Unconditional Body Beautiful: Part One
Part One: MY BODY AND I FROM THE BEGINNING
The relationship I had with my body at a young age was a harmonious one. I started studying dance (ballet mostly) at the tender age of three well into my late teens. I remember my mother and grandmother always commenting on how I had the body of a dancer. I was made to dance. For those who don’t know the body of a dancer is very lean, slender physique with long limbs. I was so thin sometimes you could see my ribcage. This of course was not on purpose and numerous times my mother took me to the doctor to find out if I was malnourished. However, the problem was simple I just wasn’t a big eater and could not stand the sight of meat. Now coming from an African-American family with southern roots; most meals consisted of a lot meat dishes. I was a natural vegetarian. I only wanted to eat the side dishes. I’d take two to three bites of my meal and push it to the side. My mother finally caught on a filled my plate with the things I loved although I still remained “super skinny”.
You may think being skinny has its perks, but children can be cruel. I was constantly teased, called Olive Oyl, told I had poles for legs and because I was tall (a whopping 5’8 by the time I was in the 7th grade) didn’t help either. I was taller than most of my class throughout school. It wasn’t until I went to my first real high fashion show and saw these beautiful gaunt, statuesque, beauties that I knew where I belonged. At the age of 12 I was discovered by a fashion photographer, had a photo shoot, and was whisked away to meet who would soon become my agent. My years as a high fashion, standard size model weren’t like most of the horror stories you hear. I wasn’t put of a strict diet. I practically ate whatever I wanted and I still loved to dance regularly. Years went by with no real change in my body.
As I grew into a woman, I noticed that my mother started being very critical about my body image. She would say, “Shalon don’t get pregnant, having babies will change your body and not for the better…” I was raised in family with beautiful curvy, plus-sized women. I remember wanting to have big breast, curvy thighs, and a portly figure. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. But, my mother was constantly criticizing me about my body. If someone commented on my figure, she would say, “My body used to look just like Shalon’s until I gave birth to her.” Can you imagine how this made me feel? I realize my mother had good intentions but she was (like many women) conditioned to think if your body doesn’t look like a model’s body, you’re ruined. Sadly, this ideology was indelibly ingrained in me. I found out I was pregnant with my son. I was so afraid my career as a model was finished and it didn’t help I had my mother in my ear. I feared stretch marks and the like. I gained 10 pounds (YES 10 POUNDS) every month of my pregnancy adding up to 90 pounds when I went into labor! Soon after I learned my mother and I were not the same person. I lost all the pregnancy weight fairly rapidly, returned close to the size I originally was and continued being a straight size model.
Several years passed and my mother was diagnosed with chronic end-stage kidney failure. As her only child, caring for her was left to me. It pained me to see my mother in this condition and a part of me became depressed. With an intensely busy schedule as a single mother to a toddler, full-time student, and care provider my eating and workout habits slacked off. I slowly started gaining weight, but, like I said before I didn’t mind. My body started popping curves out everywhere. I called this phenomena “Growing into My Woman’s Body”. As I gained weight my being a high fashion model was pretty much finished. I didn’t have time to think about how or why this happened. I simply retired…
One day out to dinner with someone friends I saw my old agent. We chatted for a bit and he asked me if I ever considered being a plus model. Plus modeling??? I didn’t think I was a plus sized woman. I was a size 11 juniors. I laughed it off but, didn’t forget our talk. I started doing my research about the plus model industry. I saw beautiful curvy women and said, “Hell yeah! I wanna do this!” In 2007, I found out Torrid was having a model search in my city, tried out, made it to the finals, and my plus modeling career was started. Since I was on the smaller end of the spectrum, I found it hard to book mainstream clients because they complained about me being too small. This was backwards from what I was used to. I was grateful for the leeway of gaining weight if I chose to do so.
