killerkurves:

Olivia Campbell:

“Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me. “ - by the late and great Dr. Maya Angelou

Photographer J. William Washington

MUA Shayla Reed

(via belgumbo-deactivated20160808)

ashleighthelion:

The Anon Series: Fat & Perfect (2 of 7)

Why does it hurt so many people when I love my fat body proudly? Why does it disgust you to see fat bodies? Why is the exposure of my fatness so damaging to the voyeurs that go out of their way to find pictures of fat people existing? Fat bodies are perfect not because we succumb to the power in what it means to be beautiful but because we’re told repeatedly how disgusting and unfortunate we are for being fat. We’re told through the media, science, government and educational initiatives, and capitalistic means that our bodies are mistakes, and therefore barriers to a better/ thinner life. We’re even told through plus size clothing companies that most fat bodies aren’t beautiful or worthy because apparently there’s only one way to be fat. We’re consistently sold clothes on size 12/14 models that all have the same hourglass shapes and relatively smaller bellies. I’m a misshaped trapezoid according to plus-size and straight-size standards. I don’t see representation for bodies like mine. I don’t see misshaped butts like mine. I don’t see big bellies, smaller breasts, smaller hips, less curves, more sharp edges, top heavy, muffin tops, triple chins, and never-ending back rolls when I look at the industry that’s supposed to include me. I see another standard I didn’t meet and another pair of jeans that stop at a size 20. So when I say I’m fat and perfect, I’m telling the world that regardless of how much I’m excluded from being told I’m beautiful, or excluded from getting cute clothes because Juniors Plus is false hope for size 24’s like me— I still love my body and I shouldn’t have to change it in order to be respected or thought of.

______

The Anon Series is a project that I created in effort to address the hatred, bullying tactics, and oppressive behavior that occurs behind the veil of anonymity on the internet. I consistently receive extremely hurtful and frightening messages on “anon” on my blog in response to the love that I have for my fat body. People who object to my writing on identity politics (centering on issues such as fatphobia, racism, anti-blackness, misogyny, and homophobia) message me with the hope of discouraging my voice and my passion for my right to exist. As a fat queer Black woman, I fight everyday to exist and navigate in a world that considers me an ugly inconvenience. These photo-sets within The Anon Series depict my ability to find love and strength in myself, my identity, and my experiences regardless of how much society would rather not see fat people be happy, queer people exist without question, or Black women talk about their exclusion. Project by Ashleigh the Lion & Photography by Zenzile Sky Lark.

(Source: ashleighthelion.com, via imabrickshithouse)