For my entire life, I have been trying desperately to change my body. Diet, exercise, pills, more diets, starving myself, and even throwing up my food were all part of my pursuits to lose the weight that told made me “thick” and “curvy” were ugly and undesirable. Nothing seemed to work. Even at my leanest in my adult life, people remarked at my booty and legs. Finally, I resolved to embrace the skin I am in and love myself. As a matter of fact, as of recently, I had a conversation with a friend and said, “I like myself these days.” While on my honeymoon, weighing in at about 7 pounds heavier than I’ve weighed in a long time, I posted pictures in a bathing suit for the world to see. And why shouldn’t I? I like myself and I am happy. After years of self-loathing, I decided to embrace my body for its magnificent beauty, regardless of what society deems to be attractive. This self-love inspired me to lead my own personal crusade against society and in particular, the hypocritical vanity pervasive in the yoga world. So while I am trying to inspire others to love themselves too, the same society that condemned me for my lack of perfection, the same society that was actually offended by my need to not cover up, the same society that has called people like Kelly Clarkson and Amy Schumer fat; has recently decided “Oh hey, we like these bodies now—it’s ok for you to have thick thighs and an ass.”

Ashley Graham

Before the most recent Sports Illustrated model Ashley Graham there was Tess Holliday. And there’s yogini and self-proclaimed Fat Femme Jessamyn Stanley who’s heralded for spearheading this ‘new movement’ of body positivity and awareness while amassing a whooping 154k in followers on Instagram! Well, what about all those gals who came before them? Why is it that women with real bodies needed to have permission and societal acceptance to emerge on the scene to finally be called beautiful? I’m sorry, but we all know that some hoity-toity editor in a corner office on Wilshire Blvd or atop a Manhattan sky-rise knew that by putting a woman considered ‘bigger’ on the cover would sell more magazines. So while thousands of people see these models and magazine covers as ground breaking, I see them as more of a step backwards. These women, beautiful and inspiring in their own unique ways aren’t necessarily plus-sized; they’re you and me. Our mothers, colleagues, our friends; these women are society.

Tess Holliday

Beauty comes in all different shapes and sizes. I am barely 5’1 with dense, short muscles, a soft belly, and traps and triceps that would put The Rock to shame—I’d just like to see him do some of the cool yoga shit I can do. My point is, I’m too short for any agency to ever shoot or use me for a campaign. My boobs are too big and my stomach has some pinch to it. No one would ever want to see me modeling clothing; for Christ’s sake, things wouldn’t look perfect and we couldn’t have that. But that’s just my point! More on that later.

Here’s my retort to society’s new found enthusiasm for my thighs and butt:

Screw you

The women and people I mentor, teach, and work with don’t look like Victoria’s Secret models—they look like me. The bottom line is I don’t wait for validation from anyone. For almost a year I have been shooting many of my social media pictures with my shirt off to show the world that REAL BODIES CAN DO YOGA and this a body that doesn’t have visible ribs and a 5’10 frame. And while I am thrilled that Ashley Graham, Tess Holliday, Jessamyn Stanley are continuing to pave the way to create space for real bodies to thrive; until the smaller clothing lines and masses get on board, curvy women are just a trend.

Jessamyn Stanley

I don’t know about you, but I’m no trend. It’s up to us to start mobilizing as a community; a magazine cover isn’t enough. France has already started by passing new legislation requiring models to be of a healthy BMI to work. Read more about this amazing first step in fashion and modeling by clicking here. I think it needs to start with us, the public. Don’t hide who you are or what you look like. Stop hiding behind baggy clothes. Take your shirt off. Take that yoga class in your sports bra. Wear a bikini and proudly strut your stuff. Heck, wear a Speedo. We must stop hiding who we are and shine. For too long we have allowed impossible standards of beauty to govern how we felt about ourselves.

Let’s ride this wave of momentum. Take pictures of yourself in all your beauty and glory. Post to your social media channels with the hashtags #IAMNOTATREND and #BEAUTYKNOWSNOBORDERS. Also, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram here using #THEGIRLWITHPURPLEHAIR.

Beauty is for all bodies!