When Brandi Sellerz, founder of Not So Private Parts reached out and asked if I’d be open to an interview, I didn’t have to think twice before saying, ‘Yes!’. Not So Private Parts, ‘a lifestyle blog centered around removing the shame and stigma surrounding women’s issues’, is a platform that welcomes openness and being raw. After suffering a miscarriage herself, Brandi felt that there were limited resources for support and recognized that some of the greatest challenges we face as women were being politely swept under the rug. She wanted to start a bigger conversation, and create a community that welcomed this honesty. Brandi’s hope for Not So Private Parts is that women find a safe place to share experiences in their journey through this beautiful space called womanhood. I’ve been interviewed a number of times since launching Your Soul Style but in the true nature of Not so Private Parts I went deep. When asked if I’ve always posessed a positive body image, here’s what I had to say…
It’s still a journey. I’ve come to appreciate the power of my body, especially since pregnancy and giving birth, but still have moments where I need to remind myself about embracing what’s been given to me. Having a positive self-image is critical since the amount of information we have access to and consume can trip us up. But it must start at the core and foundation. How we see ourselves is directly related to how our parents see themselves so the building blocks begin the minute we enter the world. We are products of the people that raise us and children look to their parents first and foremost for validation in who they are. So if your parent(s) has a compromised self-esteem, a child will see that in themselves. I am so super mindful with Vida, especially since she’s a girl and societal pressures run deep. Her foundation needs to be rock solid so when the branches of life start swinging at her, she has the tools to hold steady. Think of it like this: my hair is naturally curly but for a time I was blowing it straight. I decided to stop because although it seems harmless, if Vida has curly hair and Mama doesn’t like her own hair curly, how will she internalize that? She may start to have a negative association with her naturalness. It’s important for me to embrace myself as I am so that Vida will learn to do the same. Through her lens, she is an extension of me so my demonstration of self-love, empowerment and self-esteem is fundamental to secure her own development.
If you’d like to check out the full interview, head over to Brandi’s beautiful site, where I also offer postpartum style tips, how I take time to breathe in my own oxygen, and my must-have items if I was trapped on a deserted island.
Click here to read the full interview…