My Big Sexy Photoshoot!

So, a year ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to this thing called a Groupon, and the Groupon Deal that day was a huge discount on a professional photo shoot in Los Angeles for only $50. I thought it was a great idea and the perfect opportunity to get some updated headshots. Also, I had an entire year to schedule the photo shoot, so I figured I would lose a bunch of weight and then have really nice photos afterwards as a reward for reaching my weight loss goal. Well, a year went by, and lo and behold, I didn't lose any weight. But I had to use the Groupon before it expired or I was out $50. So, I decided to go along and still do the photo shoot AND, I had decided that this photo shoot was going to commemorate my fabulosity, despite my size! I decided to celebrate my big ass.. I am going to go nude! It is my way of telling the size -2 worshipping world to go suck it!! A woman doesn't have to be a size 2 to be beautiful. Big is beautiful too! And I am going to prove it!

Well, I will admit, I thought long and hard about what exactly I wanted to do, what I wanted to wear, or not wear, what props or accessories to have, my hair, my make-up, everything... and in the process of brainstorming, I was reminded of an article I read in a fashion magazine years ago. The article was about plus-size models, and they had 4 or 5 photos of actual working plus-size models in the magazine article. It was so awesome! It really made me consider going into plus-size modeling (which I did look into, but it is a really, REALLY difficult profession for a 5'6" woman to bust into)... but there was this one photo that really caught my attention, and sent my size 16, DDD-bra body a-soaring... the photo was of this model, stark naked, wearing only a pair of high heels and she was covering herself up with only two small pillows. It is the all-time best photo I have seen in a magazine to date! I loved it so much that I cut it out and have taped it up on every bedroom wall that I have had since. It was this photo that I decided to recreate in my own photo shoot.

I searched high and low for the perfect pillows to use in my photo shoot. I looked inside a bunch of different stores. I even searched online, and didn't find anything remotely what I wanted, until I saw these beautiful teal pillows at Z Gallery. Holy crap they were expensive, but I had to have them for my photo shoot! And so I bought them, hoping that I could return them after the photo shoot (if only I can find that damn receipt!!!)

I will admit, I was a bit nervous.. not crazy, stage fright nervous, but a little nervous to be photographed in my "birthday suit".. but the photographer was so cool and super nice. After the first couple shots, I was good to go, and I could even feel myself really getting into it. I felt like I was this gorgeous super model. What woman wouldn't want to feel like that? And I must admit, a lot of the shots were gorgeous, super model quality! The best shots in my opinion were the naked shots.. I was so proud of myself and happy that I did it! It was one of the best experiences I have ever had. It really helped me to feel good about myself and my body and I honestly believe that that is truly important for a woman, whether she is losing weight or not.

My whole life I have had to deal with people looking down at me, or thinking less of me or judging me because there's MORE of me than most women.. And, to be honest, I can't help being the shape that I am (and I say shape, not size..there is a difference). I am not lesser of a person for being plus-sized. I am not lesser of a woman or a lover or a girlfriend, or an employee, or a Christian, or a daughter because I choose to celebrate my body. I like being curvy. Actually, I LOVE being curvy. I don't ever want to be a size 2, 110 pound woman. Honest! And yes, I am on a weight loss program now, and yes, I do work for a weight loss company.. if it makes me a hypocrite for being "overweight" and working at a weight loss company, than I guess I'm a hypocrite... I'm okay with that, and frankly, I am the only one that SHOULD or NEEDS to be okay with it. What other people think is irrelevant to me. God is who I try and impress (albeit, I fall short on a daily basis... but don't we all?)

So, for any critics or judging viewers and readers, you can suck it! Maybe you wouldn't ever do a sexy, "racy" photo shoot and that's totally fine.. but guess what... I AM NOT YOU!! and last time I checked, you weren't God either.. I don't have to answer to you.

Yeah, I know, I'm getting a little snippety... but I've been given some flak by people, and it's not right, I don't go out of my way to criticize people, so I only ask for the same respect.. Please don't rain on my parade... And, lastly, I didn't do this to attract men, I didn't do this to cause trouble or piss people off.. I did this for me.. and that's it.. and I feel great about myself!

So, yeah for me and my big booty!!