The Controversy Over All About That Bass

It was the #1 selling song on iTunes, has stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks now, received Platinum, and is pretty much on the radio every time you turn it on. I'm sure you've heard of the oh so catchy and sassy song "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor. Despite it's numerous awards and sellouts, there has been a lot of controversy over whether the song provides good body image for women today.

In the song the lyrics basically summarize how curvier women should be proud of their body and who they are and how men like curvier bodies over skinnier women. Some of the lyrics include,

"I see that magazine working' that Photoshop. We know that s*** ain't real"

"You know I be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll"

"Go ahead and tell them skinny b***** that"

While I support the promotion of body image, I don't think these lyrics are promoting body image. It's shaming on skinny women, which isn't helping women be confident in their own body. It’s only directing body hate towards a different body type. But on the other hand, Meghan has lyrics that can be very impactful in today’s society towards the movement of eliminating body hate. For example,

“If you got beauty, beauty, just raise 'em up

'Cause every inch of you is perfect

From the bottom to the top”

“My mama she told me don't worry about your size”

“Yeah, it's pretty clear, I ain't no size two

But I can shake it, shake it

Like I'm supposed to do”

These lyrics help women understand that whatever their body type is, they are beautiful inside and out. It states that whatever your look like on the outside, you are perfect no matter what. Because of these contradicting lyrics, this song can be very controversial and many people are debating whether this song is skinny shaming or promoting body image. In my opinion, I do believe that a part of this song is shaming on women, but then again not all songs are directed to everyone. While I disapprove of some of the lyrics in the song, I do believe that the artist’s purpose of this song was not to shame on skinny women, but to promote body self confidence. “All About That Bass” is a great song that instantly boosts my self-confidence, so while there are a few lines that are skinny shaming, it’s a great song overall. So while there is a lot of controversy over this song, I think we shouldn’t over think it too much, but just enjoy the fact that this song is not another love song, but another step towards promoting body confidence among women.

Skinny Shaming

Body image is becoming a very big issue in our society today.  Promoting self-confidence and making sure women and men are comfortable in their own skin is everywhere in America. Whether it’s Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign, Victoria Secret “Body” line, or just plus size models appearing more and more in our magazines and televisions. It is wonderful to see that our society is changing its perception of a beautiful woman. While I am certainly happy to see this change, I realized that there is certainly a negative outcome that has surfaced.

As our nation is now promoting “normal”, bigger, curvier, looking body types into our ads and commercials, what we now believe is “not normal” is a skinny body. A skinny body type is now known as “anorexic”. Models who are skinny are known for not eating or going on an extreme diet. Shaming skinny body types has become more and more prevalent in the news and no one is really taking notice. Yes, you might say that being skinny is a good thing, that people aren’t shaming skinny people, they are complimenting them. But is being called anorexic a good thing or a compliment? Anorexia is a disease that is very harmful to our human bodies and can even lead to death. This disease cause severe emotional and physical damage to our body. Being called anorexic is just the same as being called obese. Both bring harm to us. We not only need to accept curvier, bigger, body types, but accept skinny body types as well.

When I was younger, I was always the skinniest among my friends. It’s not because I didn’t eat, trust me, I ate a lot. If I saw a Hershey bar at the table, you can count on it being devoured in 5 minutes. It’s just how my body was built. I have a fast metabolism and a small body structure that lead me to a skinny body. The constant, “You are so skinny.” And “Go eat a hamburger” became a daily reminder. I was so called “complimented” for having a skinny body, but it sure felt like I was being shammed for being skinny. 

I’m not trying to say skinny women are the definition of a beautiful woman, but I’m not saying curvier women are either. I want to get across to ladies that a healthy body is a beautiful body. No matter if we are curvy, skinny, tall, short, we should never be shamed on because of our body type. Everyone is different, but as long as we are healthy and happy, who should get to tell us what is beautiful and what isn’t. I am very grateful our society is promoting curvier, bigger, models to promote self confidence for women today, but shaming on a different body type was not suppose to be the outcome. Skinny shaming won’t end fat shaming and bringing in new hate doesn’t end hate. Be proud of who you are, whether you are big, small, skinny, or curvy.

The Harshness of Heat

When I was in 6^th grade I went out shopping with my mom. We stopped by a small counter to look at hair tools and in the matter of 15 minutes, the guy persuaded my mom to give in and buy a $250 straightener. This was my first ever hair tool I ever used on my hair and ever since, my hair has never been quite the same. 

