It’s June! My favorite month of the year! Why? It’s my birthday month! This month I’m exploring the art of asking for help. It’s truly an art to figure out the things you NEED then researching places/people to ask for help. You may get rejected, but at least you tried. This is not about begging, this is about strategic moves to improve your life outcomes. It’s scary, but worth it. Continue reading “Hello June: The Art of Asking for Help”
Before we get this profile started, I must say “Thank You!” to everyone who viewed, shared, and commented on the #NashvilleCurves campaign! Each woman shared an amazing part of themselves. Besides putting on a bathing suit, they shared parts of their struggle and parts of their hearts. I truly appreciate their transparency! Make sure to read about Kimmy, Nora, Kearsten, and DD; leave some comments on their posts.
So, I’m gonna answer some of the questions I asked the other ladies in their profiles. And, I’m gonna answer some questions I’ve received about the #NashvilleCurves campaign and our upcoming Plus-Size Meet-Up! Let’s go!
Name, age: Melissa, aka FabGlance, 39
What do you do, why do you do it?
I’m a lifestyle blogger and social media manager. I made a decision to leave my corporate job, after 10 years, because it was no longer fulfilling. Check out my YouTube video, “I Quit My Job to be a Full-Time Blogger“, I talk ALL about it. Blogging appeals to me because I love to write. I’ve been a writer since I knew what words meant. I write all the time, and I’m even working on a book of fiction (Jack and Ahlia) due out late fall. As a lifestyle blogger, I get to share my LIFE and my STYLE with my wonderful audience. Being plus-sized still presents a challenge for so many women. I like to show women how to dress well and be comfortable because I know what it feels like NOT to be comfortable in your own skin.
What made you embrace your curves? When did you say, “I’m ok with me?”
I can’t pinpoint the time I decided to embrace my curves. I can say as I got out of my twenties, I started to be OK with the body I have. Whether I’m on my fitness kick or I’m just chilling, I need to appreciate my body. I’ve had times when I was sick, going to hospital visits, having surgery, and I regretted not loving my body. The older I get, the more I love my body. Body confidence is truly a journey and some start earlier than others. I hope my blog can help people get on the path to body acceptance.
Have you had to deal with mean or backhanded comments from family, friends, and/or strangers? What did you do?
YES! I’ve dealt with a variety of horrible comments from strangers, WHOLE discussions from well-meaning family members, and shady comments from ‘friends’. We tend to think we know what’s best for other people, because we are on the outside looking in to their lives. So, when you go to comment on someone’s lifestyle choice, you really need to chill. You don’t know how far they’ve come.
Dealing with judgmental and mean comments is HARD! Like, if I really concentrate on ALL the mean comments I’ve received in my 39 years, I would be in a DEEP depression (I’ve been there!). What do I do? If I see a mean comment about me on the internet, I immediately delete it. I usually don’t know that person, so there’s no value in their comments. Now, dealing with family and friends is another story. Because I’m non-confrontational and an introvert, I usually distance myself from that person. After I gather my thoughts, maybe cry a bit, I usually confront them. It’s hard. I’ve lost some relationships because of nasty comments and underhanded discussions. But, I must do what’s right for my mental well-being.
Continue reading “#NashvilleCurves presents, Melissa, the creator of Nashville Curves!”
Nora is an upcoming plus-size Nashville Blogger! She uses her platform to speak to young women about style, confidence, and beauty. Read Nora’s profile, below, learn about the power of positive words and not allowing negative comments ruin your life.
Name, age: Nora Harris, 25
What do you do, why do you do it?
I’m a Human Resources Coordinator by day, and a body positive, lifestyle blogger in my spare time! I started my blog because I was sick of not seeing women that resembled me in the beauty and fashion industries. I wanted a woman, my size or larger, to be able to feel represented. Also, I wanted an outlet to discuss social and cultural issues that are important to me. My hope is that someone else, struggling with their journey to self-love, can find encouragement and inspiration from my journey.
What made you embrace your curves? When did you say, “I’m ok with me?”
My senior year of college, I competed in our annual Black Student Union Pageant. I was often asked, but I did not think that I was pageant material. For most of my life, I felt ugly, and ostracized because of my weight and how I look. My senior year, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and participate in the pageant.
When I looked at some of the other girls that participated, I did not think that I would win. I took up more space than them. They fit society’s mold for beauty. We had a talent portion, and I sang, “I Am Changing” from the Dreamgirls musical. Afterwards, we had a formal portion. I wore my prom dress; a red lace dress. When I wore this dress in high school, I was really uncomfortable with my body. I did not appreciate my beauty. Something changed for me during the pageant. The lyrics to the song, “I Am Changing” truly inspired me to embrace myself. I won the pageant. Everyone talked about how beautiful I was, how lovely the dress was, and how talented I was.
Many people viewed me as the winner from the beginning, but I was the only person counting myself out. That was my light-bulb moment. I realized that I had been worthy all along. I stopped trying to hide my body after the pageant. I was no longer afraid of commanding attention with my presence. I learned to be unapologetic about my weight, my features, my skin and my personality. There is power in not looking just like everyone else. Being unique made me stand out.
