives and conveniently, the best option for keeping odors at bay. Cotton is breathable and helps absorb the excess moisture like sweat and fluids from your body that might throw off your natural pH levels.

Extremely tight clothing not only feels uncomfortable and not conducive to all you can eat meals but can trap things like sweat and restrict circulation down there. Good oxygen flow = happy, healthy vagina.

3. Eat healthy

Watch your sugar intake as foods with a high level of sugar can trigger an overgrowth of yeast, altering your vaginal odor. Say it with us now: when it doubt, sweat it out! Drinking plenty of water encourages healthy sweating and fluid release, as well as prevent excess bacterial growth.  

4. Change menstrual products frequently

As mentioned before, a metallic smell may accompany periods but the moisture of pads and reusable cloth pads can also contribute to a strong odor so it’s important to change them frequently - and don’t forget about changing tampons to avoid a rotten smell.

5. Cleanse after sex

Since semen has an elevated pH and lubricants may lead to odors, give your vagina a quick cleanse after intercourse to maintain natural bacteria and pH levels.

6. Take probiotics

There are good bacteria and bad bacteria. High levels of bad bacteria cause odor, while good bacteria like probiotics can help prevent infections and help restore the vagina’s normal pH, reducing vaginal odor. Try incorporating probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kombucha, and sauerkraut into your diet.

When is feminine odor a problem?

Feminine odor can have many different causes. If you have odor without other symptoms, it’s typically not a cause for alarm. Try the above tips for reducing feminine odor and if it still doesn’t go away, consult a doctor.

However, if the odor is unbearably strong or you also experience itching, irritation, pain, and abnormal discharge, it could indicate a more serious problem, and you should consult a doctor.

oday we have the pleasure of speaking with Bailey, and boy was it a great one!

1. How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

As long as can remember I've struggled with my body image. I constantly needed validation that I was beautiful and worthy. From being a mixed race baby to being an athlete, a mother, and a model, I have constantly faced and have been confronted with issues surrounding my body. I have been bullied, shamed for my skin and athletic build; my racial ambiguity, and my maternal status. I’ve experienced body shaming within my own family concerning the way I dress and wear my hair. I had never fully felt accepted as I was.

When it comes to fully loving and accepting my body, it's been quite a journey. What helped me was speaking life and truth into other women. Hearing myself build other women up, made me not only understand myself better, it actually changed me as a person. In the end it helped me change the most important voice, my inner dialogue. 

‍2. What do you love most about your body? 

I love how strong my body is, how my body makes me feel this constant movement with a flow of higher energy. I love how grounded and at home I feel in my body, how it has served me all these years through thick and thin. Physically, I love my spots and the way that my skin is an ever changing work of art that I get to explore every few months.🥰 

‍3. What does self love mean to you?

To me self-love means, embracing every part of myself while honoring the things I love about my body. More importantly not allowing others to make me feel guilty about the things I don’t like as much about myself. This means unfollowing all trends, because it’s about honoring what self-love means to me. Self-love means doing what I feel compelled to do, and makes me feel the best. 

4. What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

It’s ok to struggle. It is perfectly normal to feel the way you are and trust me, you are not alone. It’s part of the process that's telling you, you are ready for change. I can’t tell you what to do, because thats for you to find out what works for you.

What I can tell you, is when you start seeking truth and intentionally find ways to love yourself, soon enough those small steps add up to big shifts and changes in your life. I am living proof that if you fight through your difficulty, you WILL reach the other side and, QUEEN, it's amazing here. I wish nothing but to meet you here in this place of liberation from others opinions of you and even your own harsh judgment of yourself. Find what works for you, take one intentional step at a time, be patient, give yourself grace, expect challenges, listen to your body, and don't be afraid of the lessons that come from failure. 🥰

To follow Bailey's journey find her on IG: @TheQweenBayOfficial

Visit Bailey's Gallery for her beautiful wall art at www.obaregallery.com/artist-profiles/qween-bay

irst things first, vagina is not a dirty word. In Huha's IGTV Series "Huha Health" they spoke with two expert gynecologists, Dr. Laura Nicholas and The Modern Mujer, Dr. Erica Montes. In their IGTV series and their blog post, they cover:

• How to care for your vagina
• Good and bad vaginal bacteria
• How to maintain a healthy pH balance
• The best underwear for a healthy vagina

Your Vagina is a Self-Cleaning Machine

Your vagina is a BOSS. Independent, self-sufficient and hard working, the vagina needs minimal assistance to get the job done.

"When the vagina is operating at its best, it really doesn't need your help at all." - Dr Laura Nicholas, ob-gyn

During menstruation, the vagina passes blood from the uterus which cleanses the system and helps reset for a new cycle. Cervical mucus also passes through the vagina which plays an important role in optimizing conception. However, you will also notice an increase in vaginal discharge when your vagina is fighting to rid itself of infection.

However, there are some things you can do (like choosing the correct underwear)

to help look after your vagina. There are also things you must stay away from.

Vaginal Health - Do's:

• Wear breathable, natural underwear like our best-selling Mineral Cheeky undies and thongs - avoid synthetic materials

• Wash your body regularly - avoid harsh chemicals in your body wash and soaps. Try our Undie wash, so gentle, you can use it on your skin!

• Change your underwear frequently, especially after working out and after a shower.
• When using the toilet, always wipe from front to back.
• Make sure you pee after sex to clear out any unwanted bacteria!

Vaginal Health - Dont's:

Pretty much the Do's in reverse...

• Stay away from nylon or any synthetic underwear - choose TENCEL™ or organic cotton underwear.
• Avoid tight fitting underwear that increase heat and bacteria count.
• No commercial cleansing wipes and soaps. Stay away from fragrances.
• Don't douche! Wash the vulva only.

All about your pH Balance

What's pH balance exactly? The vagina is a micro biome that requires her delicate balance to be kept in-check: namely, that the "good" bacteria outweigh the bad bacteria.

What, exactly, is good bacteria?

We get what bad bacteria is, like E. Coli from our poop that can make it's way into our urethras and cause gnarly UTI infections –– sometimes from ill-fitting, chafing g-strings rubbing back and forth, hence our body contouring, stay put elastics in our Mineral Thong –– but what exactly is "good" bacteria?

Good bacteria is a species called Lactobacillus (there are dozens of different types of Lactobacillus) which produces Lactic Acid. Lactic acid helps maintain an acidic environment which keeps the other microflora in the vagina happy.

How to maintain your pH balance

Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester trap heat and moisture, creating a perfect breeding ground for other bacterial species, not so good for your vagina,

“Wearing synthetic underwear for long periods of time can lead to yeast infections, urinary tract infection (UTI), and other vaginal infections,” - Dr. Nupur Gupta, Director, Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute

Bacterial Vaginosis, more commonly known as BV, is usually caused by an overgrowth of bad bacteria called Gardnerella. This occurs when you don't have enough good bacteria (Lactobacillus) to fight the bad bacteria. BV causes very smelly vaginal discharge.

"The most common treatment includes a medication or oral antibiotic called Flagyl or Metronidazole." - Dr. Erica Montes, The Modern Mujer.

Once you have it, the only way to cure BV is to take an oral antibiotic. Over the counter cream won't work because BV is NOT a yeast infection. So, let's avoid getting BV altogether ladies.

Choose the best underwear for vaginal health

We recommend choosing underwear made from breathable, natural fabric such as TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal.

You can find these textiles in our full-coverage Mineral Thongs, High Rise Briefs and Cheeky underwear. Why did we choose TENCEL™? Because it produces:

• Super soft fabric - perfect for sensitive skin.
• Super breathable fabric - so light it feels like you're going commando.
• Superior moisture-wicking fabric - making it an excellent choice for sensitive skin.
• Zinc-infused lyocell fabric, limits the growth of bacteria ten times more effectively than organic cotton undies!

In a clinical study conducted by Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, it was also discovered that zinc-infused lyocell fabric provides very strong antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus (the bacteria that causes itch and skin irritation) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (the bacteria than leads to UTIs).

It yielded a log reduction greater than 3, which means a reduction of up to 99.9% of bacteria over a 24 hour period! Let's hear it for zinc!

Consider replacing your underwear every year

This may sound a tiny bit excessive, especially considering we wash our lingerie so frequently, but according to the Good Housekeeping Institute, even clean undies can contain up to 10,000 living bacteria.

Why is this? Because there's about one million bacteria in just 2 tablespoons of used washing machine water! According to Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, who has done extensive research on the germs that fester in our washing machines,

"If you wash a load of just underwear, there will be about 100 million E. coli in the wash water, and they can be transmitted to the next load of laundry... There's about a tenth of a gram of poop in the average pair of underwear."

Yep, it's pretty gross. This is why we recommend replacing your underwear every year and where possible, hand washing your delicates separately using our all natural undie wash.

If you would like to learn more about vaginal health and wellness, check out our IGTV series featuring health care professionals specializing in women's health, fertility and gynecology.

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Follow HUHA on IG for their latest releases @WearHuha

espite being in her early 20’s, Asia McKinney speaks with much wisdom regarding life lessons and self-acceptance. 

Asia struggled with body image issues in middle school, feeling out of place among her petite peers. Her thicker thighs and curves made her feel uncomfortable, but her mother continually reassured her of her beauty. As she grew older, she began to realize that others admired and appreciated her body type. Over time, she understood that she couldn’t be anyone else, and gradually, she embraced how her clothes fit and how she looked in the mirror.

By looking deep within herself, she knew she was unique because no one else looked like her.  With this in mind, she shifted her focus of confidence towards her charisma and attitude,

“I can walk outside without makeup and feel like I’m that girl.” 

Asia expressed how people’s outlook for the day can help build themselves up despite how they physically appear.  She keeps this in mind since she still struggles with her body image, but continues to work on it every day and keeps a self-care route on Sundays.  From yoga to facials and baths with essential oils, Asia knows the importance of treating her body the way it deserves.  On top of that, she journals to stay in tune with herself. 

She wants readers to know that people should learn to be happy and not depend on others for happiness.  It’s good to be comfortable doing things by yourself. 

“Put yourself out there. Accept yourself for who you are”. 

As she pointed out her cellulite, body dimples, and jiggly arms, she added

“it’s okay to love yourself...this is who I am”. 

To see more of Asia, follow her on Instagram: @Asiaa.rose

‍

Here's a short interview with Sue McKenna the Founder of Happy Breast Balm.

We discover how to take ownership of the health of our breasts with Sue Mckenna, founder of Happy Breast Balm and the Ultimate Breast Care Routine.

Q: What inspired you to create Happy Breast Balm and the Ultimate Breast Care Routine?

A: Having to deal with my own breast health issues! I realised, while looking for ways to heal and care for my breasts, that there are hardly any products or protocols for breast health.. No shelves in the health shops, no section in health catalogues, no Breast Health practitioners, in fact, most massage therapists do not go near the breasts! Which is quite mad when you realise breasts are quite the centre for the lymphatic system and are imbued with many lymph and blood vessels. Not to mention the hormonal and emotional aspects!

I began to research, to see what I could do to help heal my breasts. The first thing I discovered is that, according to many statistics, 70% of women experience breast health issues at some stage during their lives.. From the swelling and discomfort of PMT, to cysts and fibrocystic breast tissue, menopausal issues, lumps, bumps and of course the dreaded breast cancer. You would think that there would be at least as many products and protocols for our breasts as there are for 'dry skin' or 'leg hair removal'!

I also discovered 3 really important, simple, age old practices that anyone can do, which can really support the health of our breasts, and our overall health.. Dry skin brushing, massage, and the power of positive, self loving affirmation.

Q: What are the most beneficial breast care practices for women? And what are the best ways to integrate these practices into a self-care routine?

A: Of all the things we’re told about our bodies, our Lymphatic System is barely ever mentioned, but it is one of the most important and biggest systems that keeping us going! The fluid in the lymphatic system removes wastes and toxins from the bodily tissues and brings nutrients, oxygen, immune enhancing cells and other goodies to replenish our cells. While the heart continuously pumps blood through the blood vessels, the lymphatic system relies on the movement of smooth muscles to transport fluid through the lymph vessels. Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic system and improves circulation of lymphatic fluid throughout the body which may help improve a variety of health concerns.

Massage, self touch, need we say more. If any part of us ever hurts, or feels uncomfortable, the first thing we do is lay our hands on that area. Or, if a loved one is suffering discomfort, we lay our hands upon them.. We all hold the power of intentional healing in our hands. Regular massage can help keep us in good order! So regular breast massage has many benefits. If your breasts ever feel achy, or sore, or heavy, or you are dealing with any breast issues, of course we want to spend a couple of minutes, laying our hands upon them, applying healing balms and loving thoughts. Our breasts are nurturers, they need to be nurtured too! Where good attention goes, good energy will surely flow!

Self talk, we need to keep an eye on that! Sometimes we have 'not so healthy thoughts' right? That is why we include a Massage Mantra! To remind you how blessed you are for this gift of life, your health and wellbeing. The power of our thoughts are an incredible asset! You are what you think! So think who you are, who you most aspire to be. Also a lot of women have fear and taboos around breasts, they think they are too big, too small, too saggy, some women feel uncomfortable touching their own breasts! Hey all breasts are perfect just the way they are! Develop a loving relationship with your breasts! Learn to love and honour them!

Q: Please share a bit of information about the “Ultimate Breast Care Routine”.

A: Happy Breast Balm and the Ultimate Breast Care Routine are designed to inspire and encourage women to get in touch with their breasts, to take the health of their breasts into their own hands. By spending a couple of minutes regularly dry skin brushing, massaging with the balm and affirming wellbeing, you can:

*Stimulate the lymphatic system to clear and detox the many lymph vessels within your breast tissue.

*Massage your breasts to improve blood flow and nourish them with the Balm.

*Really get to know and love your breasts, where attention goes, energy flows.

*Affirm daily your health, well-being and gratitude for life.

‍You can see the step by step guidelines above or on our website.

Q: What are your environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices?

A: We source as local and as organic as possible. We use Australian organic hemp seed oil, Australian Amazing Oils magnesium oil, we love our therapeutic grade essential oils. We minimise plastic in our packaging and mailing systems and are always on the lookout for more sustainable and ecofriendly ways to operate. 

Q: Which product from the Happy Breast Balm range would you most recommend to readers of Sunday Morning View?

A: The Breast Care Kit. Unless you already have a good dry skin brush. Then you will only need the Balm. If you are looking for a gift for any of your women friends or family, the Kit is a stunning gift!

‍For more information about Happy Breast Balm, visit breastbalm.com.

ear Me,

We’ve been through so many life hurdles together. At such a young age, we’ve had our innocence taken away from us and grew up in a household full of violence stemmed from intergenerational trauma.  Never being good enough for our Tiger Mom, always trying to be people-pleasers, and not feeling like we’re good enough, have taken an emotional and mental toll. The lack of familial love led to seeking refuge in romantic relationships which failed one after another. Falling for the wrong guys, dating to close a void, and self-sabotaging with nice guys were all red flags of not being ready for companionship. Yet, when our inner demons slowly crawled out and lived beneath our skin, we chose to push away friends and lovers who truly cared about us. We hated ourselves as we silently screamed for help but felt like a burden and deemed unworthy to seek assistance.

Esther, it’s been a wild ride. The emotional roller coaster on a broken track set to fall off a cliff at the age of 30, miraculously came to a halt. The PTSD, anxiety, bulimia, and depression —you were there for it all and I applaud you for sticking by my side, but it’s time for me to let you go. My younger self, whom I couldn’t save from unfortunate events or give a better life, I’m incredibly sorry. You were good to me by putting up walls so I wouldn’t get hurt even though they were doing the opposite. Thank you for holding on when I was ready to give up. I’m ready to take charge of my life now and will learn to love the present and future me in remembrance of you. When you’re reading this, I would be gone from your world; I’m parting from this area of subconsciousness that prevented me from moving forward. Just know you’re not alone. I fixed the roller coaster track before my departure, which will lead you to a place filled with happy memories popping up every time I find them. And remember, you are and have always been enough.

Love always,

Haira Esther Kang

t's finally here! Many of you have asked for a tangible version of our magazine and Instagram page, so we finally decided to publish our first softcover coffee table book.

We are thrilled to share all the raw natural beauty without censorship. (Uggh! Finally) If you're one of the 250 to purchase our limited edition book, we're excited for you to see what we have in store.

** Only 250 limited edition copies will be produced. **

SOLD OUT - Edition ll Coming soon!

If you'd like a copy of Edition ll please email us at info@sundaymorningview.com

t’s so challenging and yet beautiful to see this part of myself. I’m so thankful for this. It opened up doors of my mind and knocked down walls in my mind that I couldn’t have broke quite so rapidly if not.

This body has treated me with such respect. When I see this  I realize how soft I am. How beautiful it is to be so tender and capable of bruising and healing. I’ve worked my whole life to be this untouchable exterior. Whether it was boney and thin or tough and solid. This is a version of myself I am quite unfamiliar with and I’m just now beginning to fall in love with.

To see more of Grace please visit her instagram @graces_platform

t’s a bit funny, and maybe a touch cruel, but when I first started shooting for SMV, I didn’t tell the models it was a makeup-free shoot. Their reactions when I told them to wipe off their makeup? Absolutely priceless! We’ve got some of those classic moments up on Instagram in our photoshoots highlights—definitely worth a look.

As time went on, I learned to give a heads-up. Well, at least I think I did with Kelly Willard—though I can’t quite remember if I mentioned it, lol. Either way, Kelly embraced the bare-faced challenge, and the results were stunning. Her natural beauty shone through in ways that were nothing short of inspiring.

Our shoot with Kelly was a breathtaking experience. We captured something truly special, and I hope you find the art we created together as captivating as we do. Enjoy!

t’s been a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and while many people are experiencing a “Zoom fatigue”, there are some people like me who get anxious while using video chat platforms.  Seeing myself constantly in real-time makes me more critical of myself. It’s similar to having negative emotional feelings of seeing myself in a mirror. Rather than listening to the speaker in the meeting, I’m criticizing my appearance and signaling out my flaws. Sometimes I end up comparing myself to all my beautiful co-workers. “Am I photogenic enough?” “Would moving the camera a certain angle help me look more attractive?”    

There’s also heightened self-consciousness with my behavior when there are multiple people to focus on in gallery view.  When I speak, I’m unsure if people’s facial expressions and body language are in response to what I said or if there’s an external factor giving off a negative vibe such as kids screaming in the background or a pet distracting them for wanting attention.  Or when there’s silence after a question, it can get nerve-wrecking not knowing if people cared about what you said or if you simply presented your perspective that was understandable to everyone.

To help combat these issues, you can change the Zoom view to only show the person who is speaking.  This way, you don’t see the row or column of people to compare to.  You can also turn off your camera or minimize the Zoom screen.  Audio only allows people to listen attentively or maximize your time if you need to multitask.  If having your video on is mandatory by your employer, let your supervisor know how you’re feeling anxiety or Zoom fatigue.  Communication is key so there’s no misunderstandings.  

Figure out a schedule that works for you.  If you can control some of the meeting schedules such as one-on-one meetings, have them at a day or time that’s convenient for you especially if you have kids at home.  Schedule breaks in between meetings and relieve some of the stress.  You can stretch, eat a snack, or pet your dog or cat.

Select positive memories to be replayed in your mind rather than focusing on the negative ones.  You can also ask co-workers and supervisors for feedback on comments you made or the presentation you gave after a video conference.  The more positive participation you have, the easier the experience will become.      

Sources

https://news.stanford.edu/press-releases/2021/02/23/four-causes-zoom-fatigue-solutions/

ven though I was born in the U.S. and consider myself American, I was bullied in middle school for being Asian. I was like a banana or Twinkie -- white and Americanized on the inside but with yellow skin and Asian physical features on the outside. Usually bullying stops as kids mature and I have not experienced much racism since my teens.  Never did I think I’d be so scared to go outside in the land that I call home during my late 20’s. Just as many other Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) experienced xenophobia in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, I was spat at and yelled names “corona”, “Chinese virus”, and “Chinese f*cker” while I was walking my dog or going out for a run. The anti-Asian hate crimes have once again increased at the beginning of 2021 with deaths and attacks against vulnerable groups such as the elderly and women: 84-year old Vicha Ratanapakdee was attacked to the ground and died from his injuries; Noel Quintana was slashed across his face for asking the perpetrator to stop kicking his bag; and Asian women were victims of the Atlanta spa shooting spree. There has been a 1,900 percent increase of hate crimes against Asians when comparing the data from 2019 versus the first half of 2020.

President Biden recently signed a Presidential Memorandum to combat racism against the AAPI community, but there are actions on a microlevel for people to help as well. Examples include volunteers walking seniors in Oakland, CA or people standing guard at night to protect their neighbors in Orange County, CA Bystanders can speak out or report hate crime incidents. Friends can check in with their AAPI peers and continue to bring awareness on social media. Colleagues can advocate for awareness in the workplace. People can speak with elected officials to find ways to diminish racism. In the end, standing in solidarity is not just about doing so with the AAPI community. It is for all People of Color (POC) so we can get closer to ending racial discrimination, injustices, and inequality.    

