What are your best qualities?
I always try my best. I use my light to shine on others. And I make my bed every morning.
Do you have any undesirable qualities?
I have stretch marks. Cellulite. Veins you can see through my skin. I have a big Roman nose that hooks left now after an unfortunate incident with an ab roller.
What do you love the most about your body?
The smile I got from my mom. The height I got from my dad. The strong legs and shoulders I share with my little sister. The long neck that gives my boyfriend lots of different places to kiss.
Tell us the story about your scars...
The summer before high school, I was sitting in the bath when I noticed these mystery stripes on my upper thighs. At 13, it made me feel more grown up than I was ready to feel.
Describe your journey with body acceptance...
I’ve always felt younger than I am, like my brain is catching up with my body. Now, when I see myself naked, I’m quickly reminded I’m not a teenager anymore, but an authenticated 32-year-old woman with depth and wisdom to share. My stretch marks are like a map on my skin. They tell a story of where I’ve been and how much I’ve grown.
How do you incorporate self-love into your routine?
I believe in the power of the Everything Shower. There’s nothing like coming out of a steamy bathroom thoroughly conditioned, exfoliated and shaved. I climb into bed feeling like a newborn dolphin. A sexy newborn dolphin.
What about self-love are you continuing to work on?
I’m learning to not compare myself to the younger me, and remember that later I’ll be cursing myself for not appreciating what I have right now.
What lesson do you hope to instill in your children about self-love & body acceptance?
A cloud doesn’t ask if it looks too puffy. A cactus doesn’t apologize for being prickly. A waterfall doesn’t compare itself to a wave. We should embrace ourselves like nature. Because that’s exactly what we are.
What is something you wish you could have told yourself at your most fragile state?
“Your haircut will grow out.”
“Your thighs are meant to touch.”
“He won’t even notice that. And if he does, he definitely won’t care.”
What is the best compliment you've ever received?
An old friend recently told me that in high school, she once saw me in my car waiting at a red light. I was belting my heart out to a song on the radio, windows down. She said that my shamelessness in that moment gave her the confidence to rock out in her own car and not care what other people think.
What makes you the happiest in the world?
When hard work pays off.