my self portrait project

It’s that time of the year again (maybe that’s just all of the time?). People are telling you what they’ve accomplished in 365 days, engagements galore, boudoir photos are flooding your Instagram, lots of exciting things are happening and, in spite of all of the good that surrounds you, you may be feeling bad about yourself. I get that way, too, sometimes. I think we all need a good reminder of who we are and that, no matter what’s happening currently, we are worthy.

The other day, I decided to shower, put makeup on, do my hair, and shoot some empowering portraits of myself. Let me tell you something — self-portraits are fucking hard. You have to see the awkwardness that is you in front of a camera, the rolls you’re insecure about, you have to see the bad outtakes, the weird eye that’s always squinty, the bad angles, the failed poses, and you have to — somehow, someway — find the beauty in you.

I don’t look like a model and I won’t retouch or liquify myself to, either. My legs aren’t smooth (hey cellulite), there isn’t a thigh gap in sight, my stomach is far from flat, and my butt isn’t cute and round (ya know, like the peach emoji).

But this is who I am. This is my body. This is me and I’m okay with it.

Believe me when I say, I know that it’s not easy, but I hope you leave more insecurities in 2020 than you bring to 2021, you deserve more self-love.