Loving Everything Including Stretch Marks

Stretchmarks can happen to virtually anyone.  They are common and harmless, but often stigmatizes as ugly and bad.

Recently, Sports Illustrated supermodel Chrissy Teigen posted a photo of herself in shorts, with the caption "Stretchies say Hi!" 

class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crissy Teigen's Photo exposing stretch marks on her thighs
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This Sparked a hashtag campaign of self love on social media, under #LoveyourLines.  There are numerous photos of women flaunting their stretch marks on Instagram including:

To date, there are 90,97 posts under the "LoveYourLines" tag, and counting!

DISCLAIMER: These images belong to Instagram and their respective users

These social campaigns are crucial to changing the harmful attitudes that women have against each other, and themselves.  Exposure to these perfectly natural parts of our bodies lead to acceptance.  Join the campaign, and love yourself.  

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You can't see Lifestyle in a Photo

Tess Holliday
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This is the beautiful plus sized model Tess Holiday.  Recently, she was signed with MiLK Model Management.  Feedback includes incredible amounts of positivity, but in many cases, there are "concern trolls" as Kelsey Miller calls them.  Concern trolls often pose as friendly with only the intent of helping, and often say things like: 

"So sad to see a young woman give up and accept obesity. There are no healthy obese people." 

"Sure, she's beautiful, but is she healthy?" 

"I'm sorry she's so lazy, but this woman is setting a horrible example for the nation's kids!"

These "concerned" people are worse than outright bullies, because in most cases, they don't think they are bullies.  They think they are just "trying to help you out." 

The fault in these trolls is a major one; they are trying to diagnose your WHOLE life in one photo.  

You cannot see her daily routines, what she eats, how much she exercises, in one photo.  

These thinly veiled comments are just fatphobia in disguise.  If a person was a size two in a photo, people would not question her lifestyle or heath.  Size is not a reflection of health, in fact, there are plenty of tiny people who live incredibly unhealthy lives, including models. Small models constantly monitor their weight, and there are even known cases of anorexia in models.  How is THAT any more healthy than this glowing confident model?

Don't get me wrong, I am not body shaming women with small bodies.  ALL bodies are good bodies, and that is the point. My point is that fat bodies are stigmatized as bad bodies more often than small bodies are.  Any implication of this woman's health is PREJUDICE. 

Lastly, I am not condoning unhealthy lifestyles by any means. Everybody has their flaws in regards to heath, and everyone should try hard to work on these flaws.  Never gone to the gym? Try it.  Are you concerned about your body? Time to see a doctor.  However, you should love your body regardless of what it looks like.  Self Love is the ultimate goal regardless of your shape or size.  

Source Article: Are you Concerned about this Woman's Heath?

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Sizing and "One Size Fits All?"

Everyone knows what "one size fits all" is supposed to mean, but what does it imply? Do people actually think that one size fits all is an easy, effective way to make cute clothing?

In my experience, "one size fits all" is a myth.  I have yet to find a piece of clothing labeled as such that really would "fit all."

My take away from one size fits all, is that it is made for whatever the brand deems the "average" or "desirable body".  Usually, one size fits all does not even go over the bodies or large women.  It also sags loosely on small bodies.

The implication? If your body doesn't fit, you don't have a good body, as one of the girls says. I think this is just the very tip of the iceberg. One size fits all clothing can make a person feel bad, what about brands that vary drastically in size?  

In America, we are so size obsessed that companies tamper and adjust jean sizes with both good and ill intent.  

In conclusion, I think that if all companies and corporations had restricted rules on sizing clothes that it would reduce the psychological toll it takes on women to find clothing that fits us.  If you're a woman who struggles with finding the right clothes, just know that you are not alone.  

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Burlesque Dancer Tears Apart Negative Body Image

Lillian Bustle, an award-winning burlesque dancer, gets on stage for TedxNewJersey and talks about her experiences with burlesque and body image.  She is unashamed to admit that she is fat.  One of the most common misconceptions is that the word fat means ugly.

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She addresses that the number one magic wish for girls age 11-17,  wish that they were thinner.   I think most people know that wish, and Lillian herself admits to it.  Eating disorders are a serious problem in the United States

One of the most interesting things she addresses is the studies that are conducted that prove that what one sees more often, is what one defines as beautiful.  When one was more often exposed to little bodies, they preferred little bodies.  When one was exposed to larger bodies, they preferred larger bodies.  This illustrates how, if everyone was constantly exposed to all kinds of body types, we would all accept, tolerate, and even prefer all kinds of bodies.  

Lillian really addresses some of the most important points when it comes to body image and courage.  It is important for women, for all people, to know that fat is not the worst thing you can be. 

Lillian Bustle on TedxNewJersey

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