Beautiful Words from Miss S.

“This picture brings me to tears.
This picture was taken 6 weeks ago, I wasn’t as thin as I am now, I was broken out, VERY nervous, very unsure.
But I see this picture and cry. Because I see something In this that I’ve never seen in my pictures.

This photo shoot was a pivotal moment for me.
I was selected with two other women, from many, to participate in this shoot to empower women with tattoos.
I was so nervous it almost led to panic. I have never been photographed this way. I have never 𝑺𝑬𝑬𝑵 𝑴𝒀𝑺𝑬𝑳𝑭 this way.”

“I am in tears as I write.
This picture, I don’t see shame. I don’t FEEL shame.
I see 𝑺𝑻𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑮𝑻𝑯.
I see 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑨𝑮𝑬.
I see a 𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑽𝑰𝑽𝑶𝑹.

𝑰 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌.
It was time for me to let go of the old me. Full of shame, regret, insecurities, and pursue the life I deserve. One that I love.
A life of 𝒂𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒋𝒐𝒚, and 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.
I wasnt my thinnest. I didn’t do my hair right. I didn’t have my nails done.
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆.”

“I almost backed out. I felt I wasn’t worthy. Felt I wasn’t attractive enough.
And after surviving sexual assault, I FELT ASHAMED OF SHOWING MY BODY.
I have always felt shame for my body. Being a big girl, it’s hard to dress the way I’d like to without ‘showing too much’. After the assault, I was BLAMED for how I looked in what I was wearing. A baggy t shirt and sweat shorts.
This day was MONUMENTAL In my self growth.
When the shoot started I could barely raise my head. By the end of the shoot, 𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺.”

“It’s time for YOU to let go of the old you, and see yourself the way you deserve to be seen.”

-Miss S.