There was a time when taking a photo like this would have felt impossible for me. Not because of the pose, not because of the outfit — but because I wasn’t sure I had the right to take up space. As women, we grow up surrounded by silent rules: be softer, be smaller, be quieter, be “less.”

But at some point you get tired of shrinking.

Today I caught my reflection and instead of immediately looking for a flaw, I paused. I saw a woman who has lived, learned, survived, laughed, cried, and grown. A woman with curves, fire-colored hair, and a personality that refuses to fit into anyone’s expectations. And instead of criticism, I felt something new: respect.

Confidence is not a switch you flip — it’s a slow reunion with yourself.
It’s the moment you realize:
This is me. And that is enough.

If you’re on this journey too, I hope you let yourself be bold sometimes. Wear the outfit you love. Take the photo you once hesitated to take. Celebrate the version of you that exists right now, not the imaginary “perfect” one.

Because life feels very different when you finally stop hiding from your own reflection.