I Like This Picture of My Cellulite: A 19 Year Old’s Journey To Self-Acceptance.

A wonderful post.

Beautiful photo of you two, captures the moment perfectly. Well done,a very brave and inspiring piece, something for all of us women to think about.

I honestly was looking hard to find the “cellulite” in this photo before reading- thats not someone just being nice thats me honestly saying that I didn’t see it and didn’t even think to look for it anyway. Your first impression of the pphoto is the one everyone else sees too. Cheers.

You, my dear, are a writer. That’s some serious soul beauty, right off the bat. Then, you’re gorgeous. No, not the adorbs blonde on the left, the #brownchickenbrowncow girl on the right. And omgawd, look how HAPPY!

I love that wrote this and shared this and ARE this.

You rock.
XO
Suzanne Magdalena Rolph-Mcfalls

Do you know what I saw when I first looked at this picture? A beautiful young woman who looks extremely happy. No cellulite. Not even after you mentioned it. I hate that we turn magnifying glasses on ourselves to the point where we can take a gorgeous photo of ourselves and find fault. I’m guilty of the same. I un-tag pictures my friends post on Facebook because I think I look too fat/my hair looks bad/my make-ups not good enough, etc. ad nauseam. Your post has made me decide to go back and re-tag those pictures and allow myself to be in front of the camera more often.

I didn’t see cellulite even after you pointed it out. My first thought when I saw the picture was “now THAT is how I want to look!” And I wasn’t thinking about your friend. You have a beautiful, healthy – looking body. Nothing to be ashamed of. As a 36 year old who has suffered body shame since I was 8, I’m thrilled at your decision to see a happy, strong woman. You’re gorgeous. You’re intelligent. You are NOT too much. To Hell with anyone who can’t see the inner and outer beauty you possess. ♡

You are beautiful and I loved the picture. ..keep the faith

So is ok to be fat? I don’t get it. You should not just be ok with it. You should try to be healthy. Don’t obsess about, don’t cry about it, don’t exaggerate, don’t be complacent, just try.

The black and white photo in your article was taken by me.

https://www.themanifeststation.net/2014/06/04/i-like-this-picture-of-my-cellulite-a-19-year-olds-journey-to-self-acceptance/

I’m o.k. with it being on your site, but please include a link to my photography page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atiim-Jones-Photography/202159983138721?ref=stream

Lovely article depicting how our fears can break us down. And how we can choose truth over outside influence.

I posted this article on the Body Image Movement Facebook page. As you even used the word ’embraced’, it belongs there as inspiration to everyone struggling to find themselves in the cacophony of voices telling us who we should be and how we should look.

Reblogged this on The Light.

Reblogged this on Boo's & Ooo's.

Tell Victoria she really is beautiful and hot. I think the biggest problem is guys. For some reason they think thin looks good. But to me, there is nothing sexier than a pretty face and a sweet heart.

Please pass on to Victoria if possible.

Self acceptance is something we all work on (I think) on a daily basis. I teach at the high school level and work hard every semester to teach the kids about self acceptance, but it is hard to practice what I preach. I think we all want to be the best versions of ourselves. Victoria is beautiful, I love her smile, the honesty she posses in the picture and her courage to share her story with others. I struggle with Melasma and friends will often say, I didn’t even notice, but that is the first thing I see everyday! I’ve stumbled upon an amazing and incredible product called Nerium. Please pass this onto Victoria as I would love to share my story and this “miracle cream” with Victoria. I avoided it forever, because I didn’t want to be disappointed….again, but I have been pleasantly surprised along with many, many friends of mine.

I saw an interview with a particularly “lovely” model some time back. Can’t recall her name. But, her observation was that she was fortunate to have won the “genetics lottery.” I have thought about that comment quite a bit. Some of us win that lottery – but it won’t make us happy, successful, whatever. It is what we do with ourselves, imperfections and all, that is important.

