Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Quinn.
Elizabeth, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always struggled with my weight and mental health. For so long, I hated my body because I felt I was never skinny enough to be considered beautiful. After my recent divorce, I decided I needed to make a major change in my life in order to be happy, I started with positive affirmations and made it a point to not make negative comments about my body to anyone else. I started doing more for others and focusing more on my needs rather than my faults. Then, one day, I realized that I hadn’t thought anything negative about myself for a while. I was happier and determined for the first time in a long time. I decided that I wanted to do a confidence shoot with a local photographer that my friend had worked with in the past, and when I got the pictures back I broke down. I cried because for so long, I hadn’t taken care of myself and it showed and I cried because, regardless of that, I actually looked confident and happy. I started believing that maybe I could be a model, maybe I could start mentoring others and using my voice to build others up rather than tearing myself down. Since October 23, 2018, I’ve had nine amazing photoshoots, started a job helping plus size women find the right clothes for their bodies, I’m starting a career as a body positive influencer where I will be guest speaker for the BoPoTour that’s coming to Atlanta in 2019 and starting a Women’s Retreat where Women like me can come together and share our stories, gain Confidence from one another and hopefully find some peace within themselves.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a really difficult journey for me. I feel so strongly about this and believe that every woman, regardless of shape, size, disability or disease, should get to feel beautiful and powerful. Women go through so much and most of the time, instead of building ourselves up and listening to what our bodies need, we tear them down because they aren’t what we want. Society has taught us that we need to be a size 2 in order to be considered model material. It’s also taught us that we need to cover our nipples because people have sexualized them to the point where they have no other acceptable meaning. It’s taught us that we need to have our hair and makeup done all the time and that we should wear heels and dresses and say please and thank you, even when people don’t deserve it. I want to show the world the real me, I want women to be able to actually see me for all that I am, imperfections and all. Because people will judge you no matter what you do, but a determined woman with a strong mind and a beautiful heart cannot be broken!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a plus size model and body positivity Advocate, with the goal to help women love and nurture their bodies and clear their minds of negative thoughts. It is an everyday struggle to love yourself but it’s so worth it!
I am most proud of myself for finding my way down this path and gaining the strength to reach out to others even though some days, I still find it really hard to help myself.
I don’t feel that anything sets me apart from others besides maybe the closed minded, uneducated, misogynistic people out there. Otherwise, I’m just like all the other women I’ve ever known, searching for meaning and a way to love themselves.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women are more powerful than they know! We all have the opportunity to use our voices and our bodies to change societies views and each other! Most women are taught to compete against other women rather than to embrace them. I believe that every woman is beautiful and strong in their own way and if they start believing it themselves then it could honestly change the world. I have been bullied and harassed on my social media page for posting certain content, but what I really noticed was that it was only on the pics where I spoke my mind in the captions. It’s ok if I’m a Plus size woman, they can get past that but because I’m saying I love myself as a plus size woman is unacceptable. That needs to change.
Pricing:
- Set up a photo shoot with me: $40-$75 an hr. (local)
- Personal shopping for your body type: $50 an hr (local)
- Social Media Coaching: $40 in person or online
Contact Info:
- Email: elizabethquinn.model@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Prettythickliz2.0
Image Credit:
Lifeinpinkatl, Raynephotography1, AlexanderSikwitit, Bella_visuals
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