While living in unprecedented times, I hope everyone counts their blessings and recognizes the sacrifices made by POC and how they helped with the progression of the U.S. Examples of Asian contribution include but are not limited to:

• Chinese workers who built the transcontinental railroads, Filipino farmers who provided cheap labor, and Japanese immigrants who worked in sugar cane fields
• The rise of popularity in Asian cuisine -- Taiwanese boba, Japanese sushi, Filipino adobo, Korean BBQ, Vietnamese banh mi
• The enjoyment of entertainment -- Kpop, Kdramas, anime, and mangas
• Popular and affordable products -- Japanese cars, “made in China” products, Korean technology (e.g. Samsung components are in smartphones)  
• Asian beauty and health practices such as herbal medicine and Chinese acupuncture

I hope people humanize the struggles of POC who have battled racial discrimination throughout history when all they wanted was to build a better life and be treated with respect. With this, I hope that the strength of the hardworking Ox which signifies movement, bring movements of positive changes for everyone and prosperity to everyone for the rest of 2021.  

Sources

https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/anti-asian-hate-crime-jumps-1-900-percent/article_f007a05b-f43e-54ca-a3c6-1b5493333dea.html

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/26/memorandum-condemning-and-combating-racism-xenophobia-and-intolerance-against-asian-americans-and-pacific-islanders-in-the-united-states/

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/02/26/anti-asian-violence-oakland

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-02/an-asian-american-family-in-o-c-was-being-harassed-now-their-neighbors-stand-guard

ey guys!!

Today, I am here to introduce you to WAMA underwear - a truly amazing and sustainable clothing company that makes cute, super comfortable, and organic underwear out of HEMP. 

Yes, I said hemp. And no, you can’t smoke the undies, haha. 

Before I share all about the joys and benefits of WAMA undies, I want to give you some background knowledge on the harmful impacts of the fast fashion industry. I think that will help you to better appreciate all that this sustainable company has to offer. 

Let’s get started…

I’m sure you’ve noticed that there’s been a huge shift toward supporting and encouraging sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices over the last five to 10-ish years. Right?

With so much information being shared on climate change and the contributing factors, I felt inspired (and a little guilty) to do some research on how my daily habits, such as what I wear, what I eat, how I commute, where I shop, etc., contribute and have a negative impact on the environment on a global scale. 

And I want to be clear - while I am absolutely looking to make more eco-friendly choices and reduce my impact on the environment, I am not trying to falsely claim or promise that I’m suddenly going to change my entire lifestyle… this girl likes McDonald’s. I’m imperfect. Don’t judge me! Haha. 

I have specifically been learning about how the fast fashion industry is incredibly harmful to the environment, to the factory employees, and to human health. “Fast fashion is a business model that refers to clothing manufactured at warp speed and sold at a low price point. It focuses on rapidly producing high volumes of cheap, poor quality, disposable clothing.”

In order to be able to mass produce clothes, clothing companies have to cut a lot of corners, in the name of profit - human and environmental ones (ie: using child labourers, harmful and unethical working conditions, paying workers offensively low wages, depleting the Earth’s resources at alarming rates, using toxic chemicals/ dyes because they are cheaper, yet harmful to the environment and the workers who are exposed).

“Conventional fabric processing and manufacturing can be extremely wasteful - creating billions of pounds of textile waste (clothing) to landfills each year. Fast fashion is a huge producer of greenhouse gases (producing over a billion tonnes of CO2 per year), a huge consumer of the world’s water supply, using billions if not trillions of litres of water annually, and a huge contributor of microplastic pollution into our oceans (approximately half a million tonnes annually.)  "

Photo 1: The Negative Impacts of Fast Fashion

Now let me clarify - I’m not here to shame you to make more environmentally-friendly choices. I am not about that. 

But I am about providing you with options, and that’s where WAMA underwear comes in, as they provide the perfect antidote to fast fashion. 

Product Review 

After trying my WAMA bra and undies, I discovered that hemp fabric is so freaking comfortable, oh so breathable (which makes my vag happy), and the fabric gets softer with each and every wash. 

Does it get any better?

Well thank you for asking, and actually, yes, yes it does! I was surprised to learn that hemp fabric is naturally antibacterial, with anti-odor properties - so WAMA’s undies can fight the daily funk from down below, as well as keep your gym bag mildew/ nast free. 

Oh, an added bonus of eco-friendly undies is that they keep your vagina happy and healthy. Vaginas are self-cleaning and produce moisture and discharge throughout the day. Undies made of synthetic fabrics, like spandex, nylon, or polyester, can trap this moisture, therefore creating the kind of environment where yeast and bacteria thrive. This can lead to vaginal irritation, and infections. Ouch, no thanks! 

Research also suggests that people with penises may also benefit from wearing underwear made of natural fabrics, such as hemp. Studies have suggested that underwear made of synthetic fabrics can cause impotence, reduce sexual desire and activity, and can lead to decrease in sperm count, in people with penises.

So, not only are WAMA’s undies cute as hell, durable, comfy, soft, breathable, etc., but they also have environmental benefits, and health (genitalia) benefits.

Wearing my cute WAMA undies and bra make me feel comfortable and sexy, at the same time. Who knew that was possible? I sure as hell didn’t… I think it’s time for me to do a massive clean out/ throw away of my synthetic, restrictive, unbreathable, uncomfortable, and underwire/ pokey bras and undies. Whose with me? 

Why WAMA?

To start, WAMA is committed to producing comfortable, durable, and cute underwear that is made from the most sustainable fabric, hemp. 

Hemp is a sustainable option because not only can they thrive in a variety of soils and weather conditions, but they are regenerative crops that are remarkably fast-growing. Every single part of the hemp plant can be utilized for different reasons, including to clothe, house, medicate, feed livestock, or even cleanse and improve soil quality.

Because hemp is a weed, it grows prolifically and with little water and no pesticides (unlike cotton and other natural fibres). Hemp can even help the fight against deforestation because while trees take years to mature, hemp can be grown in just four months.6

There are tons of other reasons that make hemp a great, and sustainable alternative. I invite you to read into it further, as it’s quite awesome what hemp is capable of creating/ replacing. 

Now, back to WAMA - as a company, WAMA is dedicated to reducing their environmental blueprint in as many ways  as possible. They do this by: creating biodegradable underwear, using eco-friendly (low impact) dyes, which are chemical and toxicant free, using 100% recycled poly mailers to ship their products, using sustainable tissue paper that is recyclable and naturally biodegradable. Oh, and by using shipping boxes that are made from 100% recycled materials, and are fully recyclable and biodegradable.

‍WAMA is committed to the best practices that support their employees, the environment, and the community. They practice and ensure safe and fair labor practices, eco-friendly initiatives, and respect for community values.

On top of all the great things that I mentioned above, WAMA is also a Green America Certified business, is a PETA Approved Vegan brand, is involved in the Business Social Compliance Initiative. Also, their fabric is dyed in a facility that is Oeko-Tex Certified, which ensures that the fabric is/has been tested for harmful substances and that the fabric is therefore harmless to human health.

I feel excited and grateful to know that not only is WAMA committed to sustainable and eco-friendly practices, but also to creating better and safer lives for their employees. It’s great to have a company that really stands by their core values. 

Next time you’re getting ready to do a massive underwear dump, consider replacing them with WAMA underwear. You won’t be sorry!

Thanks for tuning in, loves!

❤️ Talya 

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1. What is fast fashion, anyway? (N.D). The Good Trade. Retrieved March 2, 2021 from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion Fashion vs. Water. (2020). Waterdocs. Retrieved March 3, 2021 from https://www.waterdocs.ca/water-talk/2020/3/3/fast-fashion-vs-water How is fast fashion polluting our water? (2019). Open Access Government. Retrieved March 3, 2021 from https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/how-is-fast-fashion-polluting-our-water/77704/ 9 Rules to live by for a Healthy Vagina. (2019). Healthline. Retrieved March 2, 2021 from https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/underwear-hygiene The naked truth about the link between underwear and health. (2018). Sourcing Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2021 from https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/lifestyle-monitor/underwear-health-113797/  How is hemp good for the planet? (N.D). Goodhemp. Retrieved March 4, 2021 from https://www.goodhemp.com/hemp-hub/environmental-benefits-of-hemp-how-good-is-it/ 

e come into this planet screaming and crying. Bewildered at all the new surroundings and our sudden heightened senses. Our warm and quiet home already a distant memory. That is our first taste of fear.

This strange response that floods our minds when we're thinking of doing something bold, sometimes even something as mundane as ordering your regular at Starbucks. Fear will widen your imagination and make you think of irrational scenarios that would never actually happen. But those irrational scenarios are woven in between rational ones, and so it becomes nearly impossible to tell them apart. Fear is wicked and relentless.  

But fear can also be protective. Fear is what stops us from standing too close to the edge of a platform while waiting for an incoming train. Fear stops us from venturing into dark alleyways late at night, potentially protecting us from dangerous muggers. It’s what keeps us vigilant. Fear can shield us from exposing ourselves to bad situations.  

This hyper-vigilance can sometimes breed paranoia. Looking over your shoulder just to realise it’s your own shadow. Seeing things that aren’t really there. The line between real and imagined becomes blurred as a result of fear.  

However, we've somehow seen fear impact our world positively through this pandemic. Human beings afraid to infect themselves and others, wearing masks in public to protect each other. Staying at home to protect our front-line workers. A demonstration of fear that has done so much good for the collective. Fear of hurting others can create empathy, an unexpectedly beautiful outcome from an emotion we are normally told to avoid.  

Fear is like an overprotective mother, good intentions - bad execution. All that control leads to being sheltered and inexperienced. Raw with naivety, vulnerable and terrified of failure. Fear will convince us that failure is scary and awful, something to be avoided at all costs. What fear doesn’t tell us is that failure is actually an essential speed bump on the road to success. These speedbumps contain invaluable lessons we cannot go without. These speedbumps bring out the strength and resilience in us, the purpose behind why we even started this journey in the first place.  

Fear is like a veil, it stops us from seeing things for what they truly are, fuzzies up the image. Stepping away from fear is peeling back the veil, so you can see clear as day, what is actually in front of you. No ‘what if’s’ and outlandish scenarios, just the pure simplicity of the task at hand.  

We just need to be able to reassure fear and tell it that it's all going to be okay. We have to come to an understanding with fear. We can harness a relationship with fear, where we acknowledge it, but do the damn thing anyway.

You don’t need to be fearless to succeed, you just need to be aware.  

Fear has stopped me from starting this journey for 26 years. Pursuing a career in writing used to be so terrifying to me that I would stop myself from entertaining the thought altogether. Fear made me lie to myself about what I truly love, it led me down a path of seeking validation from others instead of myself. It took a lot of hardships for me to get to this point, a point where failure no longer scares me, and societal validation no longer serves me. I rushed through the speedbumps and damaged my car in the process, trying to get to the finish line without stopping to reflect on why I began that journey in the first place. These speed bumps made me who I am today, and I am eternally thankful for their invaluable lessons.  This is me telling my fear that I’m going to be okay. And that I’m ready for whatever comes next on this journey.

e laughed and said “Wow, you’re thicker than me,” as we looked at a full-size mirror.  It’s assumed girlfriends are loved for who they are, not for their appearance, especially when society claims personality matters over looks.  Sometimes, it's a struggle because there’s so much attention on what beauty is and how bodies are portrayed in the media.  After this relationship, I spiraled deeper into depression and became bulimic: 

• Comparing myself to other women 
• Feeling guilty for overeating or eating unhealthy
• Having a love-hate relationship with fitness -- used as punishment vs helped me feel confident
• Avoiding social events and crying for feeling “too ugly” or “too fat” 

When the Body Positivity Movement became popular, I kept telling myself I should accept my body and celebrate it. But loving every inch of my body -- fat, cellulite, scars, and moles -- was unattainable.  “Fake it until you make it” led to forcing myself to say positive comments when I looked in the mirror but it only went so far and wasn’t promising.  Instead I became guilty for not being positive about my body especially when my weight and size fluctuated so often, until I heard about body neutrality.  

Body neutrality focuses on appreciating what your body does rather than how it appears.  Loving our bodies may not be realistic, especially for people recovering from body dysmorphia, body-related trauma, or eating disorders.  It’s an opportunity to reevaluate our relationship with our bodies and acknowledge its achievements.  By releasing strong emotions and treating our bodies with care, we can let go of the obsessiveness to our outward appearance.  Even though my thighs grew thicker and arms are more flabby, I now focus on the strength of my legs and the benefits of all four limbs.  I thank my lungs for not giving up on me despite having asthma and my stomach for not exploding from eating and purging for over five years of this abusive behavior. 

When society communicates a certain body type is less valuable than others, there’s another woman with a different body size, judging her physical attraction.  Whether you practice body positivity or body neutrality, just know that your body is precious.  You are precious.

ur Photoshoot and Interview with Ebone Curry proved to be inspiring! You can see more of Ebone on her instgram @ebbyfaithfitness

How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

I have had many struggles with appreciating my body in the past. From hating my body when I was too skinny, to having a baby and hating every dark spot, stretch mark and fat roll that came after. Being that I am in the fitness industry it’s an industry standard to be perfect, have a flat stomach and edit out every stretch mark and dark spot to appeal more to others in the industry.

"I got tired of all the bullshit and started embracing every part of me."

I’m happy and healthy and that’s all that matters! Rolls, stretch marks, dark spots, etc are all natural and loving your body through every stage of your life is so extremely important.

What do you love most about your body?

I absolutely love my tiger stripes now!! I show them off every chance i get 😂

What does self love mean to you?

The message I have for other women is to shut out societies standards of beauty and embrace the beauty that is you! Every women is beautiful in their own way and we need to start embracing the perfect little imperfections that each of us have. Our bodies are capable of so many amazing things, so love it and appreciate it everyday cuz we only get one.

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oday we have the pleasure of interviewing “Uzumaki” Cepeda

a Bronx-born, Los Angeles-based textile artist known for examining how senses of safety, comfort, and agency are negotiated through objects and space. As a first-generation American woman of Dominican heritage, Uzumaki’s textile tableau acts as a safe space for black and brown people, while addressing the stigmas of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and colorism that often affect queer people and women who feel unprotected by American policies. Her practice consists of transforming everyday objects with brightly-colored faux fur to create interactive installations informed by traditional iconography of domestic spaces. Uzumaki’s dream-like and vibrant work draws from her childhood imagination growing up both on the islands of the Dominican Republic and in the Bronx.

Enter a colorful and playful world of faux fur textiles reflecting the DELI by Caliva brand brought to life by Dominican textile artist, Uzumaki Cepeda. This creative collaboration is an extension of Uzumaki’s first gallery launch in DTLA. Uzumaki aimed to launch a gallery that’s welcoming, safe, and inclusive for guests from all walks of life.

- Our interview with Uzumaki -

Your name is extremely unique, where’d it come from?

This is an artist name I came up with myself. I saw a rappers naming themselves, and I'm like hold up, like I can fucking name myself too. I was inspired by music and how people were able to reinvent themselves while they created their art. So I reinvented myself by calling myself Uzumaki. In Japanese it means spiral, it's chaotic like my life, cuz it be a fucking Whirlwind 

Where are you originally from?

‍I'm originally from the Bronx, New York.

What's your ethnicity?

I'm Dominican. 

How have you struggled in the past to appreciate and love your body and when you have struggled, how did you overcome that struggle?

‍You know loving your body and appreciating your body for what it is, is important. I feel like growing up in this era, women are expected to be in this Cookie Cutter shape, especially nowadays. Surgery is so accessible now and before I feel like it was just titties. But now, it’s titties, ass, small waistline, and hair down to your toes. Whatever the fuck, there's this societal structure that has been built around what an ideal woman is supposed to look like… so when women don't traditionally fall into that category, they're deemed as ugly or unattractive or whatever the fuck! That shit is super toxic and at the end of the day every woman you know, or every person who identifies as a woman, we all don't fall into these categories.

It's unrealistic and I also feel like it's a very misogynistic narrative that has been shoved down our throats. I also remind myself that when I do look at myself in the mirror because I'm not gonna front, I'm not gonna sit here and act like I don't want to get my titties done, it’s just one of those things. But, also it’s weird how women in society are held to this perfection and men can walk around with shit stained draws and not be on top of their shit. It’s like yo, y’all hold us to this unrealistic standard but yet y’all over here dirty as hell smudging us. It’s not every man that’s nasty and shit, but it's one of those things where it's like yo, let's be real. I remind myself, if men aren't held to this standard, then why the fuck are we being held to this standard? That shit is fucked up and I definitely feel it's completely unfair! You know what humbles me? it's like yo, every woman is shaped different for a reason, so why the fuck would we all want to look the same?

That's some robot shit yo! That’s some sheep mentality weird psycho shit… like every woman is not meant to look the same. I feel every body type is beautiful.

"Everyone is beautiful, we're all different."

What always brings me back to loving my body is that if I love myself then I know people are going to love me, because if you love you for who you are, you're going to allow somebody else to be able to love you properly. There is somebody for everybody. 

What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies, what message would you have for them?

Be real with yourself and don't change your body for anybody. Start looking at different Inspirations… I feel  inspiration is all around you, but be realistic with yourself. You can find beauty from all walks of life and I always find the beauty in them. Here is another thing, start with yourself and make a list of what you like about yourself? from physical attributes to your personality, what do you really like about yourself?

You gonna have to sit down and think about yourself.

"You owe it to yourself to find something that you like about yourself when you're operating in this human body."

No matter what religion we believe in, we got this one shot  living in this existence and you owe it to yourself to find something that you like about yourself. 

I have to remind myself to love myself, especially when I'm not feeling fucking pretty, I'll look at myself in the mirror and I'll tell myself a thousand reasons why the fuck I'm ugly as shit, but then I step away and find even more reasons why I do love myself. I'm a person that believes beauty goes beyond physical attributes. 

I've met the most badass bitches on earth that I would never fuck because they are nasty ass people, like their spirit is nasty. It's like all right, because you look good as fuck. But your mouthpiece, like bitch! Fuck! Like, you are a terrible person, right? That doesn't turn me on, be real, that’s my advice. 

One thing, that you want to change in the world, for present and future generations of women to feel beautiful? 

Capitalism needs to change. I feel there's always shade being thrown to women before selling a product. It's like, oh you look like this, then you must not live a happy life. Well, you should come through and use this product because this is going to make you feel prettier. Like, I wish I could destroy all of that!

Capitalism plays a big part in our oppression for real though.

The way they sell us these products is by destroying somebody, tearing them down to rebuild them back up with this product that they want us to eat up!

If I had the power I would destroy all of that shit, because it’s so unrealistic. 

I feel like that would be something I would change to help our future generation.

What art pieces do you have that best represent self love?

I feel I do a lot of semi-nudity art and a lot of people are just like, “bitch you're being provocative, and you’re selling sex.” 

Like bitch do you know how long it took me to be comfortable in a G-string or in front of a camera!? Like bitch! that took some work, that took some introspect and it took looking at myself saying you look good! 

Cuz girl! you can wear whatever the fuck you want!

Photography and semi-nudity to me is one form of empowerment. We're taking our power back! 

When I'm taking a picture showing my ass, I look good! But that’s for me. That's not for you, you know what I mean!? I think that's my swimming rebellion in the form of body positivity. 

‍"Semi-nudity is really a form of liberation and art."

What inspires you?

My friends and my family. My experience living in this world because my art is taking everyday things and making them something out of this world. I made a fuzzy bedroom,

that shit was inspired from when I was younger because I never had a bedroom to myself, I shared a bedroom with my mother.

Life inspires me and my art encapsulates different moments in my life and making them something special.

What does your artwork represent? 

I feel like my artwork represents a safe space. My mission is to create a safe space for black, brown and the LGBT community because, I feel growing up we didn't have that safe space. Even now we don't have that safe space so, I strive to make it.

What does your work aim to say?.

Be yourself! I know that sounds corny, but it's like real shit!

I just feel like women are always being put into these  traditional boxes even as an artist you are told you can’t be an artist. People still downplay the fuck out of what you love, you know, right? I definitely feel my work is like, yo! do yourself a favor, take a risk and be as weird as possible if you want to be. Yeah, like I feel that's what I want to my work to represent. I’m just going through my journey being an artist. 

What's the process when it comes to making your artwork? 

Choosing a color palette. I always start with color first and then I work towards other things later. Then, I think about the idea of whatever I want to do and then I make a quick scan to see if anybody has ever done anything remotely like this. I’m also very big on not doing some shit that somebody else has already done. I'm super big on that. 

What's in store for you next?

Imma hold another art show and I have a couple things dropping. 

Where can people find you?

People can't find me on social media on

instagram @uzumaki.gallery

twitter @uzumakigallery

my website www.uzumaki.gallery

Visit my art gallery in Chinatown, Los Angeles

Address: Uzumaki Gallery, 424 W College St suite B, Los Angeles, CA 90012

‍

ow to Get Rid of Hip Dips?

10 Exercises That Really Work, "How to Remove Hip Dips to Reach the Ideal Body," "Which Treatment Is Best for Hip Dips?" "Get Rid of Your Hip Dips with These 4 Steps!"

These are the first few articles that come up when you search "Hip Dips" on Google. So, what's the big deal? What are hip dips?

We call a hip dip the dip, or inward curve, situated just below the hip bone and above the thighs. The position and shape of your pelvis may or may not create this indentation. This part of our body is also not a matter of weight or size. If someone has hip dips, they will most likely always have hip dips, no matter their weight.

