SO, it finally happened. I had my very first Facebook rant!
I feel like I've crossed some sort of milestone. But, that rant was necessary. It served to open me up to my passion and self-expression. I was in a rut, I was feeling so, many things, things I should have used the self-expression of my blog to get out, but I was...AFRAID. Afraid to hurt people's feelings, afraid that if I became fully expressed I'd be rejected. I worked in entertainment for the bulk of my career and still work in media now because expression fascinates me, it motivates me, it inspires me. Therefore, I needed to express who I was, without fear of what people would think of me.
WHAT SET ME OFF: I read some comments about a model's weight online, people felt the need to not only determine what that size was but then to question whether on not she was indeed "plus size." The conversation that should have existed about the fashion, the styling, the shot, was all replaced with discourse about whether or not she was plus sized enough. This rant, freed something in me and it needed to be said.
My anger was based on knowing what it's like to be on the cusp. To be told by men I've loved and well meaning "friends" that I wasn't "that fat." Only to then open myself up to those who were (traditionally) plus size, who would surely not make me feel like that, to only be told I wasn't plus enough. (Much like the model in question--who for the record is CLEARLY not straight size.) So I had to speak, I had to have a voice for those who sit there (like I did for many years) and take it.
For me, in an industry that should be about confidence for who you are and sometimes the lack of support by for those of who should be part of the same community baffles and angers me. Body image issues transcends our racial, sexual orientation and gender boundaries. We in the plus community should be embracing ANY woman who is ostracized based on what size happens to be on the inside of their pair of jeans. Confident women who have more than one number on their clothing label (I like to call us #doubledigitdivas) are a rarity. We have a unique opportunity to preach love, self-love goes beyond body image, since for better or worse we are faced with dealing with that every day.
That's the community I am interested in being a part of...one that accepts our flaws but moves forward to be better.
I think many of you feel the same way, those of you who do I am glad to have your support.
xoxo,
Erica Michele
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