Growing up, I had red curly hair with freckles covering my whole body. Physically, I always felt awkward & my body developed quicker than most of the other girls. The clothes I wore never had name brands & I use to hate my picture been taken…I actually use to feel sick every time there was a camera around.

Some might read this and think “does it really matter”? YES, it does! It matters because when you are a young girl, who is bullied every day & feels at odds with the world, it DOES matter! It affects how you grow up, view the world & the woman you become.

In turn, this has an influence on every other aspect of our lives. From the careers we choose to the relationships we have.

How we feel about ourselves, our bodies and our worthiness have a direct impact on our lives & the world around us.

When I was growing up, there was no social media or easy access to the digital world. However, that has drastically changed. Body shaming & bullying is not just on the “playground” anymore. It is now in our homes through the screens we view.

And women experience it at ALL ages! From as young as 5 to as old as 65, they feel the pressure for physical perfection & the need to look a certain way to be liked & accepted. 

I have overcome severe bullying (including as an adult), survived multiple eating disorders & battled my way through soul-destroying anxiety to blossom into the woman I am today.

I’m not perfect. I don’t conform to a certain size or shape or look or weight or education or status….but what I am is 100% authentic, honest & brave enough to be me.