Hip dips are not abnormal or deformed hips; they are actually fairly common and a natural occurrence. However, we have been conditioned our whole lives to think they are not normal, even undesirable. Diet culture has done this by never showing that body type in the media, movies, TV shows, magazines, or billboards.

When I was a teen, the only times hip dips were mentioned were in articles on how to get rid of them. Other times, it was at school or in my dance classes when kids made fun of me. As a result, I grew up hating my body. I looked for ways to hide my hip dips behind baggy clothes. I was scared to wear a bikini on the beach. I made countless appointments with “specialists” to try to remove them. Spoiler alert: It never worked because hip dips are a natural part of your physiology, and no amount of lotions or workouts can remove them.

Then, in my 20s, the “hourglass” shape, or the Kim Kardashian hips, became a trend. It was important to be “proportionate.” Again, hip dips were considered an abnormality. And all this time, I never knew that many girls had the same body as me because we were all trying to hide, thinking we had an abnormal body type.

One day, I finally decided it was time to stop hiding. I was 25, sitting on the couch, feeling upset after comparing myself to way too many Instagram models. Suddenly, it hit me: “What am I doing? This is the body I have and will always have. I might as well love it and work with it because we’re together until the end.” I realized I had to accept my body as it was. I didn’t have a choice because not accepting it only made me feel miserable.

That day, I promised myself I would never try to hide or feel ashamed of my body again. Today, I want you to make that promise to yourself. Why? Because you deserve it, just like I deserve it. You deserve to feel free in your body because it is wonderful just as it is, because it carries you through life, and because it carries your story. Hip dips are normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

Life is a lot more fun if you wear the cute fitted dress you saw online, or wear the biker shorts with a tank top on a warm day. It feels freeing and empowering to wear a bikini on the beach and do a happy dance. So, flaunt them, and show diet culture that we’re here and that we won’t hide anymore! You deserve it.

Laura Desiree‍

We are sold the poisonous lie that perfection is attainable. We are brainwashed to believe that we cannot achieve true happiness unless we lose weight, fix our forehead wrinkles, or get rid of that muffin top. We are told that only then are we allowed to be confident and happy with ourselves, only then is loving yourself accepted. Think about all the headlines we’ve seen: when celebrities gain weight, the headline is “How did [BLANK] let herself go?” and when the weight is lost, it’s “How [BLANK] slimmed down and how you can too.” We are conditioned to think that weight loss is rewarded and that if we want to strive to be the best version of ourselves, we must lose weight until there is nothing left of us, physically and mentally.

It’s all quite disturbing to be thrust into this endless cycle of needing more—more work done, more workouts, more adherence to a standard that not a single person on Earth can achieve. It’s like we are all constantly in some rat race where no one truly wins, because if we have to exhaust ourselves to achieve happiness, how can we truly be happy if it’s based on transient aspects?

You know what’s more empowering? The thing that truly lights a fire in your belly? Standing up to the cages society has tried to force us into, knowing that accepting ourselves for the beautiful beings we are is so much healthier than any fad diet could ever be. It’s time to embrace the self-love revolution of acceptance—accepting the fat, the cellulite, the aging, the stretch marks, and all the other things we were told aren’t beautiful.

I know you’re tired of fighting. The good news is, you don’t have to fight anymore. Exhale and give your body a long hug; it’s been waiting for your open arms to embrace it for what it is all along. Your body was never the enemy; the media was. Your body is your best friend. It’s time to realize that you harness a unique beauty that no one else can ever emulate.

It’s time to start the self-love revolution, baby!

hen I was younger, I believed that stretch marks where supposed to appear only on your upper outside thighs. That was all I had ever seen. All I had ever known. So when stretch marks started to appear on my thighs, almost down to my knees, and on my butt, I thought there was something wrong with me.

I grew up when social media exploded and my Instagram feed consisted of thin, photoshopped models and for so many years I was full of self hatred and shame for my body. For so many years, I viewed my stretch marks as something that was a defect. Something that was ugly. A flaw.

Today, in my eyes, stretch marks symbolize growth. Power. Perseverance. Beauty. Uniqueness.

"Stretch marks is our bodies unique way of expanding without breaking and tearing. I think that is beautiful and amazing."

Stretch marks are like lighting on our skin, like a miniature natural phenomena marks us as we grow. Accepting and learning to love my stretch marks was the very start of my self love journey, they were one of the first body complexes of mine that I learned to love and I am so glad I did, because it got me to where I am today and that has turned out pretty amazing.

e asked Bella to tell us hwe thoughts on society and making women feel they are flawed. This is what she had to say.

I used to hide my cellulite. ⁣
I used to want to remove it. ⁣
I used to use creams and lotions to get rid of it.
I used to cover my legs with a towel as I walked down the beach.
I used to excessively exercise to make it go away. ⁣
I use to bawl my eyes out every time I caught a glimpse of my legs in the mirror. ⁣
I use to be consumed by the thoughts and views of society.

I thought I was flawed, ugly and disgusting.

I don’t have to angle, flex or distort my body in order to show my cellulite. I always have cellulite. I can’t hide it when I want too. It is apart of who I am. This is my reality. This is most people’s reality. This is my normal. So stop telling womxn that cellulite is not normal! ⁣

Now when I look at my cellulite i see it for what it truly is. ⁣
Beauty. ⁣
Love. ⁣
Acceptable. ⁣
Normality.⁣
Strength.⁣
⁣
Self love.⁣
⁣
You should not be ashamed of your cellulite! It doesn’t matter your weight, size or shape we all have cellulite. It doesn’t matter if people have more or less than you, cellulite is normal. I’m sick of hearing cellulite being labeled as a “flaw”. How can something that over 95% of womxn have be a flaw!

This is my body.

It is not a flawed body. It is just a body. ⁣
⁣
Skin doesn’t need smoothing. Skin is suppose to be textured. ⁣
⁣
Lumps and bumps don’t need removing. They make me unique. ⁣
⁣
Stop hating your body and obsessing over every little bump, roll, lump, fat, mark and scar. All the things you hate about yourself are things we all have! Your body is perfect! Your cellulite is beautiful. Your body doesn’t need changing, society does!

Today we got to chat with body positive activist, motivational speaker and 5x TEDx Speaker Nikita Sharma.

‍How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

I’ve had a constant love/hate relationship with my body. Meaning to say that, I’ve hated it when I’ve seen it through the eyes of the world and I’ve loved it when I’ve seen it purely through my eyes. 

Life got real hard when I tried to start fitting into societal standards of having the “perfect skinny body”, not realising that that wasn’t even my body type in the first place. 

Nevertheless, I tried. I pushed myself real hard. So hard that I developed an eating disorder. I would keep a calorie intake count every single day and if I had even a crumb more than what was “allotted” for the day, I’d curse myself immensely! 

Being in the field of modelling, I’ve faced some really harsh body shaming which led me to look at myself as merely a piece or an object which was to be perfected until no flaws remained. 

I almost completely forgot that I was first and foremost a human being. 

After years of over workout and struggle, I injured my lower back pretty seriously due to the strain.

It was then that I realise that I pushed myself too much. I couldn’t stand on my own two feet. I couldn’t get up from the bed without someone else’s support.
That’s when I said to myself, “ENOUGH”.

After 1.5 years of rehab, I allowed myself to grow into the person I truly wanted to be and I’ve never looked back ever since. Life has been a blessing oh yes, but most of all, it’s been a learning.

 
What do you love most about your body?

What I love most about my body is the fact that it does so much for me every single day. It makes me who I am. It changes every single day and it is more beautiful every single day. The scars I hold speak about my story and my battles so far in life and I think that’s poetry within itself.

What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

My message to other women struggling with the same issues is that you need to stop judging yourself from the lens of the world and start looking at yourself solely through your own eyes. See yourself for what you truly are. Make it a habit to wake up and look at yourself in the mirror every morning and instead of judging each beautiful curve and crevice as a “flaw”, give yourself a big tight hug.

Why do you support SMV?

I support SMV because I feel like we need platforms like these to speak about the things that truly matter. We need such platforms for bringing forward the words of truth and the words that make us all look and feel equal and equally beautiful.  
SMV does a great job to making everyone feel more like themselves and feel like they belong! ❤️

Don't miss Nikita's TEDx Talk

If you want to follow Nikita say hello on instagram @nikitasharma_official

reated out of necessity ** Designed with every woman in mind. Say hello to stā BODY.

A female owned and run business, owner Stefanie says, "Being in the world of and a lover of fashion, I found that I couldn’t wear a good portion of it. I wasn’t comfortable doing so with all of the sheer, short, flowy, CUUUUTE stuff out there. I needed something underneath it all. Just a little something to smooth and secure things.
Regular tank tops rolled up and annoyingly untucked and didn’t provide immovable coverage. Traditional bodysuits rode up and were less than comfy. Not to mention shapewear I found to just squish my skin into shapes that we won’t even speak about!

When traditional tanks and bodysuits failed to solve my problem, I dreamt up and sewed the first stā BODY suit in my apartment. Ahhhh!!!!!!! Sweet freedom! And yes, I did the wave all by myself with NO FEAR!

When you find something great, you want to share it with your girlfriends, RIGHT?

I knew that not all of us need the confinement of serious shapewear on a daily basis. The stā BODY suit is for our everyday outfits from a casual jeans and tee combo all the way to a fierce business suit to take on the world.

Regardless of our shape, we all want to feel great in our clothes. My mission is to help all of us love our shape as it is, but to create a garment that also adds confidence to your wardrobe.

Feel good, be completely comfortable and look fantastic! Like a hug from a best friend, from me to you."

Sophie says, "I want to scream with happiness every time I put it on myself (plus I do a little booty wiggle) 🙊 because I feel so... ME! It has a built-in thong (scuseeee me whaaaaaaat 🤤) for maximum convenience which creates less underwear lines!! Wear this piece with whatever you choose and make sure you do not compromise your happiness for your clothing! Your clothing should make you feel like a GODDESS and nothing less ✨

Show up for yourself, love yourself and respect yourself. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do."

Model: @sophthickfitness

estled in the tropical allure of Playa del Carmen, Mexican-born twin sisters Eileen and Gilian, known as the Om Twins, are redefining what it means to love your body. At 28 years young, these powerhouse women are challenging society's beauty standards, tearing down the walls of machismo culture, and lighting the path toward real self-love—because yes, it's that important.

Growing up in a world that prizes perfection over authenticity can feel like an unwinnable battle. For Eileen and Gilian, it was no different. “We grew up chasing these impossible beauty standards,” they admit. "At one point, it made us hate our bodies and blinded us from seeing what was shining back in the mirror." But what was once a dim light is now shining brighter than ever, thanks to their determination to knock down the walls of shame, criticism, and societal pressures that try to control how women should act, dress, and feel about themselves.

They believe the issue boils down to how women speak to themselves daily.

“Words are so powerful. If you keep feeding yourself negative thoughts, you’ll eventually believe them."

It's a toxic cycle, and breaking it means reclaiming your inner dialogue. Imagine waking up each day and greeting yourself with affirmations like "I am beautiful" or "Thank you, body, for all you do for me." Life-changing, right? This positivity is the duo’s secret weapon to overcoming the waves of negativity.

As personal trainers and vegan advocates, Eileen and Gilian are all about aligning body and mind. They’re firm believers that the way we talk to ourselves shapes our relationship with our bodies. "We have to be our own cheerleaders," they proclaim. Whether you’re grumbling over stretch marks or celebrating toned arms, their message is clear: be kind to yourself. Appreciate what you can change, like your fitness level or diet, and embrace what you can’t—like your height or age. These attributes, they argue, are what make you uniquely you, and that’s worth celebrating.

Fitness, they say, isn’t about punishment. It’s about gratitude for your body.

“Work out because you love your body, not because you hate it.”

Their own workouts are driven by self-love, turning exercise into a celebration of strength and endurance rather than a race for some unattainable "ideal" body.

Eileen and Gilian believe that true beauty begins with safety—feeling secure in one's own skin without fear of objectification or harm. “Women often hide their bodies out of fear," they explain, reflecting on the struggles of women in many parts of the world where machismo culture thrives. "The women’s rights movement is finally gaining traction, but we have to keep fighting. We want to live in a world where we can love ourselves without fear."

It's not just about changing laws or mindsets; it’s about fostering a culture where women lift each other up. The Om Twins emphasize the importance of unity among women, adding that the real power lies in sisterhood. "When we all unite... nothing can stop us."

Ask the Om Twins what they love most about their bodies, and you’ll get an answer brimming with wonder: "The amazing ability it has to transform." They believe that if you treat your body with care and patience, it will reward you in magical ways. And yes, that’s exactly how they describe it—magic. Whether through fitness or veganism, they’ve seen firsthand how bodies respond to love. “Self-love is the least we can do to repay all that our bodies do for us."

That spirit of body positivity was at the heart of their recent makeup-free photoshoot with Karlo Gomez, which they described as an empowering experience. “We usually pose for Instagram, doing things like the famous booty pop," they laugh. "But this shoot was about stepping out of that comfort zone and just being in the moment. We felt comfortable, happy, and most importantly, ourselves."

Staying healthy is a family affair for the Om Twins, who credit veganism, fitness, and quality time together as their recipe for well-being. With a training routine set in stone and a flexible vegan diet packed with fruits, veggies, and their go-to protein powder, VidaBirdman, these sisters practice what they preach. “We eat the rainbow,” they say, and it shows. Their hair, which they humorously dub their "best physical feature," has flourished since going vegan, growing stronger and shinier.

As for the physical activities that keep them feeling alive? It’s all about balance. Gym sessions, walking their dog Leon, meditation, and, of course, dancing are essential parts of their wellness routine. Whether they're sculpting muscles or clearing their minds, movement is their love language.

For any woman struggling to love her body, the Om Twins offer a piece of advice:

"YOU ARE PERFECT."

Seriously, stop comparing yourself to others. They advocate for following only those who make you feel good and unfollowing anyone who doesn’t contribute to your self-love journey. “Don’t feel like you have to change to please someone or fit in. Enjoy your body to the fullest because this moment, right now, is the youngest you’ll ever be."

And if the journey to self-love feels lonely, remember: you're never alone. “Talking about what’s holding you back is important," they say. Whether it’s advice on going vegan or tips for working out, Eileen and Gilian are always happy to help.

Being part of SundayMorningView’s empowering community has been life-changing for the twins. "It's such a moving and beautiful experience to work with people who help women around the world love themselves." Their involvement with SMV has only reinforced their mission to uplift women and remind them of their worth.

Eileen and Gilian—the Om Twins—are a living testament to the transformative power of positivity, self-love, and sisterhood. They're not just rewriting the narrative on beauty—they're flipping the script entirely. And if their journey teaches us anything, it's that loving yourself, flaws and all, is the most revolutionary act of all.

Follow the Om Twins: @om_twiins

y name is Romy Dya,

I’m from the Netherlands, 33 years old, I’m a mom of two boys of 11 and 13, I’m an artist, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur. This is my story about my self love journey and my experience and thoughts about plastic surgery.

I’ve always struggled with loving myself. People around me always told me I was fat and I used to be so ashamed of myself. I was never the skinniest girl and I always had wide hips and big thighs. Which is now being seen as ‘thick’ or ‘curvy’. After my two pregnancies I got stretch marks, more cellulite and loose skin around my stomach. I couldn’t even look in the mirror because I really ‘hated’ the way my body looked, especially my stomach. I always thought people would look at me and would say hurtful things about me because I thought I was ugly and fat. I cared so much about other people’s opinions. Especially in the music scene. In the music scene you constantly have to prove yourself. They’re constantly judging the way you look, what you sound like and test you if you’re strong enough.

A couple of years ago I lost a lot of weight and I was at my most skinniest self. I thought losing all that weight would make me feel so happy, because I could finally wear a lot of things that I was never able to wear. I had a lot of attention and people said I looked so good since I lost weight. But I still wasn’t happy. In fact, I felt even more empty. So I began to do some soul searching and realized that happiness starts from within. I had to face traumatic experiences from the past and had to process everything and forgive myself. I learned to listen more to my intuition and learned to follow my heart. Step by step though.

In 2018 I broke up with my ex after 12 years. After all those years I realized that we were never going to make eachother happy. The main reason was that I never loved myself enough. I loved him more than I ever loved myself. Although deep inside I actually knew that we didn’t belong together, but we had two kids so I did everything I could to make it work. 

From the moment we broke up I chose me and booked a ticket to LA in the middle of the night without any luggage to follow my heart and pursue my music career. I hoped that there still was a chance to let our relationship work but the love was gone. He saw it as the most selfish act ever, because I left him alone with the kids for 3 weeks. But I wanted to show him that I could turn my dream into reality and we would all benefit from it. 

Going to LA was the best choice I’ve ever made in my life, because that’s when I finally started to love myself cause I chose me. I hit rockbottom a couple of times after I came back from LA and the last two years were my toughest years ever. But I could finally make a living out of music and I practiced self love. I started to meditate and be conscious of my mindset and my surroundings. I’ve learned to trust myself, to follow my intuition and to be kind to myself. As cheesy as it sounds, because I’ve heard therapists saying this all the time, but since I looked in front of the mirror and started telling myself: ‘you’re strong, you’re beautiful and you got this’ my life started to change in a good way and more blessings came my way. And don’t get me wrong and I’m not saying that my life became easier but I felt so much more grounded. I started to glow from the inside out.

In January this year I’ve made the choice to do a mommy makeover. My breasts looked like two empty teabags and my stomach looked like a kangaroo’s pouch. Yup, I’m just being brutally honest but that doesn’t mean I didn’t love them. Because before I did this whole mommy makeover I wanted to love and accept my flaws. Cause I knew that if I would change my body for the wrong reasons I would still be unhappy. So I really had to ask myself why do I want to do this? Well, I wanted this because I wanted the best for me and feel more confident. YES, I DID IT FOR ME AND NOBODY ELSE. I also wanted it to look as natural as possible. So I told the surgeon to follow my natural curves. Funny thing is that even before the surgery people thought that my body was fake. Especially because of the wide hips. And no, I don’t need no validation anymore. I already was confident before the surgery but now I feel more confident to wear a bikini or to wear that skintight dress that was hanging in my closet for such a long time. I feel more confident to jump on stage whenever it will be allowed again to perform. 

And yes, with a surgery like that you also have people that will say that I’m fake. But to be honest I don’t care about people’s opinions. It doesn’t hurt me anymore. When people are saying something hurtful to me to bring down my self esteem I tell them to love themselves a little more and that I still got love for them. Because most of the time when people are saying stuff like that, they are just projecting their insecurities on you. I used to be like that too and I always wanted to look like somebody else. 

I still have my stretch marks and my cellulite that I used to hate but now I see it as art. And NO, I don’t want to promote plastic surgery at all. Especially if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. If you do it, do it for yourself and nobody else. 

I think this whole self love journey is so important to share because my world has changed in a positive way. Not because of the surgery. No, I don’t love myself more because of the surgery. I started loving myself before the surgery and really wanted to create the best inner version of myself. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my ups and downs. But one thing I keep telling myself when I’m doubting myself (and yup here comes the cheesy but really effective part) is: ‘you’re strong, you’re beautiful and you got this’. It really works. I became my own best friend. So please, if you’re still struggling with loving yourself please start to look in the mirror and tell yourself the above mentioned.

Here is a beautiful song Romy wrote for SMV, hope you enjoy it as much as we love it!! Keep a look out for it in her newest album coming out soon!

If you want to follow me or you want to more about my music, go and follow:

Instagram: @romydya

Twitter: @romydya

Facebook: @romydyamusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gWzmnHTLNXz5CjOc0wAuK?si=GXUNHu1tTmqoov3SOdXHhw

y journey with stretch marks and cellulite began in middle school, during what should have been the carefree days of adolescence.

I was always the kid who could eat whatever she wanted without gaining a pound, but everything changed during eighth grade. A family spring break trip to Mexico led to a sudden 15-pound weight gain, primarily on my hips and thighs. With this weight gain came stretch marks and cellulite, and I vividly remember asking my mom when they would go away. The answer, of course, was never.

At that time, I didn't grasp that these marks were simply part of growing up. Stretch marks and cellulite felt like unwelcome intrusions on my body, but it took years for me to understand that they were normal and part of my unique journey. They connected me to countless other women who experienced the same changes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the future of photography and modeling seemed uncertain, I decided to explore this new digital era of self-expression. Our FaceTime photoshoot was a liberating experience, allowing me to capture my beauty in a raw, unfiltered way from the comfort of home.

Later, after relocating to LA, we dived into a photoshoot that captured the vibrant and dynamic essence of my new chapter. For Part 1 of our shoot, click here. This LA session wasn’t just about crafting stunning images; it was a celebration of every mark and dimple, reflecting the evolution of my personal journey.

Society often portrays stretch marks and cellulite as flaws, but I've learned that these marks are not something to hide but to embrace. They are symbols of my shared human experience, connecting me to others and fostering empathy and understanding.

One crucial lesson I've learned is to treat myself with the same kindness I would offer a friend.

When looking in the mirror, imagine speaking to someone you care deeply about. Would you criticize them for a dimple or a blemish? Probably not. Instead, you'd highlight their strengths and beauty. Apply this same compassion to yourself. Focus on what you love about yourself and speak kindly, and you'll gradually stop fixating on perceived flaws.