In 2011, the passing of my mother and other life instances caught up with me. I went to see a doctor who put me on anti-depressants and before I knew it I had gained over 50 pounds in a month. My body hurt all the time, I could barely walk, I didn’t look like myself, I wasn’t booking modeling gigs anymore and I was scared to death; scared that I was going to die like my mother at an even younger age. There was no diagnosis to explain what was happening to me. I reached out on Facebook hoping someone would have an answer. Some said,” It might be multiple sclerosis, others said fibromyalgia.” I was sent to a specialist who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Here’s the catch, there are no tests for fibromyalgia and it’s usually coupled with some other disease/disorder. All of the tests taken came back negative. It was then and there I realized I needed to take control of my health and body. I made a declaration in January 2014; I was going to get healthier for good!
Since then I have lost a total of 40 pounds, got off of prescription drugs, and no longer have symptoms of fibromyalgia. I choose to live my life healthy. It doesn’t matter what size I am. What matters is how I feel. I listen to my body and pay attention to what it’s telling me. In the words of Nayyirah Waheed, “…and I said to my body, softly. ’I want to be your friend.’ it took a long breath and replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.’”
#UNCONDITIONALBODYBEAUTIFUL
What is Unconditional Body Beautiful?
The creator and founder of Uncondtional Body Beautiful is blogger Rebequita Rose. She, myself, and 20 body positive bloggers from around the world have joined together celebrate our bodies and all that entails. We want to inspire our readers by touching on body issues that aren’t talked about in the media. Reminding everyone, how important self-love and acceptance is necessary in this day and time. You are #BeautifullyHuman just the way you’re intended to be! Please stay tuned like, comment subscribe not only to my blog but to my sisters in solidarity. Below is a list of the #UNCONDITIONALBODYBEAUTIFUL bloggers below. Again don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe! Also sharing is caring please share our series with someone you love today!
Rebequita Rose
http://www.RebequitaRose.blogspot.com/
Leah
Olga Gonzalez Ramos
Nefferth Bernadina
Gaëlle-Vanessa Prudencio
http://thecurvyandcurlycloset.com/
Maui Bigelow
Parker Simmons
http://everydayrunway365.blogspot.com.es/
MizLiz
Irene Medin
http://www.lagorditapresumida.com/
Shalon Dozier
http://www.shalondozier.wordpress.com/
Kim McCarter
http://www.corporatecurvygirl.com/
Katie G
Pepper Martin
NattyNikki
Hollie B
http://www.prettybigbutterflies.com/
Aarti Olivia Dubey
https://curvesbecomeher.wordpress.com/
Mele Falala
http://falalamele.blogspot.com.es/
Marie Leggette
Josephine JosoFabulous Lee
http://josofabscurvesity1.com/
Cassandra Westfall
http://stylecassentials.blogspot.com/
Zadry Ferrer-Geddes
Lei-Loni Greenhow
New Vlog Post and Product Review Coming Soon!!!
I’m so excited! I just received my L.A. Girl Pro.conceal HD Concealers from iKateHouse! They are all the rave over YouTube and you guys know I love to get YouTube wasted!!! I can’t wait to do my product review and vlog post about these awesome concealers! Stay tuned lovebugs! ❤
My OOTN For My Friend Erika’s Surprise Bday Party
Seeing as the weather is getting a little chilly even for Los Angeles, I wanted to wear something cute and trendy for my friend’s party without being freezing cold. I also decided to give my hair a break from my protective hair style and decided to wrap it up in bright yellow pashima turban. I got my ENYCE Sweatshirt on closeout for super cheap, Sonsee Footless Tights in 100 Denier Black, Skirt by Brat Star, and my sexy red shoes are by Sam Edelman.
