Today is #NationalCurvesDay!
National Curves Day was established in 2016 as a global nonprofit, coed social organization representing inner serenity, confidence, and love for oneself and others. Originally created to inspire plus-size women to embrace their bodies and build self-confidence, it has since expanded to include men as well.
Here’s my journey to LOVING MY CURVES and becoming #bodypositive:
I may not have a “coke bottle” figure, but I’ve always had curves. I’ve also always loved fashion, but growing up, I HATED the clothing options available… until I met the Henderson Sisters in high school—Tamarra and Yolanda.
As a child, I was never the girl who got chosen, and I was definitely called “the fat girl” more than once. But in high school at Suitland, I saw girls like me who were always stylish—especially Tamarra and Yolanda Henderson. My mission? Find out where they shopped (because I hated everything I saw in stores)! Tamarra and Yolanda weren’t just stylish; their hair was always flawless, they were gorgeous, and they were PLUS-SIZE (I needed their intel). In the ’90s, they would’ve been considered #FlyGirls.
They shared their secret: they shopped at Marianne Plus (I would later work there). I immediately told my mother, and we had to shop there too. From that point, my fashion sense improved, but it wasn’t until I left high school and entered the workforce that I could really explore my personal style and learn how to dress my body. What started as a superficial journey became something much deeper, as I began to embrace the woman inside.
Working through self-image often involves a lot of back and forth, push and pull. Growing up, there weren’t many people who looked like me or were shaped like me. It was refreshing to see women like – Vesta (before her weight loss, rest in peace), Oprah, Queen Latifah, and Mo’Nique. Through my journey of self-discovery, I learned to love myself as I am. I realized I’m a large woman with a large presence, and I’m beautiful just the way I am. It’s important for me not to shrink myself or compress who I am to fit someone else’s image, as I once did when I was less sure of myself. I won’t pretend that I don’t have low moments, but now I have the tools to lift myself back up.
Today, I honor that young girl, “Tynisha,” who was so unsure of herself. And I celebrate the woman I am now, “Madame Turquoise,” for all that I am and how I choose to show up in the world—the colorful peacock that I am!
This post is for all of those girls on their journey and the women who have seen their way to the other side of the journey.