No one notices that tiny dimple on your thigh except you; they’re too busy admiring your fabulous new outfit. No one sees that barely-there zit near your nose; they only notice the glow from your recent adventures. And that double chin that appears when you laugh? It's a testament to your joy and a radiant smile.

See yourself through the same lens of kindness you extend to others. Celebrate your stretch marks and cellulite as part of your unique journey and recognize that you are more beautiful than you could ever imagine. In the end, it's not about erasing imperfections but about embracing your true self and finding beauty in every mark of your journey.

This journey of self-acceptance is ongoing and evolving, just like our bodies. Embrace the moments of vulnerability as opportunities for growth, and allow yourself to feel proud of how far you’ve come.

Each mark on your body tells a story of resilience, change, and the beautiful chaos of living fully.

Remember, your self-worth is not defined by your appearance but by the kindness, courage, and authenticity you bring into the world. So, step into your power with confidence, and let your unique story shine through every curve and dimple.

f I had a pound for every time someone had commented on my make up - or lack of - I’d be a much richer woman. 

I’ve gone from being a person you wouldn’t catch strolling around the supermarket without a full face on, to someone who rarely reaches for the foundation anymore - but if there is one thing that has remained consistent, it’s the need of society to tell me whatever I choose to do is wrong. 

The more make-up you wear, the less human you seem and suddenly winged liner and a painted lip means you’re now just an object. Some one who’s ‘craving male attention’ or ‘trying too hard’. You wipe it off and you’re no longer classed as ‘put together’ - instead you’re “letting yourself go” or not making enough effort. 

Yet both have been said to be ‘unprofessional’ in the work place, but neither are accepted in the gym.

If you are prone to spots it’s assumed that you just have dirty skin, but you are expected to block your pores with the highest coverage concealer. You want to leave your face bare to allow your skin to heal? Sorry society doesn’t want to see it, but they want you to do something about the spots though.. 

I could go on and on listing the endless contradictions that are thrown at us on a daily basis, because unfortunately we live in a society full of people who will have an opinion on absolutely everything you are doing. You’re dammed if you do, and you’re shamed if you don’t. 

It’s a natural human tendency to want to gain others’ approval, but we MUST stop, take our own power and control back, kind words to yourself is the ONLY validation you need. 

It’s time to start to focussing on what makes YOU feel good, instead of what is pleasing to everyone else’s eye.. 

It’s time to do YOU for YOU ladies!“

Kindest regards 

Charlotte - @charlottepeirce_

Stretch marks tell a beautiful story about your body that is extremely unique to you! ⁣Stretch marks show that our bodies are capable of surviving incredible change. Here are 7 reasons you should embrace and love your stretch marks! ⁣

1: Everyone has them! ⁣No matter your weight, height, size, or body shape, everyone has stretch marks!
2: They are incredibly cute!
3: Our bodies are supposed to change, and the changes our bodies go through are incredible! From puberty to rapid muscle growth to pregnancy, the female body is something to be celebrated as it is truly amazing!
4: They come in a range of different colors and sizes! ⁣
5: Each stretch mark is unique to you! ⁣
6: Gaining weight isn’t anything to be ashamed of. Gaining weight doesn’t make you any less beautiful or worthy than you are. Your weight does not define you!
7: They are an artwork of your body! Nobody’s stretch marks look the same, so they are your own personal, unique artwork! Your body is a beautiful canvas, and every stretch mark is a work of art!

Stretch marks are normal, natural, and beautiful! They deserve to be celebrated and embraced. Stretch marks are a daily reminder that our bodies are incredible and capable of some really cool things! Give your stretch marks some extra love today — they deserve it!

hen Karlo Gomez set up a FaceTime photoshoot with Ericka Jane Link, fresh off another FaceTime photoshoot with Alyssa Ross, we knew magic was about to happen. Ericka's natural beauty and free spirit practically leaped off the screen, making the shoot a mesmerizing dance between spontaneity and raw authenticity. Ericka embraced the intimacy of being captured in her personal space, showing the world that confidence comes from within, and makeup is definitely optional. The result was a glowing reminder that sometimes, the best beauty is the kind that’s unfiltered and unapologetic.

Ericka’s journey to confidence is a lesson in self-acceptance. Her advice to girls struggling with self-esteem is simple yet profound: whatever you do, whether you choose to follow the crowd or stand out, you’ve got to love it. If you don’t love what you’re doing or how you’re living, it’s time for a change. Confidence, after all, is about being true to yourself.

For Ericka, ditching makeup became part of her self-love journey. She found power in showing off the insecurities she once tried to hide—her skin, her realness. By embracing her natural face, she’s helping other girls realize they don’t need a full face of foundation to feel beautiful. Confidence doesn’t need to come with concealer; sometimes it’s just about owning your skin as it is.

Mainstream media didn’t make it easy. For years, Ericka—like so many of us—was bombarded with images that defined beauty as size 0, flawless skin, and symmetrical features. But times are changing. Companies are starting to embrace the beauty of imperfections—acne, stretch marks, cellulite—and in doing so, they’re showing millions of girls that real beauty isn’t about perfection. Ericka knows this firsthand. It’s refreshing to see beauty redefined and plastered on billboards and ads that celebrate the authenticity of being a woman.

Ericka hasn’t yet experienced stretch marks or cellulite, but she’s ready to love her body when those natural changes come. She believes that when your body changes, whether it's adding a few pounds or gaining marks from growth, it’s just a new chapter in your personal story—one to be loved and embraced just like the others.

Her message to girls struggling to love their bodies? Stop obsessing over every little detail. You don’t need to stand inches from the mirror, analyzing every pore or imagining your body as something it’s not. Instead, find what makes you unique and celebrate it until you can’t help but fill your head with positive thoughts. Over time, you’ll pass by a mirror and smile at the reflection staring back at you.

Ericka also believes in the power of daily self-love rituals. Each morning, she starts with affirmations—genuine, loving praises about her body and her face. It’s a simple habit, but it sets the tone for the rest of the day. She wears clothes that make her feel good, whether they’re oversized or form-fitting, and she embraces her choices. To her, self-love isn’t just about what you see in the mirror; it’s about what you tell yourself in your mind. The things you don’t say—those negative thoughts you stop from creeping in—have just as much impact on your overall mentality and actions. Fill your mind with love and graciousness, not just for yourself but for those around you, and your confidence will radiate.

At the end of the day, Ericka believes that everyone deserves to feel sexy—whether you’re in lingerie or an oversized T-shirt. Confidence is sexy. When you’re comfortable in your own skin, that confidence shines through. And yes, for those who think taking photos in your underwear is “wrong,” Ericka has a reminder: if wearing a bikini is fine, then why shouldn’t lingerie be, too?

SundayMorningView has given her a platform to see that many women face the same struggles. The beauty of being part of the SMV community is realizing that we don’t have to Photoshop our flaws away. In fact, it’s about flaunting them. Ericka’s FaceTime shoot, with no makeup and nothing to hide, is a celebration of that very concept—real beauty, imperfections and all, right there for the world to see.

And yes, she feels HOT doing it. Confidence, after all, is contagious.

Until next time, don’t forget to check out Ericka’s journey on Instagram @ErickaJane5. Because beauty, as she shows us, is about embracing yourself exactly as you are.

think one of the most important things I’ve learned from @skinonsundays is that people have body issues, even when you think they don’t. I could be working with someone I see as super in shape, and they’ll tell me to be careful with which angles I’m taking their picture from. They don’t want to look fat, they don’t want to look ugly, and they don’t want others to see what they consider to be their flaws. They ask me to remove stretch marks and cellulite. They want their waist to look thinner. They want a million things, and I’m standing there thinking, Wow, are you kidding? You think you need that??? I know it stems from the photoshopping/airbrushing culture where we hold ourselves to these standards that don’t even exist in reality. Uff.

Anyway, I made this with an amazing, thoughtful, and daring photographer @el.magiciann a couple of weeks ago because I wanted to comment on this situation. Maybe we look in the mirror and think we are ugly. Maybe we don’t, but still, there’s always something. Maybe we think certain angles of ourselves are ugly, or we hate the way the stretch marks on our thighs look (I’ve dealt with this a lot myself). No matter who I’ve worked with—writing about them and taking their pictures—it’s clear that the majority, if not all, of people have trouble with their appearance in one way or another. Little do we know that beating ourselves up over it actually makes it worse and does nothing to change how we look.

In fact, the biggest way to change how we look is by accepting who we are, acknowledging that this is how we look, and loving ourselves regardless of anything. Our confidence has a huge influence on how we appear to others—actual, bona fide confidence. I know that if you’re fat, you can lose weight to change your appearance, or if you have a crooked nose or small boobs, you can get plastic surgery to change these things, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Do what you do, and do it for the right reasons—because it’s important to you for something real, not something fleeting.

Honestly, though, nothing you do on the outside matters if you keep telling yourself you’re ugly. Believing you’re beautiful is really important. It makes the world better, you know? I’m pretty sure every woman—and maybe every person—who looks at their body finds “flaws.” That includes the people who many of us think are perfect. They find things they don’t like too, and it’s because we are all trained by society to think this way. Consumerism benefits from us finding “ugly” things in ourselves.

But we can retrain our brains to fight this. Every time I get the urge to criticize what I see when I look in the mirror, I push those thoughts out and replace them with a compliment instead. If my brain tries to tell me my nose is crooked and ugly, I tell myself that my crooked nose is unique and striking. My crooked nose is part of what makes me beautiful, just as all of your so-called flaws are part of what makes you beautiful too.

f I could go back in time to the first day I ever created my Instagram account,

I'd tell myself to hold off for a couple of years - I have some inner work to do first.

Growing up in the late 90's I feel lucky to have experienced some of my childhood growing up without social media at all. It was introduced into my life as a teen rather than me completely growing-up on it, which is what I think a lot of younger people experience now. As well as this, I feel like I've watched a complete evolution of Instagram from an app I'd use once in a rare while, to it turning into a route to fame for some or a savvy business tool for others.

However, despite the positive attributes of the platform, I've definitely experienced seeing a darker side of its use emerge too.

With millions of people using the platform all across the globe, a lot of harmful comparisons can occur. We are given an open window into other people's lives that we don't even have to pay for. Inevitably, this also makes way for harmful comparison to easily arise from everything including body shapes, jobs, diets... lives! And it's only in the past couple of years I've really understood that not everything I see online is real.

This is a particularly important thing I need to remind myself when I start to get thoughts of body comparing creep in. 

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but there have been many times I have sat and scrolled through Instagram-model accounts wishing I could look like them or have clearer skin like them or even whiter teeth like theirs. For so long I thought I was the problem.

Little did I know I was so, so wrong.

For a while, I have known about photo editing apps, but in all honesty, I just thought they could change the brightness of the image, smooth out a few blemishes and that was about it. However, I had no idea that some of them are quite insidious in that they allow you to warp your body into something it isn't.

This is so completely wrong and personally, I don't think they should even be legal.

I share posts like I have here

where I record the process of using the editing app *not* (read: never) as a tutorial but rather as a warning sign of just how shockingly easy it is to do.

If I, someone who has never taken an editing course in my life can do this in the comfort of my living room, imagine what a pro photographer could do! The thought alone is terrifying!

To everyone reading this (yes, that means you), I really want to remind you to never, EVER compare yourself to anyone - particularly to an image of someone you see online.

Firstly, you just never know when an image could be edited or not and secondly, even the idea that there is one body type that every single person on the planet should obtain is completely nonsensical.

You are the ONLY you and that is your POWER!

Don't ever feel less than because of a bunch of societal "beauty standards" that are COMPLETELY MADE UP and not true! You are not the problem – periodt.

The world needs your shine right here, right now, exactly as. you. are!

Beautiful, you are so loved beyond measure.

Watch all of these amazing Goddesses move. Remember #MovingIsHealing

Just Tap the play button on each video to watch, we have also attached the music link to each video for you to dance along to, record and tag us so we can share your beauty! 🍑❤️

Shenseea - Blessed (feat. Tyga) (Official Music Video)

Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker

Jidenna - Sou Sou (Audio)

ROSALÍA & Travis Scott - TKN (Official Video)

Dean Martin - Sway

Nestreya - Number One (feat Timaya & Eddy Kenzo) [Music Dance Video]

Ráfaga - Una Cerveza (Versión 2018)

Migos - Stir Fry (Official Video)

Kai-Jo feat Maître Oxygène - Carina [Clip officiel]

Paint

Until Next week 💕🤩

Click HERE for last week's Dance Series Video

ave you ever said you were going to do something but didn’t follow through, brushed it off, and pretended like it never happened? Then it happens again… and again… until, before you know it, you're making promises that aren't true and failing to follow through on what you said you would do.

And then when you tell someone something about yourself or what you're going to do, and they just give you that look like, 'Yeah, right, I’ve heard you say that a hundred times, and I still haven’t seen it happen,' you wonder why they don’t trust you. It doesn’t feel like you’ve done anything wrong. At that point, most of us just think, 'Forget it... I’m not even going to try to fix this mess.'

I'm just going to leave this here, walk away, and pretend like it never existed... But let me tell you, messes don’t clean themselves up. There’s something to be accountable for here. You didn’t do what you said you would do. Now the impact is that no one believes a word you say until they see it happen. The only way people will believe in you is when you actually become your word! Whether it's speaking up when something bothers you, losing that weight, saving that money, or embracing the skin you’re in—whatever it is, sister, you can become your word. Stick with me as we dive even deeper.

Sometimes, when you don’t follow through on what you said you would do, it can lead to that little voice in your head telling you to just move on and forget about it. This is where many of us get stuck and stop pursuing what truly matters to us—the things that fill up our self-love cup. Most importantly, it prevents us from knowing ourselves as our word. When you don’t know yourself as your word, you find yourself stuck in many areas of your life, especially in the self-love department. When you’re not your word, you’re typically not doing the things you know you should be doing to continuously fill up your cup.

But let's shift our focus to what really matters here: discovering how to honor your word.

Imagine yourself as your word. Picture yourself as someone who does what they say they will do, follows through on what they know they should do and by when it should be done, and fulfills expectations—even the small ones like showering and taking care of yourself. What would be available to you? What would your world look like if you were always your word, someone known for keeping their promises?

Now, take it a step further. Think about those thoughts—the “I wish I could but I can’t” thoughts, those secret dreams you wouldn’t dare speak of but would transform your life if you were your word even with them. Imagine a world where you honor your word in relation to those thoughts. What would that open up for you?

The secret to living a powerful life, loving the skin you’re in, and being proud of who you are, inside and out, starts with being your word in everything you do. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, but when you want something, you tend to put your word on it, and that’s where it all begins.

Consider the relationships that would open up to you by being your word. Think about what your relationship with yourself would look like if you honored your word and did the things you know you should do for yourself. This is the side of the table you need to sit at if you want to transform into someone known for being their word. You have to stay within what’s possible for you by becoming someone who is known as their word.

Lastly, don’t make yourself wrong along the way. That will only pull you backward. You’re on a path of discovery; you’re going to mess up and make mistakes. But these are important parts of discovering what it’s like to be someone known for their word. Over time, you’ll find that being someone known for their word is much more peaceful than not being so. It just takes time, perseverance, and patience.

In what area(s) have you decided to become someone known for their word? I’d love to hear about your journey! You can find me on Instagram @ambersabourin.

Love Always,
Amberly Sabourin 

e had a chat with Corin Clay about her journey to loving her body, what it was like growing up, and how her views have changed over time. We all go through these struggles and are constantly battling with ourselves. It’s so important to learn from others, as it helps us on our own journey to self-love.

"I’ve learned to own my stripes and polka dots. Growing up, I always hated the way I was shaped. My hips were wide, and my thighs were jiggly. Most of the other girls in my grade were thin, and everyone was obsessed with being thin. In gym class, they would grab their small thighs and complain about how 'big' they were, while I would just awkwardly smile and remain quiet, wishing my thighs were thin. I was afraid to wear a bathing suit because my body was so developed, and I had stretch marks all over. I think every girl goes through a phase like this because commercial beauty teaches us that perfect women have no cellulite or stretch marks. But now I’ve grown to realize that cellulite is NORMAL."

Stretch marks are NORMAL. Not only are they normal, but they’re beautiful. I love my body and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

"Women are like snowflakes; no two are alike. It’s a part of what makes me ME. So here they are ✨☺️"

To see more of Corin, say hello on her IG @ohheycori

DON’T LET YOUR MIND BULLY YOUR BODY

I believe that society has long told us that our bodies aren’t “good enough.” As women, we’ve been pushed to seek validation and acceptance, pressured to achieve an almost unattainable body type to be considered "NORMAL" in this world. These misconceptions become reality in our own minds, leading us to bully our bodies. We end up believing that our beautiful selves are not worthy of love and happiness, when, in fact, we all are. We force ourselves to live in negativity and convince ourselves that we’re not good enough.

THAT STOPS NOW!

Here are 5 daily affirmations every woman should say to herself:

1. I vow to love myself in my entirety.
2. I will appreciate everything my body does for me on the inside without needing to ask it.
3. I will acknowledge my negative thoughts, understand what they’re trying to tell me, and address them head-on—rather than suppressing them and opening up bigger wounds.
4. I will be more accepting of my vulnerabilities, as this will only make me stronger.
5. I will continue to show up, speak up, and DO BETTER for myself.

Please join me on this beautiful journey to loving yourself! ❤️

e are born into the world as nothing—pure, innocent beings that have yet to become someone. We are raised with the principles and values of many generations of our family and shaped by what’s happened to us along the way. Everything that has happened to us up to this point has molded and shaped us into the people we are right now: the good, the bad, and the in-between.

Many of us recognize these traits in ourselves and even see ways in which we are completely different from our families. These are the ways we’ve become who we are from what’s happened to us. Some of us conform to our family’s ways, while others rebel and choose a completely opposite path. Some of us use our family’s past as motivation to create a new way of being and break the cycle, while others feel compelled to repeat the past and follow in their footsteps.

What most of us don’t realize is that we have a say in how the present and future unfold. It does not have to mirror the past. Easier said than done, right? The reality is, if we don’t want the past to repeat itself, we need to become present to how the past has served us. It will remain the same unless we decide to break that cycle and create and fulfill a new way of being. All of these ways serve us in both positive and negative ways, with some being more positive and others more negative.

As for myself, one way I’ve become is stubborn. There are times when being stubborn serves me and times when it disservices me and causes some form of upset. The way that stands out most is how I always got my way growing up, and now I do whatever it takes to get my way. This makes me a powerful force of nature, someone that almost anyone will say yes to. On the other hand, some people say yes to me for all the wrong reasons, which is disheartening. As someone who is also very lovable, it breaks my heart to know that people may say yes to me because of my stubbornness. In these moments of being disheartened, I wonder if this is a way of being I want to carry forward or if there is an opportunity to be different in situations like these, empowering others to say yes to me because they want to, not because I am stubborn and always get what I want.

As we grow, we will discover new ways we’ve become and decide whether to continue living that way or create a new way of being. We will encounter conflict with family and friends as we adopt this new way of being, and that is completely okay. Give them the space to adapt and accept you for your new way of being. It will take them twice as long to adjust as it did for you. Give yourself the space to fully adapt to this new way of being. When times get tough, remind yourself of the choice you made to let go of the old way of being and the disservice it caused to you and those you love. Remind yourself of what’s possible from creating this new way of being.

The way you’ve become does not have to define who you are today. You can powerfully choose to be whoever you want to be today, tomorrow, and always. Go out there, choose, live, and be free from your past.

I want to acknowledge Landmark Worldwide and all their teachings, which introduced many conversations and became the clearing I needed to discover the way I’ve become.

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Love Always,
Amberly 

started growing love for my stretch marks in 2014.

a couple of years after giving birth to my son.

My journey had a pretty rocky start. I had no sources of inspiration and no clue how to begin. However, since then, many things have changed, and now I see stretch marks everywhere I turn.

Stretch marks are favorably mentioned in songs.

They are adorned with glitter in the name of art and empowerment. Movements have even been created to celebrate their existence. It’s safe to say that the representation of real bodies is shaking up the world in the best way possible.

Yet, the desire to hide them still lingers for many.

If this is you, then these tips are for you!

Honestly, I get it. Years of unrealistic beauty standards have taught us to view stretch marks as something that could 'ruin' our physical beauty. The idea that stretch marks can be beautiful and sexy is still a relatively new sentiment, but it is 100% true!

Allow me to help you see this realization. Throughout the years of learning to build my confidence, I've discovered multiple practices. The following tips will help you shift your perspective, celebrate, and normalize the beautiful marks on your body. Let's begin!

Be willing to cultivate a loving relationship with your stretch marks. It’s important to start here because love can only flourish where it is wanted. It works like any other relationship in life. I don’t think any of us have witnessed a thriving one-sided relationship. Only you can start this journey on a solid foundation, and it is as simple as wanting love to live within each mark.

Let yourself (and your stretch marks) know that you are committed to working on accepting them wholeheartedly.Then allow this commitment to drive you into action. You will be more motivated to find different ways of embracing them once you’ve officially announced your dedication. You can do this by writing it out and/or verbally announcing it to yourself in the mirror. Better yet, make a video to document the day. It will be something nice to look back at later on in your journey.

