As we prepare to celebrate International Women’s Day I want to share with you something that I am not sure every woman has been able to grasp. I have concluded that have not been able to grasp this truth because we have allowed society to create an image of womanhood that excludes many women.  When we talk about womanhood, it is important that we understand and respect the fact that we are all different. It is equally as important that in understanding and respecting our differences we recognize that acknowledging and celebrating our diversity in every manner is vital to womanhood. Women and girls around the world need to see that while we all have things that set us apart, despite our color, size, age or class…we are all connect! As women, it is time that we dismiss society’s distorted picture of what womanhood looks like and absorb the fact that… THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO BE A WOMAN!

Throughout my life, I have met and formed relationships with many women, some of them bared strong similarities to the woman that I am (or was at the time) and some of them didn’t display any similarities. However, in meeting these women I was able to connect and draw inspiration from many of them. The ability to draw inspiration and acknowledge the greatness of another woman, is fueled by confidence. You must be confident enough with the woman that you are and what you embody to sincerely celebrate that of another woman. No, it is not something that happens over night, but if you are committed to being a better woman, that confidence will come.

As a plus size woman who has struggled with confidence for years, I know that it can be hard to break free from your insecurities. However, as a woman who has found her worth and turned her back on her insecurities, I am here to tell you ladies that it is the best thing that ever happened to me. Being confident and comfortable in #thisbody, freed up a lot of space in my head and in my heart. My confidence, removed the shame I felt about my size, it replaced all the doubt I had about who I was because of my size and it blocked the shade that I had thrown at other women for years.

via GIPHY

Yeah, I threw a little shade (well probably an orchard worth) … Hell that is what you do when you don’t know any better and you see other women as your competition or feel that they in some way dimming your light. This is where it becomes vital to comprehend what I mean when I say, “there is no one way to be a woman.” Women come in so many different forms and our difference don’t exclude use from womanhood, they simply set us apart and show the world and one another that despite our differences, good or bad… WE ARE GREAT!

Today, I encourage you to dismiss the notion that womanhood looks and act a particular way because that is far from the truth. Womanhood has no size limit, it is not racially exclusive, you don’t have to show your ID to be considered a woman and no one is checking your credit or your bank account; being a woman is our birthright and it is valid as long as we are.

MY STYLE JOURNAL

Striped Wrap Dress: Prabal Gurung for #ThisBody

Floral Scarf: Prabal Gurung for #ThisBody

Red Wedge: Torrid

*Photos by: P Dillon Photography*