hat a beautiful photoshoot we had with Alexandra Renee during our trip to Phoenix, Arizona. Not only is her body a canvas made for art, but her personality is just as artistically colorful and inspiring.
“Damn this is such a pretty feature to have.”
What is your ethnicity?
I’m half Filipino and half Caucasian.
What is your age?
I Just turned 26 in September
How have you struggled in the past to appreciate or love your body and how have you overcome that struggle?
In the past I’ve struggled with weight gain but the majority of my life I was typically thinner because I was involved in soccer. In the last two years I’ve gained over 25 pounds which for me wasn’t normal. I felt disgusting, but now I appreciate my weight for what it is. Recently, I was able to lose those 25 pounds, I feel this is my forever home. I aim to nurture my body rather than beat myself up trying to be perfect.
How do you feel about your stretch marks on your butt and thighs?
I used to hate them. I actually used to get bullied in high school for having them, but now I look at them and say “damn this is such a pretty feature to have.” It shows my progress and growth throughout the years.
What do you love most about your body now?
I love how my body is my temple. I have adopted new changes as to how I take care of my temple. This has helped me focus more on myself and how I feel internally.
How was it shooting with no makeup?
I loved it! In general I don’t wear much makeup. Despite having imperfections, the shoot was beyond empowering.
Was it empowering shooting implied and how did it feel?
At first It was definitely out of my comfort zone, but once I started getting comfortable, I felt confident in my skin. Shooting implied helped me appreciate the beauty of my body.
What message do you have for other women who struggle to appreciate and love their bodies?
We are not all built the same, we all have different genetics, and body shapes. But that’s what makes us unique and beautiful, so don’t compare yourself to others. You and your body are beautiful the way you are.
How has the gym helped you love your body?
This is actually a good question. I wouldn’t say the gym has helped me love my body. There have been times when I’ve worked out and hated the way I looked, only because I didn’t look like everyone else in the gym. But on the flip side it’s helped me love my body because I feel so strong and empowered when I’m lifting or hitting a new PR.
What are your future goals?
I want to continue to transform my body and push it to the limits. I hope to keep inspiring others through my personal training and the videos I post on instagram. Hopefully becoming someone people look up to one day.
3 inspiring books/films or shows we should get into?
1) The Way directed by Emilio Estevez 2) The Power of now by Eckhart Tolle 3) The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Anything else you’d like to add about yourself?
I’m a personal trainer and Semi-Pro soccer player. I have been playing for 18 years. Both are huge passions of mine and hope to influence others through those two things.
To see more of Alexandra Renee, please follow her on Instagram @Alexandra_renee17
