I got to meet TESS MUNSTER!
For those who don't know who that is, Tess is a Plus Size Model, Make-Up Artist, Body Positive Activist, Blogger and Founder of #EffYourBeautyStandards. Impressive Right?
I started following her on Instagram after a friend from work, Amanda, posted a picture of her on her IG. Tess is such an inspiration for not only plus size women but to all women. She lives in LA but was traveling and doing meet and greets with fans and Toronto happened to be on her list of cities. Amanda, who is a huge fan of Tess, showed a couple of us from work that she was coming up and three of us agreed we had to meet her.
The day started out with us all meeting at Yorkdale where I broke my
Sephora cherry and bought a brand new lipstick. I was feeling sassy and
ready to take on the world. Have you ever noticed that when you feel
pretty you give off a different chemistry? I swear it happens every time
I wear a new dress or even just a new Bra and Panties. Like I can be
wearing an over sized T-shirt and crappy jeans but if I'm wearing sexy
new underwear...WATCH OUT WORLD! Like for some reason I feel pretty so I
stand a little taller, look people in the eye and smile a bit more. I
get more compliments and feel pretty, which is something I don't feel on
a day to day basis.
Well with my new 'Hot Tango' Red
lipstick on I was feeling just that. Funny how little things like that
will help. So after shopping for a little bit we headed down to
Gussied Up Plus,
where Amanda would meet one of her idols. There was a buzz happening
between the three us, that only got stronger as we lined up with the
rest of the women and men outside the store.
Everyone in line was so positive. It was amazing how many people where
just dealing out the compliments to everyone who passed. Especially
towards Amanda who looked fierce with her Ariel red hair. While we
waited outside two people asked if we would answer a couple questions
while they filmed us. James and Giovanna are the two filmmakers filming a
documentary on the plus size industry called
A Perfect 14.
Tess Munster along with two other plus size models are their subjects
in the documentary that will explore the personal struggles and success
of these woman. We were asked some questions about Tess Munster and our
feelings towards her positive attitude on the plus size community.
Hopefully we will have a little bit in the documentary which would be
fantastic. Also I can cross being in a movie off my bucket list. So in
the event that James and Giovanna actually stumble across this post, my
name is Paula Vaughan and I was the chick with the sassy red lipstick.
Just to narrow it down for you all. :)
Tess Munster, where do you start? Well, how about with the obvious.
She's gorgeous. You look at photos now a days and know that photoshop is
going to be used at some point, but honestly she is stunning in person.
Photoshop is not needed with her at all. She was talking to her fans
one on one, and while we waited in line we saw how she interacted with
people. She was so nice and willing to share stories and answer peoples
questions. She was taking photos with people and asked after every photo
if they liked it. If not another one would be taken. She wanted
everyone to like the photo that was taken and would continue to take
photos until the person was pleased with it. She was signing autographs
and selling her custom Eff Your Beauty Standards T-shirt, which the
three of us purchased.
It was an amazing experience to be a part of it and to meet such an incredible woman but also to see Amanda meet her idol. Amy and I were both more excited for Amanda to meet her then anything.
Being a plus size woman is hard. I have always been on the fatter side of what society deems as beautiful. What can I say I love to eat and hate to exercise. Could I lose some weight? Of course I could. Is that anyone's business but my own? Hells No.The amazing thing that I'm finding going on right now are all the plus size women that are speaking out about what its like to be on this side of the social norm and love your body. You have women like Tess Munster, and Brittany Gibbons with her
Curvy Girl Guide Society. Chelsea McGowan and her
Girls on Film photo shoots, where real woman of all shapes and sizes show their confidence in their own skin. You have actresses like Rebel Wilson and Melissa McCarthy owning their bodies and showing that having curves isn't something to be ashamed of but something to embrace.
We need more women like this in the world. We need to stop with the Fat Shaming and the Skinny Shaming. I've said it so many times before about actresses who are skinny, mostly because I'm jealous that they look the way they do. They work their asses off (literally) to look the way they do. Good on them! Love your body and yourself just the way you are. If you want to get healthy and feel more confident in your own skin then fucking go for it, and if that's not for you then so be it, but be confidant in yourself.
Honestly life is hard enough without everyone else picking on each others appearance. So in the words of Tess...Eff Your Beauty Standards.
**Side Note: I edited most of these pictures using the A Beautiful Mess Actions for Photoshop Elements. I'm really loving the look they give to my pictures.