Have you had to deal with mean or backhanded comments from family, friends, and/or strangers? What did you do?
Backhanded compliments and mean comments . . . I’ve gotten them the worst from family and friends! I used to let the comments hurt me, especially if the negativity was from a family member. Then I realized that hurt people hurt people. As a child, I was told that I had a pretty face, but needed to drop the weight if I didn’t want to be lonely the rest of my life. I’ve had friends assume that men weren’t interested in me because of my weight.
I created my blog as a direct response to the hate. I continue to post pictures of me being a prosperous, fabulous, fat queen. I continue to live my life. I continue to thrive, unapologetically. Sometimes, when you are happy with yourself, others may be jealous. People seek to gain power from controlling how you feel. I stopped giving people the power to control my feelings. Keep shining. Keep smiling. Keep living.
FabGlance is not the only plus-size blogger in the city. Every day I find another woman sharing her stylish plus-size experience online. When I stumbled across Kimmy’s microblog on Instagram, I knew I had to follow. Every day, Kimmy shares her great style and amazing ideas online. She never stays away from discussing the topics of feminism, race relations, and being fat in America. We need more truthful, young, vibrant voices like hers in our world. Make sure to follow Kimmy, as she adds style and truth to your timeline!
Name, Age: Kimmy, 25
What do you do, why do you do it?
I have a full time 8-5 job but that isn’t my passion. I do Instagram and social media because I have found these are meaningful ways to interact with people. It is also a space where less represented body types and less represented people, like people of color of disabled people, finally have a space to be themselves and get messages of support from followers and friends. I love having an online space and community to uplift people who are traditionally left out of a lot of spaces.
What made you embrace your curves?
When did you say, “I’m ok with me?” Honestly, joining Instagram was the biggest step in overcoming my body hate and turning it into body love. I found a huge community of women who were plus size and curvy. It was the first time I had ever seen women who looked like me, and they looked beautiful. I was able to shift my perception of myself and curvier and larger bodies by seeing these women, and seeing them apologetically love themselves authentically.
Kearsten is a recent college graduate with a mission to make a big impact in the health industry as a nurse. As the youngest member of #NashvilleCurves Class of 2017 it’s amazing to see her evolution as a voice in Nashville’s plus size community! Confidence is created when we are faced with our greatest truth. Read Kearsten’s story below. Be inspired to be a confidence creator in the lives of young women around you.
Name, Age: Kearsten, 22
What do you do, why do you do it?
I’m a Class of 2017 graduate of the Illustrious and historic Fisk University. For as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to be a part of healthcare in any capacity. I currently work as a CNA for while working towards obtaining my Master’s of Science in Nursing. As of late, it’s becoming more evident that I need to do more in pursuing plus size modeling as these types of opportunities have been presenting themselves. But…we’ll see *birdman hand rub*
What made you embrace your curves? When did you say, “I’m ok with me?”
Honestly, this happened for me fairly recently. All through college, I would steer clear of social events or being visible period because I wasn’t 100% comfortable with my size. This meant I didn’t like how I looked in certain clothing which led to me thinking I had nothing to wear so now I don’t have to go anywhere . . . yay. Closer to the end of my undergraduate years, out of nowhere really, I gained this confidence and adopted a mindset that allowed me to step out of my shell and be who I genuinely was. That meant being comfortable with ALL that God has blessed me with.
Have you had to deal with mean or backhanded comments from family, friends, and/or strangers? What did you do?
I’ve never been skinny in my life except for like once when I was like 3! So, I’ve always had people comment about my size; especially family that you haven’t seen in forever. After my first year of college, not gonna lie, I gained a scary amount of weight. I remember, in 2014, when my uncle came to pick up my brother and I to go to our family reunion in Cincinnati. This was the first time he had seen me since I graduated high school. Literally, the first thing he said was “Wow, freshman 50?” It really hurt at that time but I just laughed it off.
Some know her as Derika, others know her as DD, but I guarantee, after reading her profile, you’ll want to call her friend! This Nashville entrepreneur tells us how therapy helped her be ‘ok’ with her and allowed her to cultivate the confidence to experience a more enriched life!
Name, Age: Derika, 32
What do you do, why do you do it?
I’m a typical left-brained person. Very logical, analytical and solution driven. So naturally when I identify a problem, I can’t wait to find a solution and fix it, even the hard stuff. After being bored, almost to death, with corporate America I decided to start a boutique software development company (@madebyamaven) a couple years ago. Now I get to collaborate with talented people from all over the world to create custom software solutions for businesses. It’s pretty dope!
What made you embrace your curves? When did you say, “I’m ok with me?”
I started going to therapy a few years back while mourning the death of a friend. I didn’t realize it then, but this was one of the best decisions I ever made. I didn’t expect to discover that I had subconsciously convinced myself that certain goals were unattainable for me because I was over a certain size. Removing that mental block changed everything, leaving me open to more experiences, more opportunities, more LIFE!
