I Will Never Be Smaller Than a Size 10. So What?

You know how people do that awful, objectifying thing where they rate each other’s “hotness” on a scale of 1-10? Well, I’d have to say I’m a perfect 10 (as we should all be rating ourselves). I have broad shoulders, a wide rib cage, goddess hips—I just do not have a small frame. But why should that matter? In an ideal world where I’m maximally trim and fit for my frame, my body would still not dip below a woman’s size 10. And that is A-OK with me.

Here’s the thing: No matter how “thin” or “fit” I am, I’ve never really fell into what’s considered attractive by mainstream media, pop culture, celebrity life, and society. Even when I’m at my healthiest. Even when I was eating only 500 calories a day as a high school girl (and please don’t do that, ladies. It’s not good for you).

If I choose to someday have children, I will cut the tags out of their clothes. If I choose to someday have children, I hope that, by that time, the body-love movement is no longer a movement but our reality. I don’t want my children to obsess over sizes. Because, really, size does not matter. A size does not determine how healthy you are, how fast you can run, what emotional state you’re in. It does not determine how successful you can be, how confident you should be, what you can achieve, who you can love. Nope. Let’s stop putting a limit on ourselves. Let’s stop putting a number in our way and using it as an excuse to not be incredible, just as we are.

I have been a size 10, and so overcome with sadness that I was ready to give up on everything, and I have been a size 14, and the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. Real talk, I’m fairly certain most of my friends and family preferred to see me happy and smiling.

There are so many things that factor into a person’s measurements: genetics, muscle mass, mental health, economic status, body frame, height—I could go on forever! Learning to accept my thicker frame and naturally wider measurements was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It’s been so instilled in me from such a young age what a woman should look like, and I still struggle with it sometimes. But I’ve begun to fight back, and battle my body image issues. I’ve become an activist, a blogger, and a body-lover. Since doing so, I have never felt more beautiful, empowered, or accepting of myself.

So, ladies, gentlemen, and individuals of all identities, if you have a body type that always felt too big, too small, too short, too tall, I’m here to tell you that even Doctor Seuss knew what was up: I’m a 10 out of 10, and so are you.

Cosette Kenny is an electric-guitar playing, red lipstick-rocking, Zumba-obsessed, slam poet, whose spirit animal is coffee. Experimental in fashion sense, overly sensitive, and a pin-up girl wannabe, she’s still learning how to be true to herself, whatever that means. She considers herself the chaotic and good version of Blair Waldorf and a feminist with a heart of gold (or maybe mercury). Check out her body-love blog at thinmintspiration.wordpress.com!

(Image via Spooky Femme via Artistic Goldfish)