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As a plus-size woman, I’ve gone through a real journey to discover and claim my own beauty, which I think is okay, since even Oprah Winfrey seems to struggle with that same issue — and hey, she’s OPRAH for heaven’s sake.  But when I look back, it was really a situation that began, and ended, with me.  First of all, other people always thought I was pretty (and I don’t just mean my mom!).  And except for the once-in-a-blue-moon comment about my weight, I was often complimented on my beautiful face, great complexion, and fun and friendly disposition.  In the end, I had to admit that it was something inside of me that held back and refused to see the incredible woman I was – inside AND out.

In a nutshell, the problem was that I was eternally “on hold” — deep inside, I always thought that I would only “really” be attractive to other people after I lost weight. And following along that line of thinking, I simply put a lot of my life on hold.  Every year, I thought that when I lost weight, I could finally go swimming or take a great tropical vacation (and so most years, I didn’t even buy a swimsuit). I thought that when I lost weight I would wear shorts and have a variety of tank tops (and so I suffered through endless hazy summer days in black leggings or long skirts and hid myself beneath button down tops, or maybe I’d risk a short-sleeve tee).  And I ALWAYS thought that when I lost weight, I would buy new clothes.  (So I rarely enjoyed a beautiful new dress and didn’t even daydream of a closet full of great choices.) 

Thankfully, over time, that has all changed.  Part of it has been a much improved level of self-confidence and self-acceptance.  Like may women, I AM always working on my weight — I try to make healthy choices and eat right, and I walk every single day — and I remind myself that I have gained very little over my adult life — my set point is simply a gorgeous size 18.  I also remind myself that feeling beautiful is a struggle that many women face, regardless of their size.  So over time, I grew some gratitude to go along with my knowledge that I was a beautiful woman. 

With that newfound self-confidence in place, it made room for the other part of my self-discovery – fueled by the full figured fashion world.  Plus-size women have definitely had a terrific revolution in the clothing industry over the last decade.  Gone are your mother’s muumuus and style-deprived, depressing wardrobes of black and more black. 

Today, my closets and drawer are a trip through designer fashions and a skip down style street!  And this is in no small part due to full figured, powerful, gorgeous celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah.  So now, in the summertime, I have no less than three plus-size swimsuits (one of them, a two-piece fuscia tankini with a great lace sarong).  And I take them on fabulous island vacations all over the globe.  I also have a rainbow of plus-size capris in every shade of the rainbow to pack in my suitcase and a drawer full of beautiful plus-size camisole tops to go with them.

In the winter, every day I get to choose from a different plus-size top and stylish pants or a great looking split skirt and silk blouse to go with it – and of course, some fabulous accessories to compliment it all (a MUST have for the full-figured woman’s business wardrobe). 

My point is this – while I may always be working on my weight and chasing better health (and hey, who isn’t), I know that looking great is a BIG part of feeling great.  And that’s an accessory we ALL deserve!

Stacy Montgomery
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/looking-good-a-plussize-womans-revolution-721973.html

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