Bikini Confidence

(Source: LIFE)

I started blogging as an insecure, perpetually chubby 24 year old woman with a body image complex and a lofty goal to don my first bikini and on my 25th birthday– my Bikini Birthday– I did just that.

You can read a little more about my journey to this goal in these posts:

Starting Stats

What to look for in a bikini
Bikini Shopping
The Big Purchase

Cleansing the Final Weeks
Final Cleanse Recap

My Results
My Bikini Birthday

One of the most difficult parts of wearing a bikini wasn’t exercising and eating properly, but breaking out of my self-disparaging attitude. I may still have my moments of self-judgment, but my confidence in myself has come such a long way and the whole Bikini Birthday process taught me a lot about myself along the way. I learned to be confident in what I see in the mirror: strength, femininity, and beauty.

The Bikini Confidence Series is a kick-ass collection of guest posts from readers who share stories of their relationship with their body.

I started the series as a way to get inspiration from others so that I could gain the confidence to look in the mirror and remind myself that I am strong, brilliant, and beautiful.

If you have a story to share about your own struggles with body image or your opinion on how women’s body image is affected by media or society please feel free to e-mail me your idea at samanthaamenzies@gmail.com.

Take a look at the great stories posted in this series:

• Heather (HEAB)
• Nicole (Prevention, RD)
• Meghan Telpner (Making Love in the Kitchen)
• Kenzie (A Healthy Purpose)
• Jasmine (Eat, Move, Write)
• Gabriela (Une Vie Saine)
• Caitlin (Healthy Tipping Point)
• Super G (Me2Writes)
• Kate (Eat the Damn Cake)
• Maria (First in Education)
• Tina (Faith Fitness Fun)
• Jessica (Daly Authenticity)
  

And, of course, my own Bikini Birthday post