Project Inner Beauty

Plus Size Beauty

BeautyIsWithin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:01:22 PDT

Source: imogenmss.tumblr.com via rlarudcjf on Pinterest

What is beauty?

I find it interesting that the standard of beauty is still "tall and skinny". Fashion designers continue to try and perpetuate this standard by hiring skinny women for their fashion shows and photo shoots. If you wear plus size clothing, you usually have to shop in a specialty store, and as my friend has exclaimed on more than one occasion, "I can't find anything cute in those stores!" On a side note, nowadays there are plenty of plus size clothing stores online that do carry very cute styles.

Yes, I could blame the fashion industry for continuing to expose us to images of thin, young, air-brushed models. After all, those magazines are right in your face every time you pay for something at the grocery store. However, it's up to each and every one of us not to continue buying those magazines. Keep reminding yourself that these images are just illusions.
Read more...

A Reminder About Self Confidence

BeautyIsWithin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:48:46 PDT

My friend and I went to a fashion show tonight where there were many women wearing cute little cocktail and evening dresses. We had decided to go the comfortable route, though. I was in leggings and a long top with silver sequin designs while my friend wore a fun top with dark blue jeans and flats.

As we stepped onto the red carpet to take pictures, I suddenly felt a twinge of self consciousness take over.

Oh, why didn’t I wear that black evening dress? Read more...

Lessons Learned From Victoria Beckham

BeautyIsWithin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:15:37 PDT

We know Victoria Beckham as a former Spice Girl who has gone on to live what many of us would call a very glamorous life. She's been on the cover of fashion magazines, she gets to jet-set around the world with her good-looking athletic husband, and she seems to have everything a girl could ask for. However, just like the majority of women, Victoria Beckham has had her own issues with body image. Read more...

Positive Body Image: Thinking and Acting Differently

BeautyIsWithin — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:54:09 PDT

Photo by Kevin Dooley

With all the projects on my plate, it's been a challenge to read other blogs. There are very few blogs that I read, but when I do, synchronicity always comes into play. I read something that's been on my mind and is so good that it needs to be shared.

Prime example: I discovered that a good blogger friend, Stephanie Quilao, just launched a new blog. You may know her from her old blog, Back in Skinny Jeans, or @skinnyjeans on Twitter. Well, Stephanie wrote a thought-provoking post titled, Shifting: Are More Of Us Loving Our Looks Rather Than Bashing What We See In The Mirror? in which she talks about a recent poll that was conducted by ELLE Magazine and MSNBC.com. The survey found that 60% of people were satisfied with their looks. Read More...

You're Just as Beautiful as Those Victoria's Secret Models

BeautyIsWithin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:14:52 PST

Last night I watched the Victoria's Secret fashion show on TV - not so much to see the actual fashion - but more to check out the Black Eyed Peas who were the performers of the night.

As I watched the show, however, for a fleeting moment I began to feel those twinges of jealousy. Why can't I be skinny like those models? Why can't I live the glamorous life?

I'm not sure where those feelings came from, but I'll be honest and say that those thoughts did run through my mind. And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Beauty and Weight: What Is "Normal"?

BeautyIsWithin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:27:58 PDT

There's a new Fox TV reality series called "More to Love", a spin-off of Fox's popular series, "The Bachelor". The show premiered this past week - which I missed.

Here's a little preview of the show for those of you who don't know about it...

One thing that really struck a chord with me as I was watching the preview commercials was when one of the contestants alluded to the idea that finally there was a show featuring "normal" girls as opposed to the Size 2 that the TV world portrays more often.

What the heck is "normal" anyways? Read More...

Love Yourself Now

BeautyIsWithin — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:40:07 PST

Fashion designer Luke Reichle offers his thoughts on how to let your inner beauty shine. I love the part about loving yourself now!

It's Not Healthy To Hate Barbie

BeautyIsWithin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:02:09 PST

When I was a little girl, I loved playing with Barbies. I had about four or five Barbies that I played with everyday. Whenever we went to the toy store, I would head to the Barbie section to look for new clothes for my Barbies. No, I wasn't a Barbie fanatic, but I sure did like to dress up the dolls!

Not once did I think that Barbie's body was the "ideal" size and that I should aspire to look like her. I guess to some degree perhaps I subconsciously thought that Barbie had the "perfect" body. However, I didn't become obsessed with wanting to be skinny or to have this curvy, busty body. Perhaps I'm the exception.

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