Give your stretch marks an alternative name to help. I’ve found that the moment I declared my stretch marks as "Tiger Stripes," I instantly felt more willing to accept them. By breaking up with the term "stretch marks," I got rid of my negative thought pattern. I no longer associated them with stretch mark removal creams, which ultimately made me think about the lack thereof on models. I began to think of tigers and how fierce and powerful they are. So, choose words that don’t remind you of your current thoughts but instead spark your empowerment.

Practice shifting your perspective. The most common and effective way is to express your thoughts about your tiger stripes in a manner that allows you to view them in a positive light. For example, I used to be quick to say, “I wish I was lucky enough to not get stretch marks from pregnancy.” Then, I eventually learned to say things like, “I am lucky enough to have these marks because my baby grew as he should have.” It’s true and more meaningful. It helped me connect to their purpose, making them beautiful to me.

I know you’re probably thinking, “But what if mine aren’t pregnancy related?” This tip is still valid no matter the cause of your stretch marks. They are a symbol of growth. Instead of attaching that growth to the physical growth of your body, try attaching them to what you’ve overcome since the time they first appeared. This will make it easier to love because they will represent your story and not just a mark you were taught not to want.

Look at them often to promote normalization. Spend more time in the mirror, take pictures of them, and even consider turning them into glitter art that you can put on your phone as wallpaper. The point is to get rid of the shock factor and accept them as a part of your beauty. Trust me, after thousands of photos in celebration of my tiger stripes, I couldn’t and don’t want to imagine myself without them.

Ask yourself the hard questions by starting with the most basic question, “Why don’t I love my stretch marks?”List your reasons and be sure to explain why. You’ll want to continue to explain why until you’ve exhausted all possible thoughts. Be like the little kid who always asks why no matter what is being said. This will make you aware of the underlying issue(s) that need to be addressed.

Create an intimate session for your stretch marks that you do routinely. By making a conscious effort to show physical love to your stretch marks, you help deepen the bond you have with them. These sessions can include mindful massages where you hydrate them with your favorite oil, or spoken affirmations while you trace your finger over where they adorn your body. Intimacy is key to keeping you excited about the love you are creating. Make it fun or make it sexy, but most importantly, make it true to you, and you can’t go wrong.

Keep it realistic. Know that this love will not grow overnight. Take your time and have patience, but continue to work on the relationship. Remember that not every day will be easy, but each day will be noted as a part of your story. Every moment is important in making you who you are.

The process of self-love reveals everything you’ve been keeping tucked away. It may sound scary, but it’s a beautiful growth experience that you won’t regret. I encourage you to use the tips I’ve shared to jumpstart your journey. If you want more tips and guidance, I’d love to support you along the way. I am set to release my Body Love Guide in early September, where I break down the above tips, plus many more, into individual practices. Simply connect with me on Instagram @talmeshak.

Xo

Talmesha Keonna

Self love Photoshoot

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e all need inspiration, and what better way to get it than through some great movies? Grab your popcorn and kick up your feet, because these films are sure to keep you glued to your TV.

Enjoy❤️

1) Dor

Storyline

One reviewer explains the storyline: "Shankar Singh and his wife, Meera, live in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, along with their widowed paternal grandmother, Laxmibai, his mother, Gowri, and father, Randhir. The family feels blessed after Meera's entry into their lives. Shankar must travel abroad to Saudi Arabia, bidding farewell to Meera with a promise to stay in touch. He keeps this promise, sending a large portion of his earnings to help pay off the family's debts. However, when they receive no word from him, a worried Meera calls and is devastated to learn that Shankar has been killed by being thrown from a 10th-floor balcony. Her status quickly changes: her jewelry, ornaments, and fancy clothes are taken away, and she is told to remain indoors, wear dark clothes, and only pray at a Mandir. Things start to brighten for Meera when she befriends an Islamic woman, Zeenat, who has come from Himachal Pradesh to search for her husband, Amir Khan. Shortly thereafter, Meera's world is turned upside down when..."

Written by rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
(Source: IMDb)

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‍2) The Waitress

Storyline

A film by: Adrienne Shelly

Jenna (Russell), a small-town waitress with big dreams, possesses an uncanny gift for baking out-of-this-world pies. Her secret ambition is to win a $25,000 contest so she can leave her obnoxious husband, open her own pie shop, and transform her life. A chance meeting with a handsome newcomer to town might just provide the right ingredients for Jenna to find true happiness.

(Source: The Waitress)

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Watch Trailer Below

‍3) Bridges of Madison County

Storyline

World-traveling National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid and Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson aren’t looking to turn their lives upside down. Each is at a point in life where expectations are behind them. Yet, four days after they meet, neither wants to let go of the love they’ve found.

(Source: Bridges of Madison County)

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Watch Trailer Below

4) The Color Purple

Storyline

One reviewer says, "This film follows the life of Celie, a young black girl growing up in the early 1900's. The first time we see Celie, she is 14 - and pregnant - by her father. We stay with her for the next 30 years of her tough life." - Written by Colin Tinto <cst@imdb.com>

(source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088939/ )

Watch Trailer Below

‍5) Terms of Endearment

Storyline

One reviewer says, "Aurora and Emma are mother and daughter who march to different drummers. Beginning with Emma's marriage, Aurora shows how difficult and loving she can be. The movie covers several years of their lives as each finds different reasons to go on living and find joy. Aurora's interludes with Garrett Breedlove, a retired astronaut and next-door neighbor, are quite striking. In the end, different people show their love in very different ways."— Written by John Vogel jlvogel@comcast.net(Source: IMDB)

Watch Trailer Below

‍6) Erin Brokovich

Storyline

One reviewer says, "Erin Brockovich-Ellis is an unemployed single mother, desperate to find a job but having no luck. Her losing streak extends to a failed lawsuit against a doctor from a car accident she was in. With no alternative, she successfully browbeats her lawyer into giving her a job as compensation for the loss. Despite her trashy clothes and earthy manners causing others to dismiss her, that soon changes when she begins investigating a suspicious real estate case involving the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. She discovers that the company is quietly buying land contaminated by hexavalent chromium, a deadly toxic waste they are improperly dumping and poisoning the local residents. As Erin digs deeper, she becomes the leading force in one of the biggest class action lawsuits in American history against a multi-billion-dollar corporation."— Written by Kenneth Chisholm kchishol@execulink.com(Source: IMDB)

Watch Trailer Below

8) Amelie

Storyline

One reviewer says, "Amélie is a story about a girl named Amélie whose childhood was overshadowed by her father's mistaken concerns about a heart defect. These concerns led to Amélie having minimal real-life contact with others, causing her to retreat into a fantastical world of her own dreams of love and beauty. As a young woman, she moves to central Paris and works as a waitress. After finding a lost treasure belonging to a former occupant of her apartment, she decides to return it to him. Witnessing his reaction and newfound perspective inspires her to dedicate her life to the people around her, including her father, who is obsessed with his garden gnome; a failed writer; a hypochondriac; a man who stalks his ex-girlfriends; a 'ghost'; a suppressed young soul; the love of her life; and a man with brittle bones. However, as she becomes consumed by these escapades, she realizes that she is neglecting her own life and jeopardizing her quest for love."— Written by spragg_s(Source: IMDB)

Watch Trailer Below

‍9) Cries and Whispers

Storyline

One reviewer says, "In turn-of-the-century Sweden, cancer-stricken, dying Agnes is visited in her isolated rural mansion by her sisters Karin and Maria. As Agnes' condition deteriorates and pain management becomes increasingly more difficult, fear and revulsion grip the sisters, who seem incapable of empathy, and Agnes' only comfort and solace comes from her maid Anna. As the end draws closer, long repressed feelings of grudging resentment and mistrust cause jealousy, selfishness, and bitterness between the siblings to surface." Written by duke1029

(Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069467/ )

Watch Trailer Below

‍10) Juno

Storyline

One reviewer says, "A tale told over four seasons, starting in autumn when Juno, a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota, discovers she's pregnant after one event in a chair with her best friend, Bleeker. In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-sharp Juno decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple. She finds one in the PennySaver personals, contacts them, tells her dad and step-mother, and carries on with school. The chosen parents, upscale yuppies (one of whom is cool and laid back, the other meticulous and uptight), meet Juno, sign papers, and the year unfolds. Will Juno's plan work, can she improvise, and what about Bleeker?" Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

(Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467406/?ref_=tt_sims_tti )

Watch Trailer Below

‍13) Eat, Pray, Love

Storyline

Sony Pictures says, "Liz Gilbert (Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - a husband, a house, a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali." Written by Sony Pictures

(Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0879870/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 )

Watch Trailer Below

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ake a moment to think about a time you’ve embraced your partner. Did you focus on their stomach? Did you think about their “rolls”? Did you have any negative thoughts about their body? That’s EXACTLY how they think about your body. They don’t have the same critical thoughts about your body that you do. They genuinely love every single inch of you and wish you would too!

In the early days of our relationship, I would NEVER let my husband touch my stomach. When he tried, I would quickly hold his hand instead or instinctively move it away.

Our insecurities can feel so DEAFENING. We assume that those close to us hear the same critical voice we do. It can be hard to understand that someone who sees us in our most intimate moments does not see the same ‘flaws’ we perceive.

Over the years, my husband has shared his own struggles with his body—struggles I’ve never noticed. When I look at him, I see the man I love, someone who makes me feel eternally worthy, and someone I can’t imagine a single second without.

It’s taken time, but I now realize he LOVES my stomach. Not just my stomach, but every part of me. He’s never understood why I thought for even a second that he wouldn’t.

Only WE see our insecurities, so it’s up to us not to let them control us. It pains me to think of the tender moments I missed out on because of something that existed only in my mind!

It takes time and patience to realize that these ‘imperfections’ are only in your head. It’s important to accept that your partner views your beautiful body just as you view theirs—with LOVE.

Don’t waste any more time rejecting the idea that your partner loves you just as you are. Embrace their adoration for your body and let it feed into the confidence you truly deserve! And who knows? Eventually, you just might start to love it too.

💕 Love,
Georgina x
Say hello on Insta [@georginacoxpersonaltraining]

appy Sunday and happy podcast day!!!!

My name is Lahnee Land

On today’s episode I am joined by Editor in Chief, Photographer and Founder of LA based Self Love magazine, @sundaymorningview @karlogomez
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Karlo and I get into what its like to be a man in a women’s world – what it meant for him to create a magazine dedicated to self-empowerment for women, and how he came from Politics to Photography to Publishing.⠀
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We talk about how SMV is changing the game when it comes to showcasing the natural beauty of women – no makeup, no editing, no filters just real, raw beauty and accentuating that, not covering it up! We get raw about the core values at SMV and how it is all about teaching women to say “I’m beautiful without the makeup, my stretch marks are special and I’m amazing!” Making women look and feel like art!⠀
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We dive deep into body image and the body positivity movement and what that means for the women who engage with SMV, how they are shifting the narrative for women to one of acceptance and love. ⠀
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We chat sexuality and how showing skin is ok, being you is ok, taking photos for YOU so you learn to see yourself in the most beautiful light possible is OK, appreciating you as you are, is OK. ⠀
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Karlo talks about the SMV Friday dance videos! What are they, and how they have become a viral hit? And he shares where the unique name Sunday Morning View came from? Hint, it’s a really cool story.⠀
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Finally, Karlo tells us how SMV are actively involved in the BLM Movement and ending racism within the publishing industry. ⠀
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Join me in Lahnee Land every Sunday for new episodes, amazing guests & candid conversations about anything and everything from sex to parenthood, body image, health, culture, world issues, well-being and much more. ⠀⠀
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If you like what you hear, please subscribe to my channel, leave me a review, and show me some love! Take a screen shot, share your favourite episodes with your family, friends, and tag me on Instagram!⠀⠀
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Until next time. Link is in my bio, so Happy listening!

TAP HERE TO LISTEN

Here is what Karlo had to say in last week's post

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n an era where our smartphones are as integral to our lives as our morning coffee, the FaceTime photoshoot has emerged as a digital canvas for self-expression and creativity. This trend is more than just a novelty; it's a liberating experience that turns your everyday space into a top notch studio, with the added bonus of immediate, unfiltered results. During the tumultuous times of COVID-19, when the future of photography and modeling seemed uncertain, FaceTime photoshoots provided a fresh, inventive way to capture beauty amidst the chaos. If you haven’t yet dipped your toes into this new wave of photography, you’re in for a treat.

Recently, we had the privilege of exploring this phenomenon with the incredibly talented Alyssa Ross, whose presence on Instagram and TikTok (@Alyssa.g.ross) continues to dazzle and inspire. Alyssa's latest FaceTime photoshoot with the gifted Head Photographer and Founder Karlo Gomez was a testament to how this innovative approach can redefine beauty and self-expression.

The experience was nothing short of magical.

“The shoot was an absolute blast,”

Alyssa reveals. “We had this amazing playlist going, and it felt like I was just hanging out with a friend rather than being in a formal shoot. Karlo made everything so easy and comfortable, which is such a relief when you’re used to feeling nervous around new photographers.”

One of the standout aspects of Alyssa’s shoot was her decision to go makeup-free. In a world that often equates beauty with layers of products, Alyssa’s choice was a refreshing act of defiance.

“Doing a photoshoot without makeup is incredibly empowering,”

she says. “We’re constantly told that we need to be ‘camera-ready’ with a full face of makeup, but seeing yourself in a raw, unfiltered state is truly liberating. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, but that’s where the real magic happens.”

For Alyssa, self-love is a daily practice grounded in the acceptance of impermanence. “I remind myself that everything is temporary—pain, exhaustion, the way my body looks at different times of the day,” she shares. “Things change constantly, and that’s okay. I give myself permission to heal, relax, and even confront my insecurities. It’s important to acknowledge and embrace all parts of yourself, including the challenging ones.”

When it comes to self-love, Alyssa offers a trio of invaluable tips. First, she emphasizes the importance of understanding that everything is temporary. “No matter what you’re going through, it will pass, and you will emerge stronger,” she notes. Second, she advocates for self-reflection. “It’s okay to take time to address and work on the parts of yourself you find challenging. Facing these struggles head-on is the first step toward overcoming them.” Finally, Alyssa encourages making conscious choices that uplift your spirit. “Choose happiness, confidence, and positive energy. Surround yourself with people who enhance your life, and let go of negativity when you can. You have the power to make your life beautiful by being the beauty within it.”

Part 1 of Our Double Dose of FaceTime Photoshoots

"If life doesn’t make you a little uncomfortable, you aren’t doing it right."

Part 2 of Our Double Dose of FaceTime Photoshoots

If you decide to embark on your own FaceTime photoshoot journey, take a cue from Alyssa: embrace the unfiltered, revel in the raw, and celebrate your true self with every shot. This digital renaissance is more than a trend; it’s a celebration of authenticity and self-love. So, grab your phone, find your favorite spot, and let the world see you in all your unadorned glory. After all, beauty knows no bounds—especially in the realm of virtual photography.

Due to our account on Instagram getting multiple Copyright Strikes for uploading videos with copyrighted music, we can no longer post our dance series videos 😕 Bummer!!!

I know!! So, the team and I thought long and hard: "how can we still share all of these talented women dancing?" because so many of you love them! and we found a Solution! 🤩

So here it is!! We have shifted all of the dance videos onto our online magazine for all of you to enjoy.

Watch all of these amazing Goddesses move. Remember #MovingIsHealing

Just Tap the play button on each video to watch, we have also attached the music link to each video for you to dance along to.

DAVÍ - Boarding Call (Armen Miran Remix)

KIKO RODRIGUEZ VAGABUNDO, BORRACHO Y LOCO 1999

Drake - Toosie Slide (Official Music Video)

DaBaby – ROCKSTAR FT RODDY RICCH [Audio]

Taal Se Taal - Taal | Alka Yagnik & Udit Narayan | Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai & Akshaye Khanna

Shakira - Hips don't lie (Mr. Chris Edit) from TikTok

Don Miguelo - Y Que Fue?

Rich The Kid - Plug Walk

DJ ALMIGHTY X BM - KAKA YO (Officiel audio)

Saweetie - My Type (Official Video)

Happy Friday to all you Queens! 👑

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As always Let us know which dance videos you loved most by commenting on our instagram Post HERE

here is a quote that reads, “the hardest relationship one will ever have is with themselves, because you can never walk away from it.” You can’t walk away from yourself when you feel ashamed of your actions. You can’t walk away from yourself when you’re experiencing guilt, or regret. The universal law of correspondence has never been more congruent with the term self love. This law is the everlasting truth that your outer world is nothing more than a reflection of your inner world— as within, so without. Arriving to this truth, may yield a polarity of epiphany and horror within. The most basic reasoning being that you can never again grant your mind permission to cast any internal woes on another’s actions, without your soul feeling fraudulent.

Without this truth, women struggle to solve the puzzling pattern of attracting the wrong men, or people for that matter.  Years of failed relationships ranging from the mere situationship to the committed wound mates plague so many well intentioned, beautiful, intelligent women. The heart adopts multiple wounds with each breakup, and it feels a little more shame, defeat, and broken each go around. Most do not live in that agonizing pain for very long though. unlike physical pain, emotional pain isn’t so easily detected. After some time from a breakup, those wounds can seem undetectable. Many carry on with with their perceived lessons that they learned, and step back into the ring of love hoping the next match will be the last. You may groom yourself to exude independence, intelligence and excellence on the surface. You may develop a BS meter that detects the proverbial douchebag from a mile away. You may mask your insecurities and pain with a perceived confidence, and wit. Or you may wander the other direction of feeling jaded, and resentful— building barriers the size of Everest that prevent anyone from hurting you again. The caveat is that none of these scenarios will suffice when they’re still rooted from a lack of trust within. They will not suffice when they can so easily be triggered by the past emotional wounds left unaddressed. They instead, condition the perfect union with a person in your head, without taking the necessary time to first build the perfect union within yourself.

I say this in hindsight after my own fool proof formula eventually left me paralyzed.

Someone once said they truly believe that every single person has to go through something that absolutely destroys them, in order to find out who they truly are. For me, it was my last heartbreak. I was 2 weeks shy of my 30th birthday, and no amount of pride or resilience could pick me up off the floor. I transitioned periodically through anger, self pitty, resentment, and grief. My egoistic state searched every compartment of my mind for clarity. It searched for a remedy, or new formula. I instead, found a pattern. I discovered a pattern of emotionally detached men that I subconsciously manifested, serving as the mirrored version of everything I continuously suppressed over the span of a decade. Every internal wound I slapped a bandage on manifested. Every attempt to avoid real vulnerability manifested. Every hidden bout of fear, shame and regret manifested. Upon even further analysis was the revelation that the amount of agony felt, was within direct correlation with the grandiose expectations I had for this relationship. Yes love was indeed there, however when someone has gaping wholes of unidentified pain, they often subconsciously rely on the love from others to fill and heal them. Therefore my pain simultaneously reflected heartbreak from a broken union within and without. I not only lost him, I lost me. It was emotional was masochism.

That’s the thing about self love. It always serves as your North Star—whether that be to peace, or chaos. If you cannot fall in love with yourself unconditionally, you can never expect someone else to.

We hear this a lot, but still somehow have a reserved section on Amazon for self help books. What I am coming to discover is that many women like myself, have great difficulty allowing ego to take a back seat to our heart and soul. We live in a world of instant gratification, and log into an app that screams “I’m rich and married!” All over the explorer page daily.

Success is often measured in forms of money, and relationships, and there is immense pressure that comes with that. Along with that, the path to emotional fulfillment and healing is unfathomably strenuous.  However, your internal peace, and comfort within is the most substantial to your foundation before any form of external validation. When discovering and embracing self love, it’s important to understand that it includes the accountability for your shadowy side that you’d rather others not see, just as much as your determined, beautiful, best self presented daily. It is not allowing your pride to subjugate your sensitivity to those external energies that trigger you. It is being honest about what disrupts your peace and cutting the chord to it. It is allowing the world to see that you are not a robot, and do not need to have your next 3 chess moves figured out. Self love is revisiting your childhood innocence, and allowing it to spark joy back into your adulthood. It is nurturing your emotional wounds back to health, then addressing what aided in causing them in the first place. It is full authenticity regardless of what’s perceived acceptable. It is replacing emotional distractions with emotional discipline. Self love is whatever serves as your North Star to your internal alignment and bliss. It is working with your demons, instead of allowing them to control you. It is rising from the ashes as the Phoenix you are. Lack of failure doesn’t make you invincible, pulling yourself back up does. This is why self love is the hardest love you’ll ever experience. You are ever evolving, and ever changing. You will make mistakes, and experience regret. Others will hurt you, and you’ll have to fight to forgive—but there’s no other star in the galaxy that illuminates more than the one within you. You are worthy of your own light. Allow it to shine. As within, so without.

Thank you!!

Nichole

hat self-love means to me:

Self-love means different things to different people. For me, self-love might be looking at myself with bed hair and saying, “Good morning, sexy,” dancing in the rain, going to the gym, spending time with loved ones, squeezing my belly rolls, reading a book, eating some fruit, or just jiggling my butt.

Self-love can be going to the gym, spending time with loved ones, squeezing your belly rolls, reading a book, eating some fruit, or even jiggling your butt.

For me, self-love means not letting other people’s opinions affect me as they once did. My body is my temple, and I am committed to protecting her—both my beautiful, squishy insides and my wobbly outsides.

