Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Beauty-full Tuesday: Ashley of Divorced at 20

With her bright smiling eyes, charming asymmetrical dimples, and power of perseverance, the adorable Ashley of Divorced at 20.
My hair was too short; my teeth weren’t white enough.  My eyes weren’t the perfect shade of blue; my dimples weren’t cute.  
Each morning I’d awake disgusted by my own reflection.   Stepping on the scale while tightly closing my eyes in fear of seeing I’d gained 1.4 pounds in 24 hours. Ugh.  
I started to compare myself to every single women I came across. I would see photos of myself and dissect them into a series of flaws…tearing myself apart until I had no leg to stand on.

My divorce led to even more nitpicking.  I began to believe all the horrible words that were said about me, as well as all the horrible things I imagined they were saying about me.  I hated myself. I allowed others to take every last piece of dignity I had.  
This spring I engulfed the saying “I am me” and it really changed my perspective on what I thought about myself.    So that is who I am: I am me…. What are you going to do about it?

When I smile my eyes disappear and become little slits that I can barely see out of.  My dimples are unusual and don’t match.  My hair takes over everything in my house.  I am a beautiful strong woman who could punch the lights out of anyone if I had to.  I have curves and love every line that they make.  I am a pasty white color that shows how
healthy my skin really is.

The best thing about being yourself is that you are you, love every ounce of it!  If people want to put you down, and tell you what you should be… just look at them and say I AM ME! What are you going to do about it?

Feed me fashionably fresh

Comments

  1. so wonderful and so strong. i love this!! ashley – you rock. 🙂

  3. I recently came accross Ashley’s blog, and all I have to say is what a strong and couragious woman she is….and great post next time someone wants to tell me how to act, what to say or who to be, I’m just gonna say that “I AM ME!”

  4. Ashley,
    You are gorgeous inside and out! It’s hard to imagine someone as pretty as you are has insecurities. I really, truly mean that.

  7. Totally Agree. You Rock Ashley!

  8. ashley you are soooo awesome!!!!

  9. AWwwww. you are soooooo pretty !!!!
    i love your hair

  10. I discovered Ashley’s blog about two months ago. I was floored at her grace and perseverance! Thank you for including her in this series, she is such a beautiful woman!

  11. You rock, Ashley! Wouldn’t it be nice if we started everyday with the thought “I am exactly what I need to be, and it’s all good.”

    PS: My eyes disappear when I smile, too. And I’m ghostly white. A Irish thang.