The stares, the glares, undeniable terrifying feeling that everyone is silently judging you for the way you look; I know that feeling all too well. In a world that is telling you that skinny is in, that a size 2 is the only form of beauty; you feel less than.

I'm here to tell you, baby girl, that you are enough! You are a stunning reflection of acceptance and beauty. The curves along your sides tell your story, the crop top that you're afraid of wearing is not too short, that high waisted bikini is just for you. To the plus size woman struggling to love herself; you are not alone. Whether you're a size 16 or 24 there is not a day that passes that you are undervalued.

To put things into perspective, I never understood how people could talk in regard to full-figured women, "Yeah, she's cute in the face" as if being full figured is an ignominy. As if somehow being a fuller woman makes you less than human and that you are not worthy of attention or love. The full-figured woman with an even fuller heart, you are more than your round bottom, stretch marks, and BMI. You are first and foremost a woman! And that is such a powerful inclination! You are a goddess and a radical deliberation of inspiration. You are a badass, In the end, it is imperative to remember,

"Sexy is not a size, every calorie is not a war, your body is not a battleground. Your value is not measured in pounds, you are just as beautiful as any other woman" — Unknown

To the plus size woman struggling to love herself; you are more than the reflection of others. You are the words of love spoken in novels, you are the woman with a story, the woman that is unstoppable. I learned a long time ago on my journey to self-acceptance that no one has the right to make you feel less than remarkable about your body or anything else for that matter, no one owns the rights to your self-esteem.

I took matters into my own hands and began eating healthier; not to lose weight or be the picture of perfection that everyone else had in mind for me; to be healthier. It takes a lot of courage to love yourself in a world that is telling you your own body is not their idea of perfection. After a while, I learned that I can no longer give others permission to make me feel less than extraordinary; because...

"The second you stop looking for someone else in the mirror and start looking at you is the second you will start to appreciate what you are; Perfection." Jess Baker, "Things no one will tell fat girls"