I've struggled with my weight since childhood and it's still an emotional (and physical) struggle for me but overall, I am happy with who I am as a person and am often times comfortable in my own skin until I'm reminded of the "society standard" of beauty.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard in my life the whole...
"You have the most beautiful face. If only you were thinner, we'd be perfect for each other" or "If you could lose fifty pounds, I'd so date you."
I was teased during my school years...labeled the "lesbian fat girl" because I am bi-sexual and fat.
It's no fun when your sexuality and weight is exploited during a time in your life where you're trying very hard to make it day by day and fit in or at least try to
blend in.
Trying on clothes is every bit the nightmare today as it was ten years ago and I ABHORE the fact that clothing designers and distributers aren't more flexible when it comes to plus size clothing. I live in an area, the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where staistically, we've got quite a "plus size" population. I'm not proud of this fact but you'd think...when you've got the supply and demand going on for plus size clothing, you'd be able to find a greater selection of plus size clothing. I've gone to try on clothes and have sat down and cried in the dressing room because MY SIZE is simply NOT my size. It's either two sizes too large and envelopes me like a burlap sack or it's two sizes too small.
It's depressing. I can be in wonderful spirits and then I go shopping and it's like..."Gee, everything sucks."
Purchasing my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. For one, the entire wedding party, (minus me) combined were a smaller dress size and the sales reps outwardly treated me less cordial than did they did all the skinny folk in the party. It was degrading and I was so irritated at the end of the fittings, I wanted to compose many hate notes...expressing my desire to boycott wedding attire FOREVER!
They simply didn't carry larger sizes and for the life of me, I don't understand why. Are fat women not supposed to enjoy life and participate in weddings? Are pregnant women not supposed to enjoy life and participate in formal events because good grief...there were even FEWER selections for the pregnant bridesmaid. I think it's ridiculous and unfair.
I spent way more on my stupid dress and then paid big bucks to have it altered by someone else.
The definition of beautiful is NOT runway thin. Though I've fantasized of being runway thin...it's just not in the cards for me and I shouldn't be made to feel like less of a human being because my definition of beauty is a shorter and rounder version of "runway".
I'm fat but I take GREAT care on a daily basis to look as good as I can not because I necessarily care what others think of me but because it makes me feel good to know that my roots aren't showing, that I smell nice and that my makeup looks hot. I'm VERY much into hygiene and actually enjoy certain types of exercises. (Bellydancing, especially. )
I married a man who loves me for me and always has. I'm overweight. He's not. He's very tall and has always been thin and we have two beautiful little girls together and although we're human and we have our ups and downs, we're happy and blessed.
I think beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. And I'm just tired of seeing the same thing over and over again in magazines. I truly hope to see more and more overweight models and actresses take center stage and I'd like to see more clothing/fashion companies reach out to REALLY serve plus size individuals.
And I think people just need to think before they make degrading statements to others. I don't think people realize what an impact their words can have on the lives of others. I certainly wouldn't fault someone for not being attracted to an overweight or obese individual but to go out of your way to treat that individual as less of a person because of their appearance is shallow and mean.