Self-love means maintaining a positive mindset towards eating food as fuel rather than using it as punishment. It means appreciating every little thing my body does to keep me alive, without any prompting from me.

Developing a healthy perspective on taking care of my body has been a long journey. As a teenager, I cycled through fad diets and extreme starvation, which only led to binge eating and self-sabotage. I constantly compared my body to others, resulting in breakdowns and low self-esteem.

Self-love, for me, has been and will continue to be one of the most significant emotional journeys of my life. Each day brings new feelings and emotions, and I am ready to face them with confidence.

I am grateful for the rolls on my belly because they represent a happy, healthy life. I am grateful for my stretch marks, as they are evidence of my growth as a woman. I am grateful for my cellulite, as it connects me with many amazing women around the world.

I encourage you to practice these three self-love actions every day: 🦋 Remember that you are important and you matter—inside squish and outside jiggle. 🦋 Be mindful of your inner voice—it has more impact than you realize. 🦋 Focus on the qualities you find easy to love and start your self-love journey there.

Remember, everyBODY is worthy in this world.

I love you, I hope you can love you too

Soph x [ @sophthickfitness ]

ey guys!

I don’t know about you, but over the last few months, I have been feeling anything but sexy. Borderline feeling gross.

 I decided to challenge myself and get some lingerie from Montelle Intimates - a Canadian lingerie brand that has been around for 25 years, and that celebrates curves and confidence.

I was so excited when my package of goodies arrived.

When I tried on the bra, I was amazed by how well fitted it was, and also by its comfort. It made the girls look perky and sexy and very welcoming.

No wire digging in my sides, or a strap that didn’t let me move and breathe. I loved it! The undies were also super cute and showcased just enough of my ass to be enticing but still keep you guessing. 

Putting on my new bra and panties was the first time in months that I felt sexy, in touch with my body, and powerful, like the strong woman I am. 

Montelle Intimates is run by powerful, boss women, is size inclusive, and designs lingerie for everyday wear, for women on-the-go.

Comfortable, affordable, classy, and sexy all rolled into one.

As a bigger woman with 40G’s, I struggle to find bras that fit correctly, are cute, and that are comfortable. I have finally found my go-to brand for bras and panties and I couldn’t be more thrilled. 

Mixing fashion and function, Montelle Intimates is definitely a brand to try, especially if you’ve struggled to find comfortable lingerie in the past.

Collections range from everyday essentials, to fancier more special occasions, including bridal collections. Adding new colours every season, things never get dull at Montelle Intimates. 

I highly recommend giving Montelle Intimates a shot. They can be found online, and at 400 fine lingerie boutiques around the USA, Canada, and Europe. 

Helping you bring sexy back. 

Xox

- Talya 

s the weather warms up, remember you don't need to wait until your body meets a certain standard to wear what you love. You deserve to enjoy the clothes you want right now!

I spent most of my teenage and adult life restricting what I wore, telling myself things like, “When I lose weight, I’ll wear this,” or “As soon as my arms are thinner, I’ll wear this.” Even after losing 100 lbs, I still felt I couldn’t wear those clothes. It took me a long time to realize that the real issue was my lack of confidence, not my body. I needed to change my mindset, not my appearance. I wanted to be confident not just for myself, but for the amazing women in my life, including my friends, family, and especially my little sister.

I NEVER want my little sister to see me hiding parts of my body. I never want her to feel like she can’t wear something, and I never want her to waste as many years as I have restricting how confident she feels in her body. I can’t undo the years of my own self-loathing and restriction, but I can do EVERYTHING in my power to ensure she grows up knowing it’s OK to embrace her body exactly as it is, because she sees ME doing it!

Confidence truly can be contagious. Taking steps to accept and embrace yourself can encourage others to do the same! I know now that I will ALWAYS carry more weight on my arms and legs, I will always have stretch marks, and I will always have cellulite. BUT I will continue to wear whatever makes me FEEL GOOD!

I DESERVE to wear the clothes I want to, and so do YOU! Wear whatever makes YOU feel good, regardless of whether or not you feel like you’re “good enough” yet, because you ALWAYS have been enough. Wear whatever makes YOU feel confident, regardless of the size, because your body is NOT defined by a number and neither should your confidence. Wear whatever YOU feel comfortable in, regardless of what anyone else is wearing, because you are dressing YOUR body, for you!

Rock those shorts, that top, that dress, and remind yourself as many times as you need to that summer DOES NOT have a size!

Love,

Georgina 💛 [ @georginacoxpersonaltraining ]

veryone struggles with self love. It is sad, but inevitable. We all experience low points that make us feel like we are not capable of getting out of bed, let alone reminding ourselves how amazing we are. What goes unnoticed is how self love can easily be incorporated into our lives in little habits each day. Simply adding these habits into daily routines will not only improve our moods and outlooks of ourselves, but create healthy habits to pass on to those we love. 

Thanking the Earth for waking you to see another day

‍Going to bed every night and waking up the next day is so normal to us that we do it without much thought. But not everyone is fortunate enough to wake up and see a new day. Even if it is not physically said, thanking mother earth for her gift of another day can be as easy as making your bed, doing some morning stretches, or reading a chapter of your favorite book. Letting yourself feel grateful that you get to have another morning and taking the time to relish in it reminds you to slow down and appreciate yourself.

Dedicate time to your passions

‍It’s very easy to lose motivation in the hustle and bustle of life, but there should always be time to focus on what makes your heart soar. When we find ourselves in a career that simply looks better on paper, we tend to forget about our passions. Dedicating an hour or simply thirty minutes can make your day so much better. Going for a jog, mastering a new recipe, or watching a tutorial on embroidery can bring positivity to dull routines and even give you something to look forward to.

Take time to wind down

When long days come to an end, there's nothing better than pulling the covers up and going to sleep,

nighttime calming masks be damned. But winding down is key to not dreading what tomorrow holds. Listening to calming music while brushing your teeth, drinking a cup of chamomile as you wrap your hair, even burning incense or lighting a candle (as long as you blow it out!) will help your sleep patterns in a tremendous way. Everything requires balance. Including self love.

e’ve all been dealt a serious blow this year. COVID-19 came around and ruined a lot of things for us. Some of us lost our jobs, had our incomes slashed, lost loved ones, fell back into unhealthy habits to cope with everything and the list goes on. The deterioration of human nature became a lot more amplified this year following the murders of many Black persons and we’ve been at home, soaking in all this hate and negativity and it has been affecting us mentally, emotionally and even physically. This year just hasn’t been okay on all fronts and we’ve been neglecting taking care of ourselves. Thankfully, there are many activities we can implement into our daily lives to help mitigate the effects of 2020 on all of us. Here are 5 Self-Care Practices you can Start Today.

1. Taking a Social Media Detox.

I understand this may be hard for most of us. We want to keep ourselves informed with everything that’s going on. That is completely understandable. But we have to establish a balance; sensory overload is a serious thing and filling our minds with so many negative things all at once will eventually begin to take a toll on us. Select a day in the week to log off. Spend some time with your family, your friends or even by yourself. You can also choose certain hours throughout the day to do so, whatever works for you. I can assure you that Twitter, Instagram and all the others will still be there when you get back. 

2. Go out with/video call friends.

With most places reopening again, we now have the privilege to go out again and do some of the things we’ve missed doing these last 4 months. Pick a day to go out and have some fun with your friends. Be it shopping, going out for drinks/eats or just chilling at each other’s homes, use that time to distract yourself from everything that’s been going on around you. Safely, of course. You should still adhere to the safety guidelines administered by your government. However, if going out is still limited in your country, video calls are still an amazing way of keeping in touch with your friends/loved ones. 

3. Going out for a walk.

And no, I’m not saying you should work out. Although, if working out is something you do to get you out of a funk, then by all means. But no, I’m not referring to working out here. Taking a walk to dump your negative thoughts, to take in the nature around you, can do a lot. If you have a park near you, take a short trip there and just breathe. Relax your muscles, unclench your jaw, roll your shoulders and just breathe. You can even meditate if you feel like it. The main objective of the walk is to clear your head and find relaxation in nature.

4. Listening to music (especially nostalgic ones, or SMV's Friday Dancing Playlist).

One of my many self-care habits is this one. There’s something about listening to music from your childhood or from happy moments in your life and feeling that nostalgia course through your body that makes you feel so good in the moment. One of my favs from way back when is Somewhere Only We Know by Keane.

That song, although a bit melancholic in sound, makes me feel happy. It’s a beautiful written song and I honestly enjoyed it so much when I was younger. Create a playlist of all your favorite songs from years ago and lay down and play it through. You can even play it on the walk I mentioned in the last point. 

5. Having a Self-Care day.

Lighting a scented candle, taking a bubble bath, giving yourself an at-home mani and pedi… All of these (and much more) can be added into your daily routine, or you can section out an entire day filled with just self-care activities. It feels good to just be by yourself and treat yourself to lovely things. With the hustle and bustle of our day to day life, and with everything that has been going on, we tend to forget these things. They’re the very last thing we think of when scheduling our day. But we should start off small. Section out a few hours, a day or even two days in the week, whatever works for you, to treat yourself to some lovely things.

Life is hard. Things aren’t looking up right now. But that doesn’t mean we need to neglect ourselves of self-care. Hell, now’s the time more than ever to give ourselves these things. I hope you implement some of the things I listed, I’ll be sure to do so also. We deserve to take care and treat ourselves to lovely things. Always. 

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This week's playlist :)

"MOVING IS HEALING." ~ Karlo Gomez

Until next time 🤩

ating your body can become a dirty secret. Thoughts about your body can suck you in, like a whirlpool,

and can literally take you out of enjoying anything in life. You become so deeply entrenched in thinking negatively about your body that you don’t even notice the joys of life, big and small.

I know, because I’ve been there, and have walked many of my clients out of this whirlpool of pain. Pain that has distracted them form their children, passions, work, play, and focused their attention on one thing alone: their bodies.

Putting aside the fact that body hatred is a culturally encouraged thing (I totally acknowledge that there are so many freaking forces at play against us here), I wanted to offer my practical tips on walking away from it.

Because at the end of the day, when we change our relationship with our bodies, we take back our power. We can be more creative, open, and joyful. And even though there is so much stacked against us, we do have the power to choose love over loathing.

So, here is the roadmap. And I warn you: this may be unconventional. It may include some new ideas that you’ve never considered before. But stick with me here, this works!

1.     Squash the dirty secret. Talk it all out, or write it out. Secrets eat us up from the inside, so allowing all of these thoughts to swim around in your mind is killing you. You can talk it out with a coach or therapist, a friend or write it all out on a piece of paper. Regardless, I want you to be insanely honest. Close your eyes, and let those thoughts speak directly. Here is an example: “I hate my stomach, why is it so fat? Why does all the fat concentrate there? Why do my arms look like this? I literally want to throw up when I look in the mirror”. Truly, let all those thoughts get out of your mind, and experience the freedom in just letting it out!

2.     Practice mindfulness with your thoughts, meaning being an observer of your thoughts. Try to just notice your thoughts. If you write them down, look at that piece of paper and notice the distance between your physical body and that paper. Start to notice that you ≠ your thoughts. You are separate entities.

3.     Start to notice when the thoughts come up again. When they do, I want you to say (in your mind or out loud): “I am judging my body right now”, or “I do not like my body right now”, or whatever resonates with you. This is the acceptance stage: accepting what is instead of trying to judge yourself out of it. You see, when you judge or resist the resistance you already have (aka the body loathing), you get stuck in it even more. Have you ever noticed that?
So, I’m not asking you to say things like “I love my body”, because at this point, you just don’t, and that’s ok! Speak the truth, but accept it. Accept that this is how you feel right now, and it will allow you to increase that distance between your thoughts and yourself even more.

4.     At this point, you may be thinking: “how is accepting that I do not like my body going to make me like my body? Isn’t it going to make me hate it even more?” and if you’re thinking that, I want you to close your eyes, get really mindful and very, very slow, ask yourself: “can I know without a shadow of a doubt that allowing myself to accept my hatred towards my body going to make me gain more weight (or is it going to make me hate my body even more)”?

5.     Close your eyes, and picture yourself in a whirlpool. See yourself fighting to swim out with all your might. What is happening?
Now, see yourself letting go. Accepting. Be in that whirlpool and allow it to do whatever it does to you. What happens now? Are you stuck, or are you slowly, finally drifting to the shore?

6.     Ask yourself: what is my relationship with my body teaching me? What is the deeper gift here for me?
We are asking this question so that you can give your ego something to feed on, and to realize that your “negative” relationship with your body is just a lesson for something greater, and there is actually a gift in here for you. Don’t take it from me – this is just my belief. Ask this question for yourself.
What kinds of gifts am I talking about? Here are some examples I’ve seen:
- Learning to not be a people pleaser and eat the food that makes me feel good, not the food that everyone expects me to eat
- Learning the practice to self-acceptance, no matter what
- Listening to my intuition, and cultivating self-connection
- Discovering my boundaries
- Knowing that I am worthy, beyond any belief, physical appearance, literally anything: worthy exactly as I am
- Stepping into my power and greatness

7.     There may be (and often are) much deeper elements at play that are rooted in childhood. For these, I love to guide my clients through inner child work and breathwork, so that they can remind the child in them who shows up often with fear and self-doubt, that she is always safe and secure, and so that they can move through any unconscious blocks holding them back.  

Remember that reaching the point of always loving your body and believing it is perfect is not the goal here. The goal is to learn to change your relationship with these thoughts. To engage with them in a new way, so that next time they come up, you don’t feel like a victim to them. You feel empowered and know how to move through them with grace, and much faster.

I would love to hear more about your journeys with your body, and to support you as a transformational coach. Send me a message on Instagram @soulintheraw and let’s connect!

Love,

Marina|Transformational Coach

or centuries we have lived in a world full of stereotypes that do not make it easy for us to love each other as we are. These have changed over time, but have always been present. For all these reasons, coming to accept ourselves may be a long and difficult road, but it is certainly worth the effort. 

Social networks, TV ads or any other kind of ads don't help either. What they show us are perfect bodies without marks of any kind, wrinkles or imperfections. It is true that there are bodies like this, which require a lot of work and effort, but not all of them are. 

Personally, I have to say that for some time all these things, together with other people's criticism, mainly from women unfortunately, affected my perception of my body. It took a lot of inner work to realize that my body is wonderful just the way it is.

Almost all women have stretch marks, cellulite or something we might want to change in ourselves, and that's okay. It's okay to want to remove those marks, just like it's okay not to. The beauty of each person goes far beyond simple marks on the skin. 

In the past I used to worry too much about them and how to erase them, until I stopped to think about why they bothered me so much. The moment I stopped listening to what others were saying, I began to love my body. I realized that no one is perfect and everyone has their own complexes and insecurities, and what I did was work on mine.

My work as a dancer has also helped me to be more disciplined and to take better care of myself. Although I no longer do this just for aesthetics, which is also true since my body is my working tool, but for health and wellbeing. 

Today I can say that I couldn't be happier with my body and my curves. It only remains for me to tell you to look at your body with pride, whatever shape it is or whatever marks it has! All of this is what makes us unique.

In the end, it's up to us to accept ourselves. And I can assure you that doing so makes life much happier!

Say hi to Aurea on Instagram @aurea.febraio

aise your hand if your stomach is your least favorite body part, if you’ve ever obsessed over making it flatter, and/or if you thought you’d finally be happy if you got lipo. Anyone? I’m definitely raising my hand.

Is it just me or does a flat stomach seem to be the main way a woman’s value or attractiveness is measured? Is it not good enough that my mind, my thoughts might arouse someone? Why is the way I treat others less interesting than the shape of my mid-section?

Celebrity culture. Model culture. Instagram culture. Beauty culture. Fitness culture. Diet culture.

Our culture is very skilled at injecting our minds with these monstrous thoughts.

The little monster that our culture so graciously gifted me grew into orthorexia, binge eating disorder, and other mental health issues.

I was able to heal by deleting my social media accounts for a while, reading the book called Intuitive Eating, and listening to podcasts about self love and body acceptance.

Now that I have healed, I find it so incredibly silly that so many of us dedicate so much of our lives to something as unimportant as getting a flatter tummy. It is a lie that a six pack of abs will make us happy! After wasting years of energy on the pursuit of a flatter stomach, I realized that I’d only be happy when I fixed my mental health and broken body image.

Culture can be cruel. Our tummies are not worth the stress.

It’s OK to be BIGGER than your partner!

We have been conditioned to believe that as a woman, we should ALWAYS be SMALLER than a man.

We often associate matching or exceeding our partners weight or size with feelings of self hatred towards ourselves and our bodies.

It’s important to remember, just like women's bodies are different, MENS bodies are different too!

Male or female, we ALL have completely DIFFERENT genetics, skeletal structures AND metabolisms. These varying factors DICTATE how our bodies look, meaning weight can look different on EVERYONE.

As a woman you can feel like you HAVE to be dainty, petite and small. This narrative has been CONDITIONED in us by everything we consume, women always being shown as the DELICATE counterpart.

My favourite tv shows and films growing up would ALWAYS depict a woman with a much smaller frame and a contrastingly much bigger partner.

I would see them wearing their partners sweatshirt like a dress, because it was that BIG on them.

Being EASILY picked up.

Taking up LESS space sitting on their partners knee.

I’ve had previous relationships where as the bigger one, I’d WASTE so many hours loathing my body for not being smaller than my partners, questioning HOW they could love my bigger body.

Not only have these CONDITIONED narratives deeply effected the love I have had for my body over the years, they have LIMITED the love I have been able to accept from others.

It kills me to even contemplate a life without my husband. That our relationship may not of progressed because of a society that has ENGRAINED a specific standard of love within me.

The love we have for each other goes far BEYOND the shape of our bodies and our love is the ONLY thing that matters. Not society, not other peoples opinions, only LOVE, and the standard is OURS to set!

It’s taken time to untangle myself from these narratives but now I know its OK if my bodies bigger than my partner and it’s OK if my body weighs more than my partner. My body is my own. It’s unique, and it’s DESERVING of love regardless of the space it occupies!

The size or shape of my body does NOT define the love I am allowed to receive from my partner.

The size or shape of my body does NOT define me as a women.

I am defined by so much MORE than my body, and so are YOU!

Love,

Georgina 💗 [ @georginacoxpersonaltraining ]

A photo of Georgina and her hubby! SO cute 💕

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Today's Friday Dancing Playlist🤩

#MovingIsHealing

n intense heaviness glues me to the bed as I open my eyes most mornings. Thoughts of worry, guilt, shame, fear, isolation and responsibility run rampant in my mind. Usually followed by the feeling of wanting to hide, disappear or self medicate. Soon after I peel myself up and my feet touch the floor, I tap into my routine of morning meditation, affirmations and sometimes playing a Tibetan singing bowl. These practices ease my mind in the moment as well as become my armor to combat any adversity with a sense of clarity.

When the world was “normal” I had to work diligently to maintain a healthy state of mind. Apparently, I am not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Mental health conditions are common, impacting 1 in 5 adults – nearly 47 million Americans.”(American Psychiatric Association, 2019) Now that we have less events, obligations and access, we are left to confront the darkest corners of our minds.

People have been ill and many of us have lost loved ones, whom we haven't been able to properly honor with official services and goodbyes. It is truly heartbreaking. Not to mention the people who are self quarantining alone or those in abusive homes, who already suffer from severe anxiety and/or depression. The list could go on.

Then to top off our fragility during these times, we watch George Floyd get executed right on our phones. Anyone with a heart felt for this man. When he called out for his Mama, I cried. I am a Black mother of sons. I turned it off, I couldn't watch. The uprising that followed reminded me of the generational trauma that has plagued my family in particular. My biological father’s absence along with my mother’s severe anxiety that created an air of tension in our home.

People wonder why we shout “Black Lives Matter”, because they do. Our mental health matters. As long as we ignore the history that is ingrained in the epigenetics of Black families, many of us will continue to suffer. I know that by actively working to stabilize my mental health, I am contributing to the transformation needed to heal my children and my children’s children.

We can’t change the minds of people who dislike us based on the color of our skin, but we can change the way we see ourselves. We can work with our allies to change laws to protect our lives. We can recognize the impact our history has had on the mental health of our parents, grandparents and us. We can decide what we want to do to heal and inspire healthy practices of mental health in the families we create.

This has been our wake up call. Our lives and mental health matter. You can find me on instagram @thesagewithin

American Psychiatric Association. (2019). ​Mental Health 2020: A Presidential Initiative for Mental Health.​[PDF file]. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/17325/Downloads/Mental-Health-2020-A-Presidential-Initiative-for-Mental-Health %20(3).pdf

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here’s something magical about stepping in front of the camera, and trust me, it's not about looking like a supermodel—it’s about seeing yourself the way you’re meant to be seen. A photoshoot, especially one designed to empower women, is all about capturing your raw, untouched beauty, the kind you might overlook while focusing on that stubborn pimple or skipping past the mirror.

Take Kaela Comontofski for instance. These images! They are as raw as it gets—no body alterations, no airbrushing—just her radiant self. It's a bold move in today’s media-obsessed world where airbrushing reigns supreme, but guess what? Kaela shows us that beauty isn't about perfection; it's about authenticity. And you know what! You’ve got it too.

