One word to chalk this up- FUN

Make sure to read their interview before… ugh such real, beautiful, powerful humans.

Why would you like to be a part of this project?

I’ve done two body positivity shoots with Kayla Logan and it’s made me much more aware of my body. I’ve worked for years to be at peace with my body after stumbling upon the community back in 2012, but this would be a bit out of my comfort zone – which is where you grow! 

How do I think I’d benefit from this project?

I think it would be awesome to step outside my comfort zone. I’ve been photographed topless once (for a thesis on femme bodies and self confidence) but never in a sensual and fun way. I sometimes need a bit of a push but I’m always trying to grow as a human being and connect with the world around me, and my fellow human beings.

What benefits can I give to the project?

I’m going to bring my positive attitude and I’m willing to try new things. I’m looking forward to experimenting and I’m going to give it my all.

What kind of inspiration can I contribute?

I hope I can inspire fellow plus size folks to embrace their “flaws” and learn to love their bodies. My hope is that by putting myself out there, and showing people with similar body types that they can do the same things folks with slimmer bodies can do! We deserve to be represented in media. 

What’s my story?

A gal who grew up on a farm in a very conservative area, luckily with a mom who had lived in the city for a decade and was willing to help me navigate life. I’ve always been on the bigger side and never thought about it until middle school when the bullying began. Around 19 I started actively trying to love my body and it’s been an ongoing journey since then! I’m hoping to help influence a change in the advertising world in the way bodies are shown – more diversity is key! 

-Sasha O’Marra

_____

Why would you like to be a part of this project?

I see the raw beauty, empowerment and femininity  that Trina brings out in the women that she photographs and I wanted to experience that. I’ve been really struggling with self love recently, accepting my body as it is and my mental heath. I haven’t felt beautiful in a while and I wanted to see myself in a magical way, the way that Trina does, empowered, strong and yet vulnerable at the same time. I wanted to see myself without the labels society has placed on me, a label of being mentally ill, crazy and unstable. I think it’s a beautiful project that celebrates a shared history of being a women. It honours women of all shapes and sizes, of all ages and it’s shows the true beauty within. I wanted to be a part of this very important history and sisterhood. 

How do I think I’d benefit from this project?

I had the privilege of stepping into my own power. The privilege of owning my identity and standing strong as a women. In these images I’m not some broken girl struggling with her mental health. I’m a powerful goddess who is shining in her own light. I’m not thinking about having panic attacks, being depressed or maybe having borderline personality disorder. I get to just be me and be free. It’s liberating. 

What benefits can I give to the project?

The benefits are stepping into your personhood. Owning who you are as you are. Accepting that you are a beautiful human being worthy of love, respect, kindness and happiness. That your size, your cellulite, your stretch marks aren’t the reasons for unhappiness, but are what makes you beautiful and unique; they should be embraced and celebrated as a part of your story. When you strip down and become vulnerable that is when your true beauty shines. 

What kind of inspiration can I contribute?

That I’m fat and mentally ill, but I’m still a badass bitch!! I won’t let my mental illness define who I am and my self worth. My mental illness is a beautiful part of me because without it I wouldn’t be me and I love me. My mental illness is one of my greatest strengths, not weaknesses, yes you heard correctly! It has made me kind, understanding and empathetic, they are qualities I highly value and I have my mental health struggles to thank for that. My weight doesn’t define me either, it is just a part of me, but I get to decide how I live my life and for who I live it. By contributing to projects like the flower project you are taking your life into your own hands and living it! 

What’s my story?

Where do I even start with this one? My name is Kayla Logan, I’m a mental health and body love advocate. I’ve struggled with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, ADHD for my whole life. I was diagnosed with a permanent disability for my mental health at the age of 19 and have struggled to the point where I shouldn’t be standing here today. I’ve recently been diagnosed with having traits of borderline personality disorder. In the last few years while dealing with many mental health struggles and discrimination at my university regarding my mental health I gained over 100lbs and I hated myself. I became so depressed that I wouldn’t leave my house for over 6 months. I told my family “I’d rather be dead than live alive and be fat!” I wasn’t kidding!! I started the Dr.Bernstein diet and lost 20lbs, during this time I started a body positivity journey of posing at iconic places in my underwear to show people  that you’re beautiful at every shape and size. The truth was I didn’t believe this, I was soo fatphobic and didn’t even realize it. I realized that I never loved myself when I was thin and I didn’t love myself now, so it was time to quit the diet and learn how to love myself! It’s been one of the hardest journeys of my life. I don’t love myself everyday, but I do about 80% of the time and that’s winning to me!! I’m also a huge mental health advocate. I spent most of my life being silenced and I won’t do it anymore. We need to have open discussions about the reality and hardships of living daily with mental illness. I share my journey so that others know that they’re not alone and their is nothing wrong with them. I spent most my life isolated and thinking I was broken. I don’t want anyone to ever have to feel that way. We are all beautiful just the way we are. 

– Kayla Logan

___

Why would you like to be a part of this project?

I wanted to be a part of this project because I love the way Trina captures women’s bodies in an empowering way.

How do I think I’d benefit from this project?

I think being a part of this project will help me to feel empowered and strong. 

What benefits can I give to the project?

My hope is that by being a part of this project I can benefit how people view plus size bodies. By putting myself out there I hope that bodies of all shapes and sizes can be seen as normal and not something to be mocked or ridiculed for.

What kind of inspiration can I contribute?

The type of inspiration I can contribute is my confidence in my body. I hope that if I can share that confidence that more women will feel comfortable in their own skin

What’s my story? 

I am a woman who has never fit the mould of traditional beauty. I’ve been told that I wasn’t good enough, that I would be cute if I lost some weight. After awhile I just got so tired of feeling bad about not fitting in and decided to just love who I am. I created @beyourjoy as a way to put myself out there and share my journey to loving myself with the hope that other women can love themselves the way that I have found love and joy within myself.

-Carissa Anderson

Your Narrative blog will appear here, click preview to see it live.
For any issues click here