Ashamed and Embarrassed That Her Daughter Posed For This Project http://bit.ly/1aM76C6 via @abeautbodyproj

I have the exact same body shape as Paula and I take my hat off to her. I am way to embarrassed to pose nude!! Job well done. I am sorry to say that it is Paula who should be ashamed and embarrassed, to have such a shallow and unsupportive mother. Best wishes to you and your family

My mom is like that too…only can seem to focus on people’s external appearance, including her own. Was hard to grow up with that focus as all I knew…..fortunately, I now have a partner who loves me for all that I am physically, mentally and spiritually!

Paula, I am happy for you. You have braved the camera. You and others have given me courage to do so also. I will seek out Jade and ask her to photograph me. I have grown a nice big belly and have had some shaming come my way. Doing this is a way to support myself. I hope you are receiving the love you deserve. Love your mom, she needs your support. peace

I grew up thinking that my ideas about beauty were not affected by Disney princesses and their tiny waists, Barbie with her hourglass figure that can only be attained through corsetry, and countless photoshopped images of women that I’ve seen over the years. I knew all that was garbage and I knew it’s what’s on the inside that counts… but somehow the feeling that I was the lone exception to that rule sneaked it’s way in. I was always bigger than the rest of my friends and I was ashamed of it, though I couldn’t make sense of that feeling logically - after all, I could see the good in everybody else! I didn’t realize how deeply my body hatred had penetrated my psyche, and then I found you, Jade Beall. I was drawn to your photos of naked women because it dawned on me that I didn’t know what women REALLY look like. Since I found this site, I’ve studied the pictures over and over and I’ve seen me in them. Especially sweet Paula here. She does look beautiful and confident to me. And yet, you could photoshop my head on her body and that’s pretty much what I look like. I think I’m finally starting to get it. I might just be beautiful too… I can’t say it out loud yet, and it feels weird enough just thinking it, but you and your lovely models are truly doing good work here. I’m starting to heal and maybe someday I’ll even love myself. Thank you for your part in it.

I’m a curvy woman and damn proud of it, you are drop dead gorgeous and I wanna show off my body as well one day and be proud the the skin I’m in, I think you are empowering and amazin ! Keep rocking it girl!!

I wish I had the strength to appear nude before the world. You have such a strength that just floors me everytime I view your picture. I bow before you! What you have to remember is people have been infilitrated with societal’s ignorant beliefs regarding beauty and body image. If this were the Garden of Eden we’d all be running around butt naked and wouldn’t even know it. But alas, this is earth where people are flaky and each decade or century whoever these “people” are determine what is beauty. You are showing the world and me to take back your power from these “people” and own who you are. No one has walked in your shoes and been where you have been. Smile and hug yourself daily! You are setting many women free from an internal battle that needs to end. Thank you.

We are all beautiful, and should respect ourselves and others like Paula, I take my hat off to her ♡♥♡

To Cheryl Milano - I see the beauty in you. I hear your soul that cries in anguish wondering why other people can’t see the beauty too. It’s so easy for people to council “Don’t listen to those hurtful words” or “They don’t matter.” But I understand.

Here is my secret.

I don’t care. I don’t care about other peoples standards that are used to judge me because I have decided they are not worthy. Only I am worthy to see my own value. Only I truly know who I am. I am the strong thick legs that take me to where I want to go and that allow me to carry a grandchild. I am the big belly - a source of softness and comfort to my family. I am the heart that beats with passion. I am the breasts that fed and nurtured and now make great pillows for little heads. I am strong arms that allow me to write, create and hold a loved one. I am the laugh wrinkles that line my face and I am the chins that support my head.

I go through every part of my body and I say “Thank you for all you do.” And I give myself permission to love myself just as I am. Sometimes, when I am having a low moment, this is hard. This is when it’s most important to do.

Doing this doesn’t mean I still don’t hear the unkind words but it does mean they have less impact on me. I know my worth. And I know I am loved and love fiercely! I see someone looking sideways at what I buy at the grocery store (even when its just salad makings) and I smile and say “Hi.” I decide my worth and I take back my power.

Read the other stories in the comments on this page, or from the other pictures - you are not alone. And I think you are beautiful! Paula

I’m sobbing right now…..I, also, am morbidly obese….maybe more so than you; but, this story makes me both more sad and somewhat happy you were brave enough to do this. I am so sorry for your mothers response, I’ve received the same from many people. People that have actually made “pig” sounds as I go by….people that stare…BRAZENLY……I can’t look in a mirror, but when I do, all I see is an enormous CIRCUS FREAK…..
I frequently pinch and bruise myself….I dream of actually taking knives to cut off folds of fat (if I could summon the courage, or be able to reach it)…..
I’ve been to a counselor, but can no longer afford one…..I am seriously insulin resistant, and the weight will not leave my body…..I eat no more than the average person…..but, no one believes me.
I’m sorry for letting go on here, but the beauty I see in you….I wish I could see in myself…………

thank you for your beautiful soul, we must love ourselves before we can love anyone else completely.