I love this. Beauty on the inside and out. I was totally LOVING all the positive energy in the comments below… and then that glow like feeling felt disgusted when I read the comments from the photographer. Firstly, it is completely understandable that someone’s talent be credited. However, the energy behind his comments was just plain disgusting. Something beautiful came out of his art, something soulful. You can get credit in a gentle way and in return you will earn respect and admiration. Instead I’m completely turned off by the photographer. What a shame for him, since I highly doubt he is as negative of a person as he made himself sound. There would be no article with out this girl. This isn’t really about his photo, its about someone finding acceptance in this world. She could have found that through any photo. The photo is great, two beautiful girls. However, what caused this to go viral was the girl’s story. There would be no story with out the writer…not the photographer.

A beautiful photo that captures a beautiful soul…and some cellulite. The Raphaelites would have thought this photo a masterpiece! However, our culture has decided to assign a negative connotation to cellulite…for some profit-driven reason only real life Mad Men understand completely.

I had something similar happen to me recently when my husband posted a picture of me at dinner with friends on Facebook. The angle of the photo and the low slung belt I was wearing emphasized the gained 10-15 pounds I’ve gained (mostly in my belly) since entering menopause. I was awake for 3 hours in the middle of the night debating whether to wake my husband and yell at him then ask him to crop the photo. Finally, I came to the realization that if I’m going to be honest in my writing I need to be honest about all other aspects of my life as well–even if it was a bad angle 😉 The photo (uncropped) remains–muffin-top and all.

If you can, you should try to get your post in the hands of the author Anne Lamott, who has famously said, “I am not my cellulite”.

Congrats on a great post and well-deserved recognition!

I did my senior project on self image. Its an essay and video. You should take a look at it because I have some of the same feelings about myself that you have about yourself. (You actually aren’t much older than me) Its what ultimately led me to chose self image as my topic for my project. You can find the video here: https://aespring3.wix.com/amanda-slc

Girlfriend, I didn’t even notice it! I looked at the picture before I read the article, thinking there was some creepy person lurking in the background, or a pot about to fall on your head or something. I couldn’t figure out what was “wrong” with the photo until I read the article! We are our worst critics, and I think you made the right choice in sharing this photo–what a special moment in time! You’ll love it forever, I just know it. It’s not being stick-thin or having 0% body fat that matters, it’s being healthy that matters–and some of my fittest, workout-a-holic friends have cellulite, and they agonize over every last inch of it, but it’s genetics, it’s being a woman, it’s being alive, and it’s something that isn’t even noticed. Carry on!

I saw the story on MSN and immediately had to post to you. I didn’t even see cellulite until I started reading the story and the “flaw” was pointed out to me. All I saw were two beautiful girls having a beautiful moment together and that made me so happy.

It’s so sad as women we focus so much on our imperfections that we can’t see how perfect we are as a whole. You are BEAUTIFUL, and so much wiser at 19 than I ever was.

You keep bein’ you girl. The world is a better place for having someone like you-a healthy role model-in it.

We are all beautiful imperfections.Thank you for sharing these wonderful words with so many people. I’m going to re:blog this to dyslexicchic.com

Reblogged this on All About Girls and commented:
Chapter One — and it’s a good one.

Reblogged this on Dyslexic Chic and commented:
We are all beautiful imperfections. The sooner we can accept that the better it is for us. “You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God.” ~1 Peter 3:4

I really liked the picture…..to be honest I couldn’t read past the first couple paragraphs….it ruined the picture for me…..I never once saw what you saw…..

I didn’t see your flaws even after you pointed them out. You are beautiful! You look happy, and your picture and story made me happy!

Like many others, what I noticed was your smile and happiness – couldn’t figure out the issues until you pointed it out to me. And then I thought “That’s it?!” I’m so glad you are taking steps to think better of yourself. I am constantly battling my daughter, 12, about how she looks, especially her thighs. I am going to have her read this and hope she can use your wisdom and apply it at an earlier age than either of us did. And hopefully be part of a change I’d like to see in the world in regards to women and beauty.

