#also i hope you're not lactose intolerant bc i cut you a BIG slice of cheesy goodness lol

[sludgewoman]

Hey Lauren, I did my first modeling photoshoot last month and I was one of two plus-size models. The photos came out today and mine are really bad--even my best friend, who's also fat and body-positive, recognized that. It's an independent label and I thing they're just starting their foray into plus-size fashion so things may be a little rocky at first, but it really sunk my body image. I have a fashion show in the state capital next month, but I'm worried I'll look just as bad. What do I do?

First, I want to apologize how long it’s taken me to reply! I wanted to make sure I took the time to give you a good answer and on top of everything I’ve been dealing with a lot of stressful things so I’m so incredibly sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I know you’ve probably done your next show by now and I hope it went so much more better for you this time, even though I haven’t been able to respond fast enough, I swear I’ve had this message on my brain for a awhile and I’ve been sending out good thoughts out to you

I know we live in a time where people have access to cameras and editing tools more than ever and when we’re all posting our best selfies to social media, it’s so easy to forget that it’s way more human to take a bad selfie than a good one! A bad picture doesn’t mean anything about whether you’re beautiful or not and doesn’t say something about your worth. A bad picture is simply a bad pic! Literally everyone takes bad pics, we just don’t post them!  

Your size has absolutely no influence on if a pic is bad or not.  

Think about how proud your younger self would have been to know they grew up and became a model?? They would be so proud of you! They wouldn’t have cared how the photos came out, you got out there and did it. 

Plus size rep is soooo incredibly important, even if what we make doesn't come out how we want it to-it’s there! it’s beautiful! it exists! Even when you fail, what you make still means something to someone else. There are people who will always see you, no matter how bad a pic turns out, and see how beautiful you are. Look for those ppl and be that for yourself

Ngl it really sounds like the designer and the photographer just absolutely dropped the ball and let you down! Being a model is a skill of its own but to do your job right, you need a designer and a photographer who knows what they’re doing so you can all create something great! A designer okayed your look and sent you out and the photographer wasn’t checking their work as they took pics or communicated with you enough or something! Like it’s their job to say something, make alterations, and point you in the right direction so the clothing looks great, you look wonderful, and they can sell their product! 

The more shows you do, the better and more confident you’ll get because you’ll have more experience to back you up. You will work with better people in the future, if you have an experience like this again it’ll just make you stronger and sharper for next time.

Here’s some things that help when I’m in the dumps:

-Look at photos of yourself when u were a kid

-Look at photos of other plus size women

-Take some cute selfies

-Start a journal and fill it with happy thoughts about yourself

-When u have a bad thought about yourself, say three good things you love about yourself

 I hope this helps and you continue to grow as a model!! you got this!!