Mixed race woman looking down and smiling

Time and time again, we’re told that we’re perfect as we are and that we should learn to love ourselves, but is it really that easy? No, it’s not. Sorry to be blunt, but it’s true. When your appearance doesn’t reflect what’s on the catwalk and in the magazines, learning to love yourself isn’t an easy task. It doesn’t matter how many times you’re told that you’re gorgeous just as you are, accepting yourself takes time.

On a personal note, I’m a five foot five and a size 10/12; I’m classed as being the perfect weight for my height. And yet, as a teenager, I had some serious body confidence issues. Luckily, mine didn’t spiral out of control, but I have close friends who ended up hating their bodies so much that they became anorexic.

The truth is, you can learn to love your body size and shape, but it’s something that takes time. If you’re struggling with low self-esteem because your body isn’t what you want it to be, take note of the suggestions below. These are all things that have helped me or someone I know to become happier and more confident in themselves.

Find your own sense of style

clothes a

For years, I tried to dress like the women on the catwalk, but the fact was that I had curves while they were straight up and down. And so, dressing like them just didn’t work for me. Because I didn’t look great in what I was wearing, it knocked my confidence. If you want to love your body for what it is, you need to find your own sense of style. Trust me on this, once you find a fashion style that works for you, your confidence will soar. If you’ve got curves, find clothing that embraces them.

Treat yourself to nice underwear

beach body

This might sound like a strange one but hear me out. When you’re wearing nice underwear, you feel good about yourself. If you want to give your self-esteem a boost, go on an underwear shopping spree and treat yourself to a few well fitting pieces. Personally, I’m a fan of Freya Bras, because they’re stylish, fit well, and make me feel good about myself. It took me a while to find the underwear style that suited my body. But once I did, I found that I felt a lot happier and more confident in myself.

Take inspiration from curvier influencers

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Just because most of the women we see on the catwalks have small frames, that doesn’t mean they’re the only influencers we can look up to. There are lots of curvier women who you can use to inspire you. Kylie Jenner might have a slim frame but her best friend, Jordyn Woods, is a curvier lady, for instance. The fact is, there are plenty of social media stars, bloggers, and even A-list celebrities who are curvy. Instead of looking up to skinny catwalk models, look up to the women with frames similar to yours. This will give you a major confidence boost. If you aren’t happy with your teeth, look up orthodontist treatment before & after, so you can make a positive change for yourself, today.


When your body isn’t what you wish it could be, being confident isn’t always easy. However, the fact is, if you want to be happy, you need to learn to love your size and shape and embrace your body.