Paula, YOU are SOOOOOO beautiful! Your heart is in the right place, you allow yourself to love life and you allow others to love you. You are a living testimony to those who need validation they they too are beautiful, short or tall or big or little. I’m a nudist because I feel the same way about the human body that you and Jade feel. Who knows, maybe you have already planted a seed in your mother’s mind and she will eventually worship herself—and let others worship her, too.

Oh my gosh, if my Mother ever said that to me I would devestated. She should really be ashamed of herself. I have always struggled with my weight, and have always been a bigger girl. I am thankful to have a mother who sees my true beauty inside and even out. I am so inspired by your movement and I am reminded that even though I am not a size 4, I am beautiful! Thank you to all the women involved in this movement who aren’t afraid to stand in confidence in who they are.

her mother should be ashamed of herself .. how dare she feel that way about her own child than to verbalize how she feels.. hide your shame you vary bad lady. Paula you are so beautiful I beat myself up daily because of the weight i have gained over the years.. i still love myself but sometimes feel ashamed because i see woman in magazines and books .. i realize that most are probably edits but i still feel down this picture is a reminder of how beautiful i am and i believe if you can do it so can i .. THANK YOU PAULA for being a whisper in the dark :)

Paula has a gift which is her femininity which is divinely beautiful and deeply inspiring. This is something to aspire to not be ashamed of . Welldone xxxx

Her mother is the disgusting one. How horrible, what an awful thing to say to your own child. Her mother is part of the problem, she learned to hate her own body due to something in her life and is attempting to keep that vicious cycle going. Truly sad…

Women and weight in regard to how much a woman “should” weigh to be culturally beautiful has varied in extreme degrees depending on the culture and the time period. For example, in the Victorian period, a woman wasn’t considered healthy or suitable for a bride if she lacked a heavily dimpled backside. Then in comes the middle of the 20th Century and the invention of the bikini and that same heavily dimpled backside is disgustingly filled with cellulite. Men don’t bear the same cross we do on that issue. The moral? Just be yourself. I don’t need to keep up with fashion as a large woman myself. Fashion needs to keep up with me, if it can.

One more thing ~ I am sorry what your mother said. It is only a reflection of herself, not you, that she is ashamed of. I am proud and in awe of you….

Your beauty radiates. Thank you so much for sharing your wild woman, your true self. You are a great inspiration to me. Love, Light and Blessings… ~D

I am so amazingly touched by your story Paula and how you have and continue to stand in your own truth. Many blessings and love sent your way

Paula, my heart breaks for you that you had to hear those words out of your mothers mouth. I am inspired by the fact that YOUR heart was loving enough to lift you up above it. Much Love and Respect.

Katie Rose, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything. Your comment only makes you look stupid.

:Paula, you are beautiful. I am proud of you for showing that all women are beautiful. It is not you that your mother is ashamed of: its herself. There are millions who know your beauty and worth do not lie soley (or even mostly) in appearances. Much love to you!!

This brings tears to my eyes as well. I am a big girl too and I have been “conditioned” to hate myself for being this way. I wish that i could see myself as you do! I see these pictures and i thought wow shes beautiful, i wish i had the confidence!! Stories like this help me to realize looks are just a part of me, unfortunately its the part that I and everyone else around me sees. I found a info on this website for a few books to read and i am so glad someone shared this on fb! More women should see this and hopefully one day whatever size will be accepted!

As a larger lady I love this and my wonderful Husband adores me. I LOVE ME. It is only society that looks down on me , and my family too , have said negative things to me. I am gonna stand up for myself more now .

Paula, you uplifted me i only wish i could feel as confident as you do in this pic. you have so much courage that i could only dream of. you are just beautiful! i am a thick girl to in i hate me body seeing this makes me want to be just like you. in its hard because i know i probably cant be this brave! one day i hope i can be this amazing! thank you for this in GOD bless you! Your more then just beautiful ALWAYS remember that! don’t let anyone tell you otherwise because they are just jealous of your beauty!

Dear Paula, I too am a lovely larger lady, and I think that you look beautiful in your photos, and the joy and freedom of loving yourself shines through. I also know how hurtful family can be about size. I think that is unfortunate that they cannot see the beauty that you are. Continue to be gorgeous!!!

I love it. I’m so sick of only seeing the socially accepted thin bodies everywhere- that’s not a real representation of us as a whole. I want to see people who look like me, feel like me and can relate to me and vice versa. I applaud the efforts here and hope for more to come.

Amanda McBride: You aren’t alone, and you are deserving of loving yourself, just like all women are, even us big girls. If you ever want a place of inspiration and self love, look for the facebook group Positively Fabulous. We’re all big girls there to help each other on the path to accepting ourselves for the beauty we have, and for how society’s shame of us is not our weight to carry.

This brings tears to my eyes. I’m a plus sized woman, and I hate my body. I’m married to a man who’s 2x smaller than me, and even though he tells me I’m hot/beautiful I don’t feel it. But these pictures, she’s so very beautiful, and one day I want pictures like these to show myself how beautiful I really am. Thank you so much for this.