Back in the Saddle

When I was in college, I used to model. I did both commercial and artistic, and it was a riot. It was almost like acting... I got to be so many different things.

From Pandora... (© Mike Kelcher)

...to Ophelia... (© Blake Johnson)

...to a bridal magazine. (© Salwa Bullard)

And then, no two ways about it, I got big. Size 14 girls don't model, right? And I missed it.

Just the other day, I was looking at a beautiful set of photos done by a plus-size model. And I'm not talking industry-standard "plus-size," I'm talking real-world, curves and thighs, size 16+ hourglass beauty. She was gorgeous.

A bit about my self-esteem: it's rare these days that I feel pretty. But I get nothing but love and compliments from my husband. I revealed my weight to a good friend and she exclaimed "No way! Where do you put it all?" Friends have remarked on how nice I look. I feel like it's all lip service, though they all assure me it's not.

After looking at that lovely woman's photoshoot, I checked out some other models. They were all as big as, or bigger than me, and they looked incredible. They were confident, beautiful women. And I thought... I can still do this. I can get back in front of the camera.

So I'm going to do it. I'm taking back my body, and I'm going to find my beauty again. And I'm going to have fun with it. If and when I get some work, I'll post the results. :)