In Part II of our Introduction, MamaVISION and I will talk about our "defining moment in our blogging history," and the "soul" reason we are doing what we are doing here at Chasing Beauty, and what we are doing on our respective blogs MamaVISION and Back in Skinny Jeans.
Play podcast: "Chasing Beauty Introduction Part II"
This is the very first podcast show for Chasing Beauty. Woo-hoo! We're very excited to be here, and very excited that you are taking the time to check us out.
In Part I of our Introduction, we will say hello, give a quick synopsis on our backgrounds, explain how we met, and share what we hope to accomplish here at Chasing Beauty.
Our mission is to expose beauty myths and body image struggles to inspire people to change the habits that perpetuate low self esteem related to beauty.
We aim to provide ideas to help people start making positive choices for themselves by discussing our own struggles with beauty and body image. We welcome you to share your own concerns, inspirations, and insights on the beauty myth.
MamaVISION
Author of the blog: MamaVISION
MamaVISION lived every girls dream. At 16, she
was whisked off to Paris to work for one of the cities premiere
modeling agencies.
She set off on her journey full of self confidence and enthusiasm. Tall, thin, and beautiful…she had all the makings of a star. Within a year, mamaVISION was crushed. Paralyzed by the realities of the modeling life.
Starving herself at the order of her agent, a man who successfully brainwashed “his girls” to believe they were never quite thin enough. Surviving on a diet of baby food and cigarettes, mamaVISION became known as the Midwestern girl with willpower of steel.
She watched the scale drop down to 120 pounds, as she exercised her body to the bone. Yet somehow, her 5’9 frame still appeared a bit hefty in her newly distorted mirror. After giving it a shot in Milan and New York, she ended her modeling career, by choice, at 21 years of age. “A life based on what you look like is hell,” mamaVISION explains, “but I know I was given the opportunity to model, travel, and experience the fashion industry first hand for a reason.”
MamaVISION’s mission is to help and inspire others to stop chasing the beauty myths and airbrushed body images that permeate every aspect of our society. “I don’t want to see women and young girls suffer as I did. I see females chasing this unachievable dream more than ever…and for what? Misery, pure misery.”
At age 37, mamaVISION is a proud mother of two. She recently celebrated her 10 year wedding anniversary, and is passionate about her career, working as a web and online marketing consultant.
“I’m sick of hiding my past; I can finally say
I am proud of it,” says mamaVISION. “I simply can’t sit around and
watch the current state of the fashion industry, the influence of
media, and not speak out. I hope my experience will help women and
young girls see the ugly side of model envy.”
Stephanie Quilao
Author of the blog: Back in Skinny Jeans
When Stephanie was 16, she wanted to look like
Paulina Porizkova the supermodel. To this teenager, being a perfect
beauty and being on the cover of magazines meant that she could be
loved, admired, and be something special. "If only I could be thin and
pretty."
Stephanie was always the "Perfect Girl." She was a straight A student, in honor's classes, in student leadership, and played tennis and softball. She was in even in the Math & Science club. She did everything that was expected of her, and she did everything perfectly. She was the ideal child except for the fact that she was always on the chubby side.
Then the summer before Junior year in high school, she decided to get a makeover. She lost 20 pounds. She got contacts. She went to a dermatologist to clear up the acne. She grew her hair and got a new style. When she went back to school in the Fall, she was no longer invisible, she was the one everyone started to notice especially the boys. She was now one of the pretty girls. She was even nominated for Homecoming Princess, a dream come true.
The dream did not last long, and soon she gained
back the weight as she geared to leave home and go to college. In
college, she gained 25 more pounds over 2 years, and at 19 she
discoverd bulimia. Her dorm mates were doing it to stay thin, so she
did it too because again she was obsessed with "If only I could be thin
and pretty." Besides, "How could it be bad if the other girls were
doing it too?"
Into her 20's and 30's, Stephanie continued to battle with her eating disorder which got worse after being raped by a boyfriend, a secret she kept to herself for 5 years. She got back in her skinny jeans two more times after college but each time she had to deal with overly agressive sexual advances from men at work and in the dating scene. It was safer to be fat than skinny. The secrets and drive for perfection led her into depression and bouts with anxiety.
Her career in technology marketing, on the other hand, thrived and was prosperous, and she was even a millionaire for a time. This was the irony of her life. Finally, after a major break-down, or break-through as she calls it now, Stephanie decided that her life needed to change. She needed her pains to be healed, and so she began an intense 3-year healing period where she faced her issues head on.
"My father told me, "Many terrible things have happened to you and you can either wallow and feel sorry for yourself, or you can take your experiences and do something to help other people." That's when I decided to start my blog Back in Skinny Jeans." Stephanie states further, "My mission is to help other women feel less alone and less shameful about their struggles with beauty and body image issues. We all have imperfections. We all have healing that needs to be done. And, we all need each other. We're all here to learn and grow, and become more loving people which includes loving who we are no matter what we look like."