If you’ve never done a photoshoot, here’s your invitation: do one. Forget the nerves. This is your time to document your beauty, and yes, that shell you live in deserves to shine. Think about it—this body, with all its quirks and curves, is yours. You only get one, so why not celebrate it.

I always say,

"Making a woman feel like art is the greatest feeling you can ever impart,"

and that’s really the heart of it. The camera is just a tool, but the real magic happens when you look at that photo and finally see yourself for the masterpiece you are. So, let go of the doubts, strike a pose, and allow your beauty to be captured in all its raw, glorious splendor. You won’t regret it.

Model: Kaela Comontofski

o what is the best treatment for cellulite, you ready for it? Drumroll please…..It’s learning to love and accept your beautiful dimples! Yep they are beautiful!

Cellulite is common, in fact it is so common that 90% of women have cellulite. In other words, regardless of shape, size or ethnicity almost every women has it.

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Many women also believe if you are fit and in shape then you will have no cellulite, wrong! Although exercise along with a well balanced nutritious diet may help lessen the appearance of cellulite, it will not get rid of the body of fat cells that makeup the cellulite. Basically, shedding of the fat will only help diminish the appearance of your cellulite but not get rid of it. [source: Dowshen]

In closing, your cellulite is beautiful and you need to start embracing its beauty!

Lucy Mountain explains it best in her video with Stylist Magazine “Why you shouldn’t hate your cellulite.”

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n July 7th, Harper’s Magazine published an open letter signed by, among others, Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, and J.K. Rowling entitled A Letter on Justice and Open Debate. The letter essentially calls for an end to the much bemoaned “cancel culture” that celebrities have become subject to in recent years. The letter comes at a time of social upheaval and general increased distaste for rhetoric seen as intolerant or ignorant. Indeed, this is not the first we’ve heard of complaints about public shaming—every few months it seems someone feels the need to complain about how the fear of public outcry is supposedly damaging to free discourse. The Harper’s letter itself states that “[t]he free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted.” If this letter was one’s only source of information regarding public debate in 2020, one would be forgiven in assuming that the world had become an oppressive dystopian regime in the vein of 1984’s Oceania. This is what some celebrities— and those on the wrong side of history— would have us believe. 

In the midst of a global pandemic, we have seen just how oblivious and intolerant the world’s elite are when it comes to the struggles of the average person. Despite this, the Harper’s letter makes the statement that “[w]e need to preserve the possibility of good-faith disagreement without dire professional consequences.” This is a common refrain of the “anti-cancel culture” movement—"sure, our opinions may be harmful to vast groups of already-marginalized people, but we shouldn’t be losing our income over it! It’s just an opinion!” It’s an amplified, more palatable version of racist high school students being devastated when their college acceptances are revoked after their bigotry comes to light. The sad truth, though, is that those same people—many of whom are white, socioeconomically-secure, and privileged—will likely never have to do any real reckoning with themselves about why they felt comfortable dehumanizing groups of people. We’ve seen this with abusers who receive lenient sentences even with the general public watching and calling for justice (see: Brock Turner, R. Kelly, 6ix9ine, and Derek Chauvin, among others). Sure, the uproar may be considerable in this present moment, but how dire will the consequences of their actions be in a year, or five, or ten? How much will they have learned about how their actions hurt others? The truth is that there is very little systemic accountability being divvied out to those who need to educate themselves most. 

As a member of the public, it has been interesting, exhausting, and disappointing to watch these events unfold and see just how short our collective memory is for ignorance and the dissemination of harmful rhetoric. Beginning with the tone-deaf “Imagine” cover initiated by Gal Gadot and hastily followed by the #ITakeResponsibility movement in support of Black Lives Matter that centered white celebrities, it seems that the public has had to check celebrity ignorance more often than usual over the past few months. YouTubers Shane Dawson, Jeffree Star, and Jenna Marbles—all creators with massive online platforms and followings— were called out for creating racist content, J.K. Rowling’s Twitter transphobia continued to thrive, and Nick Cannon’s recent anti-Semitic tirade earned him a firing from a show that he created. The Harper’s letter states that “[t]he restriction of debate… [by] an intolerant society, invariably hurts those who lack power and makes everyone less capable of democratic participation.” The word “intolerance” here is used as a callback: it’s meant to make you picture Klan members in full garb, or religious bakers turning gay couples away. It’s meant to tug at your heartstrings, make you reconsider why you’re being so damn harsh. But what this statement gets wrong—besides literally everything—is that those who lack power are the ones finally being given a chance to call out the intolerance that once went unchecked. Social media has globalized and revolutionized our access to information. Oppressed groups have come together to build communities, organize and rally around causes that matter, and make themselves heard. So it is ironic when an unjustifiably wealthy and powerful elite makes the point that they are in fact the ones being persecuted, when in reality, they are finally being held accountable for the violent systems that they uphold.

Accountability feels like oppression if you’ve never had to consider the thoughts and feelings of others. This is what we are seeing with regard to the tantrums that people throw about being denied “free speech:” the Harper’s letter itself references that “…the result [of cancel culture] has been to steadily narrow the boundaries of what can be said without the threat of reprisal.” But fear of being held accountable is not the same as having your free speech repressed. This statement in itself is telling of the obliviousness of the speaker to what real oppression and censure looks and feels like. What people who complain about this aspect of public debate are experiencing is, in reality, the fear of being called out for their ignorance. No one is creating laws that oppress free speech: what is finally happening is that people can now freely communicate with elites in a way that wasn’t possible before. Social media has opened a floodgate of information from all corners of the world and for those who do not want to do the work of learning, it can feel like an attack to have one’s words and actions examined in the cold light of day. 

But, one might argue, this is the price of fame—a platform brings with it the responsibility to educate oneself and constantly be aware of the fact that people watch and learn from you. That in itself should inspire critical thinking and a long process of seeking out information before making use of the following that one has. Indeed, anyone in the public eye must take it upon themselves to understand the full weight of their words and opinions and how they can affect marginalized groups in particular. It should not come as a shock to someone with legions of fans when they are scrutinized for reinforcing the systems of racism, misogyny, classism and capitalism that we live under. These systems are pernicious and engrained and cause the abuse and death of countless people every day. It should be the bare minimum to take stock of past, present and future behavior and work to dismantle that system using the platform one is afforded.

Furthermore, what is often decried ad “cancel culture” is simply individuals choosing to boycott a celebrity and no longer partake in the content that individual provides or is associated with. Again, to those who have built an empire of wealth off of the average person contributing financially to their platform, this feels like they are being denied their livelihood. But think about it—is it not our right as consumers to decide how we choose to spend our money? And if we decide that our hard-earned dollars and cents will no longer fund the life and times of a known, unrepentant abuser or bigot, is that not our prerogative? Indeed, the phrase “cancel culture” itself puts the onus on the audience, rather than the subject of the discussion who is the cause of their own downfall. 

To be clear, people can and should learn from their mistakes, and should be given ample opportunity to do so. Rapper Noname, who has started a book club to educate herself and her fans, or Cardi B, who has backpedaled on transphobic comments made in 2018 and now professes to be an ally to the LGBT+ community, are examples of the fact that the public can and will make space for those who take full accountability for their harmful words or actions and actively strive to be better. However, conflating freedom of speech with the freedom to spew hate speech is a tactic used to instill fear of oppression in people who have never truly been oppressed. The Harper’s letter states that “justice and freedom… cannot exist without each other”… but the freedom spoken of in this context is the freedom to reinforce existing systems of power through willful ignorance and an unwillingness to be wrong and learn from it. And that is no freedom at all, because it further contributes to the feelings of exclusion and fear of harm experienced by those whom society has already chosen to sideline. 

riting has always been therapeutic for me. When I'm faced with life wreaking havoc on me, I write.

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Three weeks ago my mom's oncologist informed us that cancer cells had returned to her body and a more aggressive form of chemotherapy is required. My dad is on oxygen for 18 hours a day and a nebulizer 6 hours per day due to his condition of COPD. He takes a host of meds and is stubborn as a goat at times. 

I'm learning to embrace my role as my parents' caregiver, but the more difficult task for me is learning how to take care of ME while taking care of them.

Nearly everyone involved in caring for aging loved ones is experiencing grief. Often, however, we're not aware of this grief. We have a parent who used to be strong and capable begin to ask for a little assistance. No big deal, right? We're happy to help. But underneath, often unnoticed, there's a knot in our hearts. We're grieving the loss – the loss of function that made our parent need to ask for help. Weren't they the ones who helped us? Weren't they the ones in charge? 

Generally, these changes are subtle, the grief sneaky. I remember watching my parents age in the normal fashion. I'd occasionally look at them and be startled by the realization that they were aging. But that was all I acknowledged. I never intentionally thought about loss and pain. It dwelled beneath my consciousness.

Up until now. As my sister and I walk this journey together, taking turns transporting our parents to doctors appointments, ensuring their meds are filled and they're taking them appropriately, cooking and delivering their meals and fighting the insurance providers to pay for what is covered, I find my own energy exhausted and depleted. My mom was officially diagnosed with CML leukemia in January 2010. We have experienced her nearly dying from the chemo meds and a different mom than we always knew. During the last year and a half as a patient of a clinical trial, she has thrived. But now another setback, not just for mom but for the family, to endure. Sunday, mom asked me to help her write out her will, something we'd spoken about when she was initially diagnosed but never proceeded to do.

Today, while at mom's house she asked me for the papers and to help her do the will, which I obliged. She also asked me to point out which items in her home that I wanted to receive upon her death. I quietly and hesitantly named a few items and she bequeathed them to me on paper. She then asked me to follow her downstairs to her basement and pointed out smaller items she wanted me to load in my car right then. Wow! that was a telling moment for me. I can't show my sadness and all of the other myriad of emotions I'm feeling in front of her so I go along with what mom wants me to do, realizing this is inevitable. Today is a little harder to "fake" my strong facade because I received news that one of my aunts is on life support and not expected to recover. So I try with all of my might to dig deep and suck up what I call "putting on my strong front" of emotions and move forward with hauling items to my car.

I've learned that there is a name for the type of grief I'm experiencing, something hospice professionals call anticipatory grief. This differs from what I call early grief. Anticipatory grief is more like the grief one feels as the death of a loved one nears and we start to grieve what we know will be their loss. What will we do without them? How will we keep on living? We are looking ahead to the loss we know is coming.

The early grief I'm speaking about is far more subtle, and can be horribly damaging to our mental and physical health if we don't address it. It creeps up on us as the small losses build – both those of our loved one and those of our own. For them it's a loss of function and independence. For us it's the loss of their independence, as well. Also, it's the loss of time for ourselves, time for our jobs, even time for our children. It's an insidious feeling, akin to – and often accompanied by – depression. It's a kind of grief that we need to identify and perhaps get professional help with, or at least the help of a support group. For if we live for years with this unrecognized grief, as we witness loss after loss before the actual death occurs, we will kill off a part of ourselves. Our physical and mental health may suffer irreparably.

The well of grief is deep. We need to watch so we don't drown under this sorrow before we even acknowledge it's there. We need to be reminded that we caregivers, too, are suffering. Yes, the grief before and after death is huge. But the subtle ache, as we watch the slow fading away of a loved one, is grief worth recognizing and bringing out into the open. Statistics say 30% (some indicate more) of the caregivers die while they are caring for a loved one. That is, before the loved one dies. Early grief is part of this dynamic. I've learned that we need to be a friend to ourselves and get help, before we become one of those statistics. 

I'm sending out love, light, peace and prayers for all of us navigating this caregiver season of life. Continue to stay safe and stay well.

n an era where plastic surgery has become increasingly popular and widely accessible, artist Frédéric Doazan sheds light on its controversial and sometimes disastrous consequences. Through his thought-provoking creation, "Supervenus," Doazan uses the power of Photoshop to take viewers on a comical yet unsettling journey that unveils the dark side of the plastic surgery industry. This short animation serves as a stark reminder of the risks and absurdities associated with the pursuit of an idealized physical appearance.

The Legacy of Plastic Surgery Disasters:

Over the years, we have been captivated and horrified by tales of plastic surgery gone wrong. From media reports to reality television shows, we have witnessed botched procedures, extreme transformations, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Frédéric Doazan's "Supervenus" draws inspiration from this unsettling lineage of plastic surgery disasters, offering a satirical commentary on our society's obsession with physical beauty.

A Nightmarish Female Body Transformation:

In this intriguing short animation, Doazan takes viewers on a surreal and disconcerting journey through a female body transformation. Using the medium of animation, he portrays the gradual alteration of a woman's appearance through exaggerated and grotesque changes. With each step, the viewer is confronted with the increasingly absurd and nightmarish consequences of excessive plastic surgery.

The Comical Journey:

Despite the unsettling subject matter, "Supervenus" injects humor into the narrative, creating a juxtaposition that both intrigues and challenges the audience. Doazan's zany approach encourages viewers to reflect on the absurdity of extreme cosmetic alterations and the societal pressures that fuel them. The comical undertones act as a catalyst for introspection, inviting viewers to question their own perceptions of beauty and the lengths they are willing to go to conform to societal standards.

Food for Thought:

Frédéric Doazan's "Supervenus" goes beyond mere entertainment; it serves as a catalyst for introspection and critical reflection. Through his unique and thought-provoking animation, he prompts viewers to consider the deeper implications of the plastic surgery industry and the societal pressures that drive it. The video invites us to question our own role in perpetuating unrealistic beauty ideals and challenges us to reevaluate our understanding of self-acceptance and authenticity.

Conclusion:

"Supervenus" by Frédéric Doazan offers a powerful commentary on the ever-evolving landscape of plastic surgery. This short animation serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks and consequences associated with the pursuit of an idealized physical appearance. With its satirical approach and unsettling imagery, Doazan challenges viewers to question societal beauty standards and consider the implications of our obsession with physical perfection. "Supervenus" serves as a thought-provoking reminder to embrace authenticity and self-acceptance in a world that often promotes unattainable ideals.

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We have also included the time-lapse video of the photoshop process for Supervenus.

Per your reuest, here is today's dance series playlist 🤩

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Until Next Friday! :)

levate Your Skincare Routine With This Natural Face Mask

Since the shelter in place started, I thought this would be the perfect time for me to elevate my beauty routine. I’ve been looking for ways to experiment with new products. However, many companies are experiencing delays in shipment due to covid - 19. So I thought, why not research natural products that can also get the job done? It never crossed my mind that one single ingredient in particular can do wonders on your skin! And that amazing item is aloe vera.

For a few years now, I’ve seen so many beauty gurus on Youtube try the aloe vera face mask challenge.The goal is to use it for a week and you will see a complete difference in your skin. The results have always been pretty significant in my opinion.

Usually I have pretty clear skin and never really break out, but with a combination of stress and binge eating stuffed crust pizza, my face breakout was inevitable. So it was the perfect time to put this challenge to the test.

Aloe Vera Benefits

Before we get into the process and my results, let’s talk about some of the benefits of using aloe vera. According to the National Institute of Health, aloe vera has anti inflammatory, antiseptic, and analgesic properties that help the skin heal faster. Aloe vera is also packed with vitamin A, C and E along with B12. Meaning, it will have your skin looking refreshed and give you a natural, hydrated glow. Antioxidants are your best friends when it comes to skin care, and aloe vera has it all. Aloe vera also stimulates fibroblast which produces collagen and essentially makes your skin more elastic and less wrinkled. This means aloe vera is a perfect alternative for people looking for a natural pro aging product.

The Process

I went to my local market and found these massive aloe vera leaves for sale. They were about $2 each, which is amazing, due to the fact that I’ve seen tiny aloe vera plants at grocery stores go for $25 or more.

Every morning, I would take about a palm size piece of the aloe vera leaf and cut it open. Once the piece was cut, I would then scoop out the gel and place it into a bowl. From there, I would use a fork and whisk it until it had a sticky and thin consistency. At that point you just place it on your face and massage thoroughly. Some people use a jade roller, but I decided to just use the aloe vera peeling to massage it in. Once I was done massaging the aloe vera gel in, I’d let it sit for 20 minutes and then wash off.

Initial Reaction

Immediately after washing the mask off, I noticed how soft my skin felt. I honestly didn’t need to use a moisturizer. On day 1, I made the mistake of using my hydrating moisturizer from Philosophy, and even a product so lightweight made it feel over hydrated. The rest of the time I went sans moisturizer and still felt fabulous.

Results

From day 1-3 I really didn't see a significant difference, aside from feeling rejuvenated and having hydrated skin. However on day 4, I noticed that my breakout was already going away. By day 5, not only was my breakout almost non-existent, but my skin seemed to look a lot more

even and I had a natural glow. By day 7, my skin felt tighter, my breakout was completely gone, and I just looked so refreshed. I even did a fresh face beat without any foundation and my look still looked phenomenal.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’m so happy I decided to give this challenge a try, especially since I had significant results in such a short amount of time. I’d highly recommend everyone to give aloe vera a try. I hope you found this useful and feel free to let me know if you have tried aloe vera masks along with your experience!

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~ Renee [ @itsreneeangelique ]

“You weren’t born with insecurities, they were GIVEN to you!

Cellulite is genuinely something over 90% of women have, women of all different shapes, sizes and weights!

As long as we have insecurities, someone, somewhere, will be profiting from them. Every year women spend MILLIONS on anti-cellulite treatments despite the glaring lack of evidence that these things work.

The word cellulite was invented in France in the late 19th century. By the 1960s, the beauty industry CAPITALIZED on this word and the fact women were becoming more independent through having their own incomes.

Cellulite scrubs, creams, lotions etc, were mass produced promising a ‘fix’ for this new ‘problem’ area that no one had ever been insecure about before.

Not only have our insecurities been given to us, society has been dictating our ‘problem’ areas for PROFIT. When there is a name for something, suddenly theres something to change, and money can unfortunately be made.

Cellulite isn’t bad, it isn’t a signifier for being over weight or being unhealthy, it is literally IN YOUR GENES.

The majority of women in your life who you love and admire have it too. It doesn’t change how you feel about them? So stop letting it dictate how you feel about YOU and how happy you’re allowed to feel in that beautiful body!

Confronting your insecurities head on can not only eliminate the power they have over you, but it allows you to see them for what they are.

NORMAL.

When we are ashamed of our insecurities and try to hide them, they are given a false sense of power. They can control us consciously and subconsciously during our every day lives.

It saddens me to think of all the moments I wasn’t fully present because my mind was consumed by the appearance of my cellulite. Some of my most treasured memories are tainted by insecurities that have been handed to me for financial gain.

I refuse to let society dictate the confidence I am allowed to have in my body. I refuse to let societal ideals restrict the clothes I am allowed to wear. And I refuse to waste anymore moments in my life consumed by an insecurity that was created by someone else.

My body is still worthy.

My body is still healthy and strong.

My body is still deserving of love.

Never forget you are an absolute QUEEN with or without it, and you DESERVE to feel every inch of sun on those gorgeous legs of yours!

Love,

~ Georgina. [ @georginacoxpersonaltraining ]

"she wore ill-fitting clothes to hide her substantial womanliness
Bummi never understood why English women did not show off the outline of their fulsomeness, the more fulsome the better, so long as it was done with decorum
in her culture a substantial woman was a desirable one" - Bernadine Evaristo; Girl, Woman, Other

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Like Bummi, I feel, nowadays, that the more fulsome - or shapely - a woman is, the better. Unlike Bummi, though, I understand why women are inclined not to celebrate their shapeliness in some societies more than others. Bummi's Nigerian culture could liken fuller breasts, stomach and hips to a healthy woman ready to bear fruit, so to speak. Though I'm a woman of Nigerian origin, I grew up in America in towns with a population of black people less than 1%. That's over 90% of my ostensible understanding of beauty, sex appeal, and social acceptance being attributed to the white appearance; being scrutinized by the white gaze.

I've been 6'1" since I was 13 years old with the accompanying fulsomeness attached to my thighs, waist, and butt. It wasn't until more recently that I started to remember that my spirit and soul are not attached to my body; that the quality of my essence is not tethered to the stories I gripped relegating my height to masculine and my waist circumference to inadequate. When I press play on my dancehall or afrobeats mix and that soft, strong, and flexible waist winds, it's as though my blackness, my Africanness, is unearthing itself. When my long, thick legs twist and jump in magical rhythmic succession, I am reminded that what my body represents transcends the low vibrational frequency of the social plague of young, white, healthy perfectionism. My body is glorious by virtue of being. That is a celebration in itself.

~ Nkem [ @naturallyfree123 ]

was 7 years old the first time I was called a nigger and to say that it didn’t feel good would be another link in unsung, watered down history. Up until that point, my underdeveloped sense of time allowed me to think that racism and prejudice people were things that came and went ages ago when people hadn’t even figured out how to get color in pictures and movies. Up until that point, embarrassment was only when I would accidentally fart out loud and the scariest moments were when my brothers would jump out behind walls to scare me. Up until then, I thought I was safe from hate.

Coincidentally, that day had been fated to be one for the books a whole day prior. This was because instead of meeting my mom at the front gate of my school per usual, she had decided that I was now big enough to meet her 3 blocks down the street. At the time this was a huge steppingstone for me because my ultimate goal was to get her to allow me to ride my bike home like some of my other friends were already doing. It was of the upmost importance that I show her how able and “grown” I really was on this day. 

