Unapologetically Naked: How to Cultivate Body Love, Self-Acceptance, and Lasting Confidence

Loving your physical self is not easy for any of us. Whether it’s your weight, your height, your hair, or something else, we all have insecurities. Embracing vulnerability with your body is essential because feeling safe and loving in your own skin is the first step toward feeling confident and empowered in your full, authentic self.

My Body Love Journey: Overcoming Shame, Embracing Self-Worth, and Redefining Beauty

Growing up, I was always a little overweight. My body type was never meant to be thin, but I carried extra weight as well. My family has big butts and thick thighs, and for a long time, I felt ashamed of my body—a combination of generational shame passed down from my mother and reinforced by society.

As a child, I rarely saw curvy, full-bodied women represented in media. At the time, I didn’t recognize this as a lack of representation—I internalized it as your body is wrong. The shame I felt was heavy, making me believe my body was something to be hidden.

One summer, that narrative shifted, if only slightly, when I first heard Baby Got Back. My babysitter put it on, and we danced around the kitchen. For the first time, I felt seen. I realized someone might actually appreciate my body, instead of being disgusted by it like I had been when I looked in the mirror. That moment didn’t erase my struggles, but it planted a seed for a different perspective.

Making a Sustainable Change: How to Build a Positive Relationship with Food, Movement, and Your Body

In college, I decided I was finally going to lose weight, believing it would make me happier. Doctors constantly told me weight loss was the answer to everything (spoiler: it wasn’t). While I did gain a little extra confidence, it didn’t significantly improve my overall mental health.

However, this journey led me to an important realization: The shame I felt about my body and the guilt I carried when I broke a diet were doing more harm than good. This cycle of self-judgment wasn’t working—it was making things worse.

I vowed to change my approach. Instead of focusing on restriction and punishment, I embraced body love as a daily practice. I stood in front of the mirror and looked at my naked body with love. I removed toxic messages, like refusing to watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with friends because I knew it would make me feel inadequate. Instead, I replaced those messages with affirming ones, finding inspiration in figures like Tess Holliday, who embodied confidence in a full-bodied, beautiful form.

I exercised and ate in a way that felt sustainable and supportive rather than restrictive. I no longer let numbers define my worth. Instead, I celebrated my body for what it could do. And while I didn’t hit my initial “target” weight, I finally felt at home in my skin, proud of the changes I had made, and free from the burden of shame.

Embracing My Sensuality: Reclaiming Confidence, Exploring Self-Expression, and Stepping Into Your Power

Despite my progress in body love, I still felt disconnected from my own sensuality and sexiness—a block deeply rooted in my religious upbringing and the shame it instilled around sexuality. While I had no problem showing off my body at festivals or through dance, I didn’t fully embrace myself as a sexual being.

Dancing has always been a space of movement and liberation for me, but never framed as sexy. That perspective started to shift when I connected with Fe, the creator of Sacred Twerks. When I started attending events, I came for movement and self-love, but it took time for me to embrace sensuality as part of my personal power.

At a recent virtual Sacred Twerks event, I challenged myself to lean into that power. Encouraged to dress in a way that made me feel sexy, I put on black spandex booty shorts, thigh-high tights with garters, and a crop top. At first, I felt ridiculous, but I reminded myself to play and let go.

During class, I watched my reflection on Zoom as I moved, shaking and gyrating. At first, it was hard to look—not because I hated my body, but because I was afraid to fully see myself as sexy. Despite my ability to embrace others in their full self-expression, I struggled to give myself the same judgment-free acceptance.

That class was a moment of reckoning. I saw confidence in the woman on the screen, a confidence that everyday me didn’t always feel. I knew this was part of my unlearning and healing—I had to let go of limiting beliefs and allow myself to fully embody my power.

The True Purpose of Body Love: Why Self-Love is More Than Just Feeling Sexy or Looking Perfect

At the end of the day, body love isn’t about being sexy or achieving a “perfect” body. It’s not about seeking approval from others. It’s about confidence. It’s about accepting and embracing yourself in a way that is liberating, healing, and empowering.

If you’re ready to start your own journey toward self-love and vulnerability, the Vulnerability Challenge is almost here! I’d love for you to join me.

Sign up below for the 5-day challenge, starting September 9th!