Until a couple years ago I didn't know there was an entire plus size and curvy community. Not only do they post amazing content on the Gram, but also get together at different events that celebrate them
and their bodies and made it okay to love themselves for it and I could attend. The best part is it isn't some ‘invite only’ club to which a select few were invited; if you wanted to go you can just buy
a ticket and go. I remember the first time that curvy con was ever mentioned around me.  It was two or three years ago a fellow Chicago Blogger by the name Mindy posted on her IG stories that she was
selling a Curvycon ticket and I had no idea what Curvycon was. I figured it was similar to TCF conference or Dream Big but had no idea what the heck she was talking about. I went to their IG page and discovered just how freaking cool it was. They had Lizzo there performing, Venus Williams, Sarah Rae Vargas, fashion shows, stores that I didn't know carried plus sizes - and it was all happening during NYFW. It was overwhelming, exciting, and I had no idea what Iwas missing out on. I couldn't afford to buy the ticket and pay for the flight so told myself after that day, "I will be there next year."


One year later my husband and I packed our bags and we ventured to NYC for Curvy Con. I was not going to miss out on this experience again.Even though I was scared out of my mind, because as I have gotten older doing things on my own is scary, I made the husband hop in an uber with me to drop me off to attend the first event, which happened to be a work out class. I walked in and people were so nice but the
skeptic in me is thinking ‘you're being paid to be here you have to be nice.’ I walked up the stairs, that had song lyrics by popular body positive artists on them, to a room with hundreds of people that looked like me learning a dance to a Lizzo song. I knew people that were attending, but I wasn't with any of them or close friends with any of them so the awkward black girl in me walked along the wall and stood there looking around taking it all in. As I watched I saw people I had been following years but was way too scared to introduce myself or say anything to them. Then a girl came up to me yelling my name
because she recognized me from Instagram. Candace(@cadesland) said to me, “I love your style and you have such beautiful hair I knew that was you walking in."  I had no idea who this girl was so smiled and said thank you. Little did I know she would be such a great friend to meet through Curvy Con. I finally met up with other bloggers/models from Chicago that I knew were going to be there and it was nice to
finally meet them in person. If it wasn't for Natalie, Danielle, Robina, and Candace I don't think I would have enjoyed Curvy Con as much as I did.

The next day was the first day of fashion shows and the first day you could shop. I had no idea what I was in for, but I didn’t want to miss any of the fashion shows, and I wasn't planning on shopping. I had
already spent way too much money on all my outfits to wear at Curvy Con. I get there and of course have the husband take some pics outside, but when he leaves and I was approached by a photographer
that says, “I love your outfit, can I take your picture?" I say, “yes of course” but at the time I had no idea who she was. Afterwards she asks for my information and for I let her know, but again I didn't know who she was and I'm just giving all my info to this lady. Who does that, lol? I walked in, go upstairs, and meet up with my St. Louis blogger boo Shanniqua as we both arrived in time to see the Target Capsule Collection fashion show. When I tell you these clothes were so cute, they were so cute! When the show ended they dismissed us and told us we can go meet with brands and shop until the next show.As we all went back downstairs, I overheard people talking about how Lydia Hudgens is here taking pictures of people for InStyle Magazine.
I’m wondering to myself, ‘is that the lady that asked to take my picture and I gave all my info to?’ It must be, but I’m not feeling cute enough or edgy enough for her to ever consider sending pictures to InStyle magazine of me. When my friends went outside to see if they could get her attention I stayed inside to meet other bloggers I have followed for their great style and fun personalities. Walking around it seemed that everywhere you turned there was new experience. Anthropologie was there debuting their plus collection that I was wearing. Nike was there with the BEST instagrammable booth I have ever seen. Torrid, Good American, Macy's, Eloquii, Big Fig, Loft, JC Penny, and so much more were all there supporting this event. Walking around all you heard were people cheering each other on as they took a
picture for the gram, or people getting ready to change into their 2nd or 3rd look of the day. You also have bloggers showcasing their own brand that they are working on and networking while getting opinions
from other people and designers that have done it before. I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I bought my ticket to Curvy Con. I left the second day feeling so exhausted, because there needed
to be more seats, but fulfilled because of all the positivity around me.


The third and final day was filled with my favorite outfits of the trip. The first I was wearing to the conference and changing into the second for the party after. This day is filled with sessions that
spoke on a multitude of subjects from loving yourself and body positivity, to how to overcome your own adversities and stand out, to becoming a boss and running your own business. There was a little something for everyone in these sessions. They were fantastic sessions because you can learn and hear from amazing people that have been able to do this for a living. In between sessions you can shop as always, and on this day there were a lot of social media managers for brands there which made for great networking opportunities. This day had what felt like twice as many people, so I spent a lot of my time outside of sessions with people I met at Big Fig Mattress; they make mattress with plus sized people in mind. Remember when I said there was limited seating? Hanging out at the Big Fig booth I was able to relax on one of their beds and it was so comfortable I wanted to take a nap because I was exhausted by day 3. I left the event early that day because I was tired and exhausted and ready to show off my outfit for the evening. I got back to my hotel, laid in my bed, and got a message from Natalie (@natalieinthecity) where she told me to look at the InStyle magazine article ‘Plus Size Street Style Ruling Fashion Week.’
 I already knew she was featured so I had no idea why she was telling me to look this up. I scrolled through not seeing anything that had changed from when we saw Natalie in it a few hours earlier…until I saw my name and IG handle. I looked in disbelief. I have never been that girl that was picked out of a crowd or recognized for anything - so this was crazy. Finally, after realizing this was real, I took a screen shot it and sent to my mom because it was so cool! I was featured in an article that talked about plus size fashion at NYFW, which had always been a dream of mine to attend. I was in shock for awhile because this kind of thing doesn’t happen to me. When I finally got dressed and went to the after party to find my friends they all asked if I had seen the feature in InStyle. I told them yes and how excited I was about being featured, when they asked why I hadn’t posted anything. That thought hadn’t occurred to me, but that’s when I
realized: talking about your own accomplishments is okay. After that I put it on my Instagram, grabbed my glass of wine, and danced until it was time to go for the night.


Curvy con meant a lot to me. It was in these 3 days that I realized why I created this blog, why I post pics on Instagram, why this community means so much, and why we need to teach a little more confidence. Don’t get me wrong there were definitely things that Ididn’t enjoy about Curvy Con, but I am choosing to focus on thepositive side. Curvy Con is a place that allows you to be you. It allows people of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities to get together &feel comfortable in our bodies. We can unapologetically be ourselves.