a personal style blog by Lauren Pfieffer

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Weight Debate.


I woke up this morning to a bunch of notifications from various blogging friends alerting me I was on Teen Vogue's Facebook page! Such an absolute and total honor. I went to the link and saw they had posted a photo of me in a bikini from a few years ago for a swimsuit article on their site. I didn't mind at all that they used my photo (like I said, super honored!), but then the fact hit me that 4.1 million people were going to see me in a bikini.

That is terrifying. I can't even fathom that number it's so astronomical. It makes me twitch to think about all those eyes on my body, examining every curve, bump, and ripple there is. My body is not perfect; I am well aware of that. Doctor's consider me to be 'slightly overweight' and I've known that I have quite the bottom heavy stature for being 5'3. But I'm darn proud of this body. It took me a lot of years to come to being darn proud, but I can honestly say I am. I remember back when I posted these photos I felt super self conscious. It was the end of me gaining a lot of weight after quitting swim team and kind of coming into my more 'womanly' body. But I wanted to show girls that their bodies were beautiful, too, whatever shape and size they were, so I posted them. Years later I look at myself in awe over the courage I had to do that and I appreciate this body more than ever. I wish every young girl (and even woman) could feel finally this peace with her body that I do now. 

I was really scared to read the comments for this picture because I mean...I'M IN A BIKINI FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. Teen Vogue has posted a photo of me in the past and people ripped me apart, calling me a pig, obese, unattractive...It was hard for me to go through that scrutiny and I was fully clothed, let alone a picture of me with my thighs and hips and stomach showing...But I was shocked to see the comments, in the best way possible. They were so uplifting, so positive and encouraging. It filled my heart with so much joy to read these things, and terror at the same time that I was going to find something scathingly negative any moment...and of course, yeah, there are dumb comments. But mostly, people were accepting and loving, and unconditional, and I can't tell you how much that means to me. Not because these people accept me and my body, but that our culture is coming to a point where people are learning it doesn't matter what size you are. You're perfect. The photo that was posted on Teen Vogue's site a few years ago people were not open, were not willing to see beauty in a different light...but it's amazing what a few years can do to our society and how we view each other.

I have hope and confidence for the future in knowing that standards of beauty are moving in the right direction of accepting everyone's body--no matter what.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement you always give me; as always, it means the world. x

With much love, Lauren.
SHARE:

21 comments

Le blog de Letilor said...

The picture is beautiful. Yes you are perfect like that. Attitudes are changing and that's good.

Rachel Sayumi Porter said...

you are beautiful!

Hannah Barta said...

You ARE so beautiful. When I first discovered your site, I was so, so happy to find someone who was not toothpick-skinny like most other fashion bloggers, because I myself also have a very dense frame, and even at my skinniest am much, much heavier than I look. You inspire me because you look so healthy and happy the way you are--like you are taking exceptional care of the body God has given you. Thank you, thank you for posting this!

dance a real

Kezzie said...

I'm disgusted that people ripped you apart before but glad you have been seen in.such a positive light this time!!! If anyone had been rude, they'd be really thick!!! X

Mary said...

Congrats congrats congrats! Well deserved. That's a rad bathing suit and a great look -- what you're always about, Lauren.

Alexandra Marie said...

Congrats, Lauren! Your confidence is so beautiful and inspiring- you rock it, Girl! Alex

tobebeautifulingodseyes.blogspot.com

Forwhichtheheartbeats said...

I am glad too that society's perception of what is beautiful is changing and as a whole we are stepping into a more broad minded and accepting times. Really proud of you. And congratulations!! That bathing suit is so gorgeous <3

Anwar Behbehani said...

I thought you looked beautiful, your body is to die for

Anwar Behbehani said...

I thought you looked beautiful, your body is to die for

Alice, from Sweden said...

I love how the world is seeing girls with different eyes thanks to people like YOU! I wear a size zero, but that has absolutely nothing to do with who I am, and you are joining the cause of shifting the perspectives of people from outer to inner beauty. No matter what the scale tells you, you are beautiful... Made in God's image. :) I want to thank you and applaud you Lauren, for helping people not to look at you and me and every other girl with ever other type of body and try to define and label us, pinning stereotypes to us. You are awesome, and most definitely beautiful!! :)

YH said...

Congratulations, you are beautiful.

Sammi said...

You look so gorgeous, Lauren. Your body is beautiful and I am so glad that people can see that!

xox Sammi
www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

wow.. you look so gorgeous.. :) so great to see you there. You deserve it.. ;) :) Irene Wibowo

Unknown said...

You look amazing :) I'd glad people are becoming more accepting towards different body shapes.

Elizabeth said...

Wow, I can't believe people would say such mean things before! I am glad to see people have changed their tune. You go, girl!

http://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com

Maria Sorensen said...

Well said! It takes a long time to be at peace with the body you have, and I agree that society is slowly moving away from focusing on size :)

Unknown said...

Beautiful, beautiful picture - and what an honor, too!!! You have nothing to want to squash in this picture or really in any picture, my dear Lauren, and I am so, so grateful that you - at such a young age! - have come to this body-acceptance!!!

Miranda said...

Lauren! Has it really been a year since I've blogged?! Gosh, it's good to be back and, well, stalk your lovely blog haha. Oh my goodness, CONGRATS on Teen Vogue! That is really amazing, and you absolutely deserve it. I can't wait to see more posts!

-Miranda, littlegoldpocketwatch.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I am always so scared to go for a swim, because I am ashamed of my body, especially legs, which are simillar to yours. You are so brave to show this photos on the internet! There shouldn't be just photos of skinny girls. I am your big fan! I wish I was as brave as you.
Olga

Unknown said...

There is something very, very, very, VERY wrong with the world if anyone is describing you as fat, obese, and/or unattractive. You are not any of those things. You are beautiful and you are slim, and most importantly, you look HEALTHY!!!

Blogger said...

YoBit lets you to claim FREE CRYPTO-COINS from over 100 different crypto-currencies, you complete a captcha once and claim as much as coins you want from the available offers.

After you make about 20-30 claims, you complete the captcha and continue claiming.

You can press claim as many times as 30 times per one captcha.

The coins will safe in your account, and you can exchange them to Bitcoins or any other currency you want.

Blogger Template by pipdig