I am so happy to introduce the wonderful women of #NashvilleCurves, Class of 2017! Kim, Nora, Derika, and Kearsten were selected for their awesome beauty, great style, online presence, and curvy confidence. Kim, Nora, Derika, and Kearsten are bloggers, teachers, coders, and motivators – all using their skills to bring feminine flair to our city. You might not know them now, but after this week, you’ll be giving them a follow.
Visit Fabglance this week to meet and learn more about each lady from the Class of 2017! Seriously, I love these ladies and their dedication to spreading confidence in our curvy community. It’s amazing, because, there are plenty of plus-size women in the city, but their voices are barely heard. I’ve decided to take on the cause. Curvy women deserve to be heard and we deserve options to make us feel beautiful.
Each year, I keep my eye on plus-size women who are making waves. Presenting plus size women, in bathing suits, in NASHVILLE has proven to open a door of opportunity for our curvy community. That’s why I’ve created the #NashvilleCurves Plus-Size Meet-Up! In celebration of the success of the #NashvilleCurves photo series, we want to to create a space for plus size women to listen to inspiring speakers, shop at plus-size vendors, and meet amazing curvy ladies like yourself!
So, come back EVERY DAY this week to get to know our Class of 2017!
Today’s profile features a real life beauty queen! Temitope uses her beauty and brains to help women in the community. Nashville Curves is proud to have Temitope representing in the summer edition. The goal of this campaign was to give a space to the amazing beauties that do every day work while flaunting their curves. Click below to read more about Temitope:
When you were asked to do a bathing suit shoot, what was your first reaction? Me?!?!? She must have accidently sent me this message! I am not a size two, I am not 5’10”, so surely this is a mistake. But after I made sure Fab Glance was serious, I was so excited. It is time for society and Nashville to know, regardless of our size, height, or skin color – WE are QUEENS!
Where can we find you on the internet (Social Media)? You can find me on Instagram: @WorldsMsTourismbeauty2017 and SnapChat: @naijavixen
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| Details: Swim top – Victoria’s Secret, Brief – Ashley Stewart, and Kimono – JCPenney |
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| Suit: Rue 107, Garcelle One Piece |
Name & Age – Amber Ileene Curry, 32
What do you do and why do you do it? I am a creative director and Freelance Hairstylist. I do it because it’s my craft, my passion, my love. I do it because I bring something to the industry that is fresh and innovative and ahead of the curve for women of color and women with multi ethnic hair.
What made you embrace your curves? When did you say, “I’m okay with ME.”? I’ve always been plush as I like to put it. So I think that acceptance has been gradual. My parents always made me feel good about my body and encouraged self-esteem no matter what. Most of my 20s I spent trying to impress and be how I thought folks wanted me to be. My 30s have been all about embracing me and the lacks of fucks I give for folk who think I should be ashamed of my body frame. My goal has always been to be the fiercest in the room period.
How do you deal with mean or backhanded comments from family, friends, or strangers? I don’t. I’m pretty outspoken so you can go there if you want but be ready. Just be ready. My body my rules. Eff your body politics! Stop policing black bodies. All of these comments have been left at one point in time or another.
What advice would you give your YOUNGER curvy self? Get naked girl. Let it all hang loose. Rip your shorts when your thighs don’t fit! There are no rules and when they tell you there all break them all.
Are curves appreciated in Nashville? I don’t really care if they are or not. I appreciate them and as a result expect those around me and in my circles to do the same.
What’s your favorite store to shop as and why? (local, online, vintage, etc) Forever 21 locally at Opry Mills mall. It’s a whole floor of plus size goodness. Online I currently love Zelie for She, Rue 107, and Rebdolls. I’m all about pushing the limits and being bold in a big body.
Tell us about one item in your closet you’ll never let go of? My Black Leather Kangol hat. Got it in 1997 7th grade. And it just gets better with age I get offered money for it every year when I whip it out for winter and fall. I love hats!
Describe you favorite summer look- A pair of Dee Dee Dukes (I live for short shorts. The shorter the better.) A low cut bodysuit. I am so glad the 90s have returned with a vengeance. Chic flat sandals and A fierce cut on my curls. It’s either that or bell-bottoms, a boho crop, no bra (FREE THE NIPPLE) and accouterments as needed.
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| Hair by Lucy Bell Salon |
Are curves appreciated in Nashville? I don’t really care if they are or not. I appreciate them and as a result expect those around me and in my circles to do the same.
What’s your favorite store to shop as and why? (local, online, vintage, etc) F21 locally at opry mills mall. It’s a whole floor of plus size goodness. Online I currently love Zelie for She, Rue 107, and Rebdolls. I’m all about pushing the limits and being bold in a big body.
Tell us about one item in your closet you’ll never let go of? My Black Leather Kangol. Got it in 1997 7th grade. And it just gets better with age I get offered money for it every year when I whip it out for winter and fall. I love hats!
Describe you favorite summer look- A pair of Dee Dee Dukes (I live for short shorts. The shorter the better.) A low cut bodysuit. I am so glad the 90s have returned with a vengeance. Chic flat sandals and A fierce cut on my curls. It’s either that or bell-bottoms. a boho crop. no bra (FREE THE NIPPLE) and accouterments as needed.