Good for u 🙂

your beauty stuns me.. You need to stop the self bashing and keep your head up…. Some guy will be extremly lucky to be with you.. your smart, beautiful and have a wonderful smile..

Didn’t even notice your legs, was too busy looking at beautiful smile and face. Hope you get past this, Good luck, Wes

I am inspired by your honesty. I have avoided the “wrong end of the camera” for many years due to my shame about my size. It was recently reinforced by the “thicker pageant contestant” that is a size 4. Please! That make the rest of us look like heffalumps or something. You are not fat. It is easy for me to say, as I can’t look at my own mirror with that kind of generosity. I haven’t worn a swimsuit for years because my ex husband assured me that no one really wanted to see that.

I will try harder now to see the more positive side of who I am instead of how I look. Thank you.

I hope my daughter comes to the same conclusion you have so eloquently expressed here. In all honesty, all I saw in that photo was two gorgeous girls with radiant smiles. If only everyone could experience that kind of joy on a daily basis. Keep on writing and accepting yourself, Sister. Big things are in store … and I’m not talking cellulite.

I love this picture! You look beautiful-never even noticed your legs-the smiles and happiness is what shows. But I understand how we are our own worst enemies with self criticism. Learning to see ourselves as others do can be difficult-but rewarding.

The only look at the picture tells me that you are a wonderful person, and the first thing I saw was your beautiful smile. I think that’s more important than anything else in life. I’ve been living with cellulitis for the last 40 years, happily married with the same man for the last 10 000days, most of my friends without cellulitis (all very slim and well shaped) all divorced several times, and all have complicated lives. maybe cellulitis is the answer to happines, who knows 🙂

Too bad the watermark is placed on the cellulite in question! Can’t really see anything with all writing in the way… Of all the places to put the credit

She looks so healthy. Cellulite? who cares. We all either have it or will have it at some point. Im glad she’s happy! Thats what matters. Im 8 months pregnant and always feel fat, but i have to remind myself that Its all a baby and Ill have my 150lb body back in a few weeks. And I loved being 150lbs and 5’3″. I don’t want to look like a railroad tie like some girls my age! I wouldn’t have noticed her legs because this picture is such a good snapshot of two friends having a genuinely good time!!

So THIS is the blog that was causing waves.
In truth, where I’m from, people here are not that body conscious (brand and status conscious maybe) so to me you look fine.
That said, I totally agree with what you said. No one is perfect. But if you are taking care of yourself and working towards becoming better, that is all that matters. Who gives a (fillintheblank) about what others think.
Do you.

I feel it might be somewhat easier than many others for you to accept and move on, because you are pretty and there really is not much cellulite to talk about.

But spare a thought for the many who are genuinely overweight and less pretty (or what is generally accepted as pretty). All of them beautiful, but all of them subjected to body image stereotypes.

It’s my job to help these beautiful people, and most of them have a longer journey to acceptance than you.

Je prends la peine de publier ce petit commentaire uniquement pour remercier l’admin

You have a beautiful smile!

Well said! And for what it’s worth, you are as cute as a darn button!!!!!

cellulite used to be considered to be beautiful, and if you can see that the dimples are just a part of how you look, like an art form (not as it is currently called a flaw), then yes, anyone can see that this is an amazing and beautiful photo -Sydney Silver (PS: beauty isn’t necessary)

I am glad for you that you have decided to embrace this photo, I would. You both are seen as happy, young and excited about something. Why dig for imperfections? IF someone doesn’t like something about you, that is their problem. You have things to do and places to explore; those who also embrace that motto are welcome with me, with you, and with anyone else who is growing. The beauty within us all shines out and your photo proves it! Carpe diem.

Nice photo! And good to know about embracing your flaws, etc and I admire you for that. Great post. – John

I fail to understand why beauty is considered something sans cellulite. You are an inspiration to people who throw away their health out of the window and get under the knife just to look someone else.

I really like such experiences as they are really very motivating. I think al;ways good to overcome such things because they are not worth it.

I loved your experience.

What an inspiring Story