With what was probably a TLC or Spice Girls song playing in my head as the soundtrack of my grown woman journey, I marched boldly ahead. I remember little lightning tingles of anticipation zinging my stomach and fingertips as I whipped past the endless flood of my peers on the sidewalks. You wouldn’t have been able to tell me that I wasn’t walking in slow motion with fire behind me because I could see the wisps of smoke drifting about clear as day. 

Then just like that part of a movie when the record skips, the whole moment shattered into reality…

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“NIGGER!!!”

It was a very loud, aggressive, and angry reality. One that meant so much to the group of young men that were driving by in their faded yellow pickup truck that they felt the need to lean so far out of the windows and bed of the truck that I could feel the heat of their breath on my face and that word reverberate in my ear like a canyon. It was so alarming that myself and a few other kids next to me jumped away from the street while stumbling into one of the hordes of kids. 

The truck drove on and was gone as soon as it had come leaving me to absorb what just happened. I was seven years old, but I knew what that word meant. I knew it was the mean word that white people used to make black people feel bad about being black. I also knew by then (thanks mom and dad) that I was no nigger and that just because someone calls you a bad name it doesn’t make it true. So, in that moment, I was only startled halfway out of my shoes and in no way considered that what they said was warranted.

It wasn’t until I looked around and saw every single set of eyes on me did my fear transform from being simply startled to being soulfully horrified. 

Every. Single. Kid. Was. Staring. At. Me.

Me. The only black kid on the street within probably a 5-mile radius. I had been invisible just moments ago and now I was the center of everyone’s attention. The newfound silence on the street was deafening and their stares were piercing. I felt my throat constrict; my stomach disintegrate. My heart exploding over and over again with every beat. Each breath becoming harder to consume then the last and every pore of my skin was stinging. 

Did they all think I was a nigger?

No, I wasn’t color blind. I knew I was the only black kid in my classrooms and in nearly the whole school for that matter, so I knew – if nothing else – that my skin would always make me different than most other people. Up until that point however, no one had ever outwardly pointed this out for everyone to stare at. Up until that point, all of my classrooms and T.V. programs had encouraged manners, friendship, kindness, etc. and most of my friends were white kids who didn’t treat me differently. So, up until that point, I had no reason to believe that I should be singled out. 

Yet, here every single kid was staring at me. Whether they were just staring to see what I would do or just because they didn’t know what else to do wasn’t the issue. The part that hurt the most was that their attention on me confirmed that I was, without a doubt, an actual other. They didn’t need to look at each other for comfort or support because there was no possible way that slur was meant for them. Every single kid, big and small, knew the word nigger was for black people just like I did and therefore, this was my problem to deal with alone. 

Being alone in a sea of kids just for being black was now the new most terrifying and embarrassing thing that ever happened to me. I marched forward much faster than I had before to get away from this reality. My mind was utterly blank. It wasn’t until I saw my mom waiting for me did I get my thoughts back. I wouldn’t tell her what happened. I didn’t want to worry her and give her a reason to confirm what I was now thinking for the first time. That maybe I wasn’t ready for big girl things like my friends. Maybe I was actually less safe just because I was different. 

That was the first time I was called a nigger, but it wouldn’t be the last. It also wouldn’t be the last time that my body would constrict, explode, disintegrate, and sting due to feeling like an other either. It would happen every time we’d reach the slavery section in our history books which, for some reason, was always a greenlight for my classmates to stare at me as if doing so would help them understand the lesson better. It would also happen every time news of racial injustices occurring against POC would roll around and I would have to watch and listen to people actually try to justify those injustices or ignore them.

 It wouldn’t be until I was 31 years old in summer of 2020 when I would get to experience what it feels like for my body to overcome one of these “POC PTSD episodes” as I have come to call them. I’d have to watch another other like me named, George Floyd, die senselessly at the knees of law enforcement, which would be the trigger. This time however, instead of hordes of silence and ridicule, I would watch as a world record of humans from nearly every corner of the earth came together to stand for George and all others like him. It would be nothing like I, nor my ancestors had ever experienced before. It would be a beautiful and unprecedented beacon of hope for me and others like me that we weren’t alone anymore. 

We still have a long way to go, but I am positive that together we can continue the marathon towards the more perfect union this world was meant to have. I am eternally grateful to be alive in this moment to grow and be able to help bring about change with all of you. Please continue to stay informed, motivated, active, supportive, safe and united.

Today we have the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Herrod, a wife and soon to be mommy. Lauren is a AFPA Certified Holistic Nutritionist (in training) and is all about helping women love themselves. We first came across Lauren via her TikTok @laurenherrod and fell in love with her creative videos and message.

During our interview this is what Lauren had to say.

Sunday: How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?

Lauren: As soon as I became an adult, depression swallowed me and I coped by swallowing junk food every chance I could. My body quickly became unrecognizable and I eventually turned to fad diets for help. The weight came off, but the self-hate stayed. Being skinny did not fix my broken body image, the diets I did were proving to be unsustainable, and I had developed Binge Eating Disorder. The book called Intuitive Eating turned out to be a miracle in my life! I was able to change my mindset and develop self-love through reading that book and listening to body positive podcasts.

Sunday: Can you describe a time you have felt self-conscious due to portrayals of body image in the media?

Lauren: OMG - I was so convinced that I needed to look like Kim Kardashian in order to be happy. That’s the message I felt I was receiving from the media and it became incredibly hard for me to appreciate anything about my own body. People everywhere are pursuing bigger butts, smaller waists, flat stomachs, and bigger lips. I used to be a part of that club until I realized how much stress it was causing me to want to change myself in those ways.

Sunday: What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?

Lauren: Not only is each of our bodies a unique, lovely gift but we are so much more than our bodies! Perfection is an illusion and pursuing that illusion is the worst thing I’ve ever done for my own mental health. When we feel that it is almost impossible to appreciate and love our bodies, our mental health is screaming to be healed. I believe that self-love is a skill that comes from a healthy mind and it’s a skill that we are all capable of developing no matter what kind of body we have.

Sunday: What do you love most about your body?

Lauren: I LOVE that my body breathes and dances and is now growing another life!

"When the light hits the cellulite just right"

Thank you Lauren :) To see more of Lauren Herrod please follow her on TikTok @laurenherrod and Instagram @laurenherrod_

o you take action to ensure you are filling up your life with things you love? Are you being patient and loving with yourself during the process? Are you aligned with your principles and values to keep yourself committed to the process? Do you give yourself the space for trial and error, to find what works best for you? When you find what works best, do you grant yourself the time it takes to pick up momentum and begin to see results? Do you continue to increase the challenges in your life as you begin to surpass what were once challenges? 

All of us want to live the life of our dreams and some of us do. No matter what that looks like. Most end up settling for a lesser version of what is really wanted just because we aren’t actively committed to that best version. Most people are aware that they are living like this. Whether they’d like to admit it or not, they are. They chose every day to live in that lesser version and just accept that this is the way it has to be. They think that this was what was meant to happen, so they just take it for what it is. Then, there are some that want to live a powerful life we love but don’t realized we’re more attached to the thought of it, than we are actively committed to making it a reality. We know what’s possible, we may know there are things that need to be done to get us there (whether they are being done or not), we know we can have it, we know what it would be like, but it isn’t in existence, it isn’t happening in real time nor are the actions being taken for it to fall into place. 

Now ask yourself; Are you attached to the thought of living a life you love? Or, are you actively committed to living a life you love? What side of the scale are you on? What is it going to take to get to actively committed to living a life you love now that you are aware you were always just attached to the thought of living a life you love? Let me ask you this really important question next… Why do you want to be actively committed to living a life you love? What would that look like for you? You’ve got to get yourself committed to why you choose to live in that specific way of being. That why, that is where the passion lies, that is where you will find the inspiration and whatever else it takes to actually actively commit to living a life you love. You have to be so in love with your why it makes you crazy in the best way possible. 

Imagine how you would carry yourself to those you interact with when you are actively committed to living a life you love verses when you are attached to the thought of living a life you love! When you are actively committed people see the actions being taken, they see the commitment to get whatever is desired, they see the drive to fill your life with the things you love the most. They get that you are passionate about whatever it is and that brings them a sense of peace, hope and love. You stop looking at the end result and start living in the present and being with the reasons why… 

Remind yourself daily why you choose to powerfully live a life you love every day and plan out how you are going to actively commit to making that happen. The actions you start to take will reflect that you are actively committed. Having that reason will make the world of a difference. Ensure that reason makes the world of a difference with everything you do. 

I would love to know how you are actively committing to living a life you love! My passion in my why lands in your lap. Everything I do, what I am actively committed to, is positively impacting every human I interact with. That is what I live for, I choose powerfully to make sure that everything I do in my days will positively impact the world around me. I was once someone who didn’t know who to reach out to. I didn’t love myself. I didn’t love my body. I didn’t even see a purpose in my existence. And now I have discovered that I exist to impact this world is such a positive way. And I am actively committed to fulfilling on that every day. YOU are my WHY!! 

I’d love to connect with you on Instagram, you can find me at @ambersabourin

I also want to acknowledge Landmark Worldwide and all their teachings which introduced many conversations and became the clearing I needed to discover the distinction between how I’ve been attached in all areas of life versus being committed to transforming all areas of my life. 

Much love to you all,

Amberly

Per your reuest, here is today's dance series playlist 🤩

LAST WEEK'S PLAYLIST - CLICK HERE

hat makes a true Queen is often overlooked and wrongfully defined. In the case of a sovereign, a queen is the female ruler of an independent nation, usually by marriage to a king. Yet in the case of a woman, a queen can represent an insecure girl with a superiority complex. In chess, the queen is the most valuable piece a player can use. For honey bees, the queen is the mother of the whole colony.

Many definitions to describe one divine thing: a woman in power. As women, it is often hard to see ourselves as queens because we do not feel we give the name its justice. There are moments where we don’t feel powerful. There are moments where the opinions of our male counterparts are heard over our own. We are programmed to be seen and not heard.

To believe that being perceived as soft is better than being perceived as strong, as if both don’t go hand in hand. Women forget that we are the bridge between heaven and earth. Some of us bring children earthside while others build kingdoms from mere hopes and dreams. It is essential to know that the actions of a queen begin with the mindset of one.

Whether you define yourself as a drama queen, a beauty queen, or a queen bee, it is your prerogative to be the fiercest version of yourself possible. As queens, we do not not wait for kings to give us our crowns. We make them ourselves. 

had a long path to “body positivity.” The most important thing that I realized is that being confident about your body is not a one day thing, it’s a process. Here are things I think can help you to grow some type of confidence; one step at a time: 

Nice Clothes:

Wear clothes that give you confidence and good energy will start to grow. Clothes can be a tool to shape your mood. So just pick up clothes that make you feel great!

Sexy Lingerie:

Even when there are no plans for the night you should try to wear something nice. A bra that fits you well can help your posture. The underwear that feels nice to the skin and looks good can make your day/night.  

Healthy Skin:

Many health and beauty experts recommended to use moisturizer, scrubs regularly, and go to the spa, it's relaxing and a great stress reliever.

Exercising:

Your body can be the size that you feel comfortable with, but you NEED to do some type physical activity. Do what is comfortable for you. For example, doing yoga is relaxing and a great workout as well and the instructor even tells you to rest whenever you feel like it’s needed. In addition yoga shows appreciation to your body for the opportunity to participate in the class.  

Healthy Food:

Try to eat fresh food whenever it is possible. I mostly cook for myself on a daily basis. It is very important to eat food that you actually enjoy.  

Massages:

Mmm, massages are the best. You would love giving your body time for massages. It is time to reflect on life and to simply relax.  

Amazing Sex:

No comments here ;) 

Supporting Partner, Family, and/or Friends:

Bodyshaming from your partner is the worst. If your partner bodyshames then they are not for you! The right words and actions from you partner can boost your confidence 100%!

Pictures and Videos:

Getting compliments from your friends and followers on social media helps you every day. It is nice doing professional photo shoots every once in a while. A good photographer always makes your body shine and knowing your angles can help you boost your confidence. 

Water: 

As much as you need. You should always have a glass of water on your desk or around you.

Last but not Least:

Looking at yourself in the mirror and saying “You can do it!”

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hat do you do when you find your path blocked by a mountain? For most people, the most sensible idea is to turn around and go home. Some clever people might try to figure out their way around it. People like Kristina were made to scale the mountain and conquer it.

Kristina was raised in Kazakhstan by her single mother. She often stood out from the crowd because she was half Ethiopian in a majority white and light-skinned environment. Eventually, Kristina left home to pursue a music education in Italy. Her dream was to pursue a career as an opera singer.

In Italy, she found herself caught up in a romance with an older man. At that time, she was twenty-two, and she slipped away from school and deeper into her relationship. She was happy, and he made her feel happy. Soon after, Kristina found out she was pregnant, and she felt that her boyfriend was as overjoyed as she was. But the pregnancy revealed a different side of the man. He became increasingly critical to the point of being verbally abusive toward Kristina. “He said I’m worthless and I’m becoming old. He said I’m not a beautiful person and I’d never be successful as an opera singer.” His voice dug itself a deep home in her mind. The criticisms cycled through her brain over and over again until she believed them.

“It was very hard work to overcome those words.” She would give herself verbal affirmations in the mirror—she read somewhere that it might help her. At first, she cried in disbelief, laughing at herself for talking to herself, but she finally became comfortable with her own voice, body, and words of love. “Another strategy is to accept compliments,” she says. “When people say you look good or that you’re talented, you have to say ‘thank you’ and accept it.”

The last push to drive her away from her abusive boyfriend was when she found out that he was cheating on her with an even younger woman, an eighteen-year-old. Her path had brought her to the mountain. Young, single, and pregnant, where could she go? Where could she have a good life for herself and her baby? She couldn’t stay. Staying was toxic, and this man could not be relied upon to take care of her and her son. Going home might have made sense, but Kristina knew from growing up that it would be so difficult to be a single mother.

She decided to climb the mountain—she moved to Los Angeles to continue modeling, something she was doing in school to make ends meet, and give her baby his best chance in the United States. She didn’t know anyone, she barely had anything. But she did it.

If she could speak to her younger self, she’d tell herself that everything she chose to do was right. “Because now, I know that it’s so important to be away from the people who don’t appreciate you. You can’t let those people break you so hard that you can’t come back. I’d tell her that she will be happy again.”

Kristina says that you can’t live your life waiting to succeed. To be happy again and to find success, you have to believe that you’re the one who can make success and happiness happen.

To see more of Kristina follow her at @kristina_menissov

“I’ve just gotten home from my favorite café. It is called Side Pocket Espresso, not far from my house,” says Sophie as she settles in for her Sunday Morning View interview. If she could have any coffee date, past or present, she would share lattes and stories with Frida Kahlo. Like Frida, Sophie believes that you don’t have to stick to convention to be beautiful. “I’ve always had an interest in alternative fashion. You can still be beautiful without being super feminine. I’ve got short hair and tattoos all over me. That’s not society’s typical view of what being beautiful can be, but I think you can be beautiful in many different ways.”

Sophie remembers as far back as being seven years old and getting corrective criticism about her appearance, particularly her wide-set hips. “My teacher told me to stop walking like a duck in front of my whole class. It stands out because it wasn’t how I was trying to walk; it was just how my body is shaped.” Later, as a young teenager, her crush turned her down because she was “fat.” Those small things added up to Sophie spending years hiding her body. “Especially in Australia [at the time], they really weren’t making anything for a pear-shaped figure. I remember my mom taking me shopping, and I was crying because nothing would fit.”

At eighteen, Sophie made the big decision to leave her close-minded hometown for the city. Even as she was working in her chosen path as a hairdresser, she picked up a job at a vintage clothing reproduction store—it specialized in fashion from the 1950s and ‘60s. “Back in the fifties, women were celebrated for having a figure like mine! The more I started playing around with wearing different clothing, I realized I had no reason to hide my body. I think Australia is still catching on with the whole celebrating women of different sizes—it’s still sort of only skinny, white, thigh-gap sort of women.”

Sophie chooses grace and positivity in response. “When things happen, I ignore it and do not retaliate because that’s what they want me to do. Ignore the close-minded people. Only you are the one who can believe you are truly beautiful.” Sophie wants to continue to share her story with people, using social media to encourage women to be themselves.

“It’s okay to have cellulite, it’s okay to have stretch marks."

It’s okay to wear something not necessarily targeted to curvy women. If you like something, especially if it’s to do with fashion, you should just rock it. I used to never be seen wearing something tight-fitted that shows my cellulite, but now I feel that makes me sexy. I hope to inspire other women to do the same.”

To see more of Sophie, follow her at @sophaaaaa

ictoria’s favorite coffee date is her fiancé Regan. Both are hard-working and dedicated individuals, and making quality time together is very important.

“When I see someone who is proud to be exactly who they are and who has embraced who they are, I find that beautiful. When people follow their dreams regardless of expectations placed on them to achieve something, I find that beautiful. I also think it’s beautiful for people to be comfortable with what they look like at all times as their body progressively changes with age or whatever they go through naturally—to embrace stretch marks and cellulite, not basing their happiness on how they look.”

In many parts of society, there is resistance to the natural waves of change a woman’s body experiences—lifting and tucking away to an ideal ‘youthful’ appearance. As a competitive swimmer, Victoria began to wrestle with the standards that dictated that the changes in her body were wrong.

“When you’re a swimmer, most of the standard body type is tall and skinny and square-hipped,” she says. “And when I hit puberty, I got more of a woman’s figure—I got curves, I gained more muscle and more body fat. I was insecure because I was different.” Young and very vulnerable, Victoria developed body image issues that led to depression and anxiety.

At eighteen, Victoria’s depression peaked. She was suicidal, but she spoke up. With the help of her parents, she received medical attention and therapy. “I thought if I can beat this, I can beat anything.” Of her parents, she says, “They are still both extremely supportive. As long as they see me happy, they support me.”

“I want to be able to encourage women to not work out to change who they are… From my own experience, you get into working out for the wrong reasons. It can get very unhealthy—many women have severe eating disorders and bad body image.” Victoria spent some time as a competitive bodybuilder, and she had to take a step back when she recalculated her reasons for extreme fitness and dieting. “I was constantly chasing, constantly thinking something else would make me good enough. Instead of putting that focus and energy into changing myself, I want to put it into accepting me.”

“With the fitness industry, you’re constantly obsessing over the way you look, especially with social media and Instagram. Before you’ve even achieved your goals, you’re already setting up more goals.” The competitive and comparative nature of social media has proven to be toxic to many people. Victoria wants to turn that around and build a network of women encouraging women to take care of both their mental and physical health—both are so tightly interwoven, and the conversation matters.

“One thing I like to say to myself is that I am worthy. I am worthy of love. I am worthy of success. I am worthy of being happy. Even on the darkest days, the sun will still come out the next day. As much as you think you can’t overcome things—those things are not so big at all. Stop chasing this idea of perfection and allow yourself to focus on the inner beauty that you have. Focus on how incredible a person you already are. Whatever you are going through, you’re never alone. You are capable of being happy, and whatever sadness you’re feeling in this present moment isn’t going to last forever.”

To see more of Victoria and her journey, please follow her @victoriadariano or visit her website www.victoriadariano.com

n her blog, fittybritttty.com, Britney talks about the day she walked into Weight Watchers and began her fitness journey. “It was not only a journey of losing weight, I think I found my authentic self. At first, it started as a way to get weight off my body. I wanted to look different. I didn’t like how I looked. I find that every couple of months there’s something I’m trying or evolving or changing to become more myself.”

“When I was losing weight, I was really mean to myself. I used to weigh myself all the time -- three to four times a day.” She would weigh herself before and after meals, and based on the number on the scale, she would mentally bully and punish herself. If she indulged in a treat or if she skipped a workout, she berated herself.

She compared herself to others often. Britney struggled with her weight all her life - she was always the bigger girl in her social groups. She struggled with comparing herself to them. If she went out with her friends, they would order burgers and fries, and she would force herself to eat something healthy.

There were good and bad days, but she hit her goal weight.

Fifteen months after her first Weight Watchers meeting, it wasn’t the celebration she hoped for. She quit meetings, feeling free from the compulsion toward her goal weight. For several months, she relaxed her workouts and ate what she wanted. And she started to be kind to herself.

“I couldn’t get back to the mental state, the crazy weight loss state I was in before. When you’re losing a significant amount weight, your headspace is completely different to commit to workouts and eat those meals.” With social media and Instagram as her accountability scale, Britney found balance - she freed herself from counting calories and she records instead her feelings and her personal growth.

“I still weigh myself out of habit, but it has no effect on my mood anymore. What I also do is I sit with my body and I look in the mirror and I compliment myself. I have a way different thought process now. I hated who I was, and that’s not helpful,” Britney recalls. “You should love yourself as you are.”

Britney dived head first into yoga about two years ago, and it became her go-to work-out soon after. “I wanted to move my body every day, but I needed something less intense on my body.” She wanted to move on from high-intensity physical work-outs, and she was surprised to discover a whole lifestyle and perception change in yoga.

“When I first meet someone, I’m really drawn to smiles and lightheartedness in people. I can feel someone’s energy when talking to someone, and I try to be open-minded when I meet people.”

“Positivity and optimism are really beautiful to me. Look inward and find the positive things within you that make you happy.”

To see more of Britney and her journey please follow her @fittybritttty