This look not only kept me warm but I fashionable! ❤
For the tights: http://www.sonseewoman.com
For the shoes: http://www.samedelman.com
My Time At The Lola Getts SoulCycle Event
I was invited to attend Lola Getts event at SoulCycle in Beverly Hills this past Sunday. I was so excited and had no idea, I was truly in for a real treat! As I walked into SoulCycle, I was greeted by Stacey Goldstein owner of Lola Getts Active wear and given a super cute tank to put on. There was a buzz about the studio as people were getting ready for the spin class to begin. The welcome I received by the staff at SoulCycle was so warm and helpful. I put on my Lola Getts tank and leggings, snapped on my cycle shoes and entered the spin studio. With dimmed lights, I found a cycle and snuggled in. I honestly, didn’t know what to expect as this was my first time doing a spin class. Our class instructor Lisa Moloshok, came out of the gate with inspiration! As we started to cycle and I felt the burn in my legs, with closed eyes in a meditative state, I began my 45 minute SoulCycle journey. Let me tell you, the class was far from easy. However, I was given a chance to be authentic with myself. The more I pushed myself, tears came to my eyes as I thought about the fibromyalgia diagnosis I was given in 2013 and how fibromyalgia is no longer my story. I focused on how I want to show up in the world. Then it came to me and I started chanting I AM BEAUTIFULLY HUMAN, I AM ENOUGH, I MATTER, I AM WORTHY over and over again. A smile appear through the tears and I had a serious breakthrough! Before I knew it, I had cycled without stopping an entire 45 minutes, completely drenched in sweat with my blood pumping; I had conquer my fear went all the way and accomplished an intense workout, doctors said I’d never be able to do again! A special thanks goes out to Lola Getts, Stacey Goldstein, Lisa Moloshok, and SoulCycle for this experience. SoulCycle’s spin class changed my life. I look forward to continuing my journey to being fit and healthy. And against the odds of what society and medicine’s belief, which say as a curvy plus sized woman I can’t do it!
Please check out Lola Getts Active wear at http://www.lolagetts.com, SoulCycle at http://www.soul-cycle.com, and instructor Lisa Moloshok at http://www.lisamoloshok.com/ .
40 Clever Life Hacks to Simplify your World
Some super cool ideas I never even thought about! Here’s one to grow on. Thanks TwistedSifter!!!
Back in January the Sifter posted 50 Life Hacks to Simplify your World. The post went on the be one of the most shared articles in the history of the website.
At first I was surprised, but soon realized that we all want to simplify and improve our lives; especially when a solution to a common problem is cheap, effective and easy to-do!
After spending a lot of time sifting through reddit’s Life Hacks subreddit, BuzzFeed’s endless Life Hack posts and wading through a ton of Life Hack pins on Pinterest, I came up with the list below. Another 40 tips that will hopefully simplify your life!
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Life Hack via DaNReDaN
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Life Hack via hgska
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Life Hack via Reddit
5. How To Open a Jar Using Duct Tape
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Life Hack via etothepowerof3
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10.
Life Hack via LifeHacker.com
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Life…
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New Blog Post Coming Soon
I had so much fun at the Lola Getts SoulCycle event in Beverly Hills yesterday. Stay tuned for deets on the event and more pics! #ShalonDozier #BeautifullyHuman #LolaGetts #SoulCycle #blogger #plusmodel #health #fitness #fit #workout #cardio #gym #train #training #photooftheday #healthy #health #healthychoices #active #strong #motivation #determination #lifestyle #getfit
Soul Cycle with Lola Getts Activewear
Hey Ladies! There’s a great FREE event sponsored by Lola Getts Activewear for all you curvy girls who like to stay fit! I’ll be there! Reserve your spot today! #LolaGetts #SoulCycle
Hollywood Confidential
Look who’s on Essence magazine’s website for Hair Street Style??? On September 2, I was fortunate to attend the second installment of Hollywood Confidential hosted by Brand Maverick Entertainment featuring Megan Goode, Tichina Arnold, and Grammy award winning artist Brandy Norwood. Hollywood Confidential series is an “event designed to educate aspiring industry professionals on the inner workings of the industry from a panel of veterans.” I had a blast and learned so much. And to top it off I was spotted by Essence Magazine! #ShalonDozier #BeautifullyHuman #HollywoodConfidential
http://photos.essence.com/galleries/hair-street-style-hollywood-confidential#558556_558716
Shalon Dozier 