Once my mom bought me the straightener to use, I began using it everyday in middle school. My hair wasn’t necessarily curly, but it had a few waves in it so whenever I straightened it, it looked shiny and new! Little did I know that straightening my hair everyday does great damage to your hair later on. Even though we’ve all heard that using heat on your hair everyday is very damaging, we never listen and continue on to do it. I was the exact same way until I realize my hair was truly affected by it. When I was a freshman, I realized that my hair was really dry at the ends even after I got a haircut and I didn’t know why. I continued to straighten and curl my hair like I use to and then my hair got even drier. I finally realized that the heat put on it everyday was affecting my hair. I then decided to stop using hot tools on my hair. It defiantly was difficult at first because I just didn’t like how my natural hair looked. Slowly I began to style and accept my natural hair and now I barely use heat on my hair! Because I straightened my hair everyday, my hair is now facing the consequences. It is still dry at the ends and I need to put moisturizing product on it everyday and when I straighten it, it doesn’t look as shiny because I’ve straightened it so much. The heat that I consistently used on my hair in middle school has damaged my hair and still today I am facing the effects of it.

If you are in the same boat as me, do not worry, there are plenty of ways to bring your hair back to normal! If you have seen the effects of hot tools on your hair, I would advise you to slowly stop using the tools as much as possible. Start loving your natural hair! I would also buy a leave in conditioner as well as a conditioner. A leave in conditioner helps the moisture stay in your hair after you apply your conditioner. I recommend the Healthy Sexy Hair Leave in Conditioner because I saw the changes immediately with my hair! I would also recommend using penetrating oil for extra shine on your hair; any of the Moroccan Argon Oils are perfect.

Now I’m not saying that you should immediately stop using heat on your hair because it turns your hair into chards. I just recommend to use as little heat as possible, especially if you use to use a lot of heat on your hair. I usually straighten or curl my hair once a week if I’m feeling it, but if not I usually leave it natural! If I do use heat, I make sure to spray on a heat protectant on before I use a hot tool and afterwards I apply Moroccan Oil to keep it shiny and healthy! Straightening and curling your hair can totally transform your hair, but make sure you use it with caution!

Welcome Fall!

The leaves are changing color, the temperature is dropping, Starbucks just re-introduced their Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and fall is creeping its way into our lives and our style. So pack away your shorts and sandals, it's now time to bring out the sweaters and boots! Now that fall fashion is slowly appearing, it's time to talk about what's in style this season.

Boots, boots, and more boots. If you have a good pair of combat boots for the fall time, you are ready to go. Not only are boots perfect for the fall season; they will also keep your feet toasty and warm. You can also put on a pair of knee high socks and add that little extra flair peeking out of your boots. Not only are combat boots very in style this season, knee high boots are very in as well! Knee high boots present a more sophisticated look to an outfit, while combat boots present a more grudge, edgy vibe. But whatever your style is, a pair of boots to own is a great investment!

Peplum tops are becoming more and more of a fashion craze. Now that fall is here, peplum tank tops might not be appropriate, but peplum long sleeves are very in! I’ve seen many stores sell long sleeves, or quarter length peplum tops and they are very chic! The long sleeves makes your arms look skinnier, but the peplum still gives you that great curve. I’ve also seen many looser peplum tops that just give off that slight poof at the end to not make it look so drastic. These looser peplum tops are perfect for those who want a more relaxed look.

Army jackets are not only used for the military now, it’s a perfect fit for your fall closet! Green army jackets have become a new fall fashion essential. The jacket’s thick material provide you warmth, the style of the jacket can be paired with many different outfit ideas, and the dark green color just screams fall. Try on a loose striped black and white shirt underneath, a pair of blacking leggings, and some combat boots and your ready to take on the chilly day!

Even though crop tops are a summer look, feel free to bring that into the fall season! Many stores are selling long sleeve crop tops to keep you arms warm in the fall weather. Just pair the long sleeve crop top with a high waisted pant or skirt and you look perfect for fall. If you want to go with a cropped tee-shirt or tank, just put on a long cardigan over and you can still rock the crop top! Even though a crop top does show a slight bit of your belly, just be sure you cover the rest of your body so it balances out!

These are just a few of the new fall styles I’ve been eyeing around lately and I’m sure there’s much more. Now that the season is changing, so can you! Try out a different look, be bold with your styling and makeup, change isn’t always bad! Happy fall everyone!

Review: Project Runway

I’ve just recently developed an interest in the T.V. show Project Runway, and by that I mean that I’ve pretty much watched an entire season in about a week. Project Runway is a T.V. show that showcases unknown designers whom compete with each other to see who can be the winner of Project Runway. Each episode presents a challenge to the designers and they all have to create a look in the matter of 1 or 2 days and the finished look will walk down the runway. The loser or the worse designer will be sent home and after several episodes only one designer will be the winner. This T.V. show has been airing since 2004 and now is at its 13^th season. Not only is Project Runway still popular, but they have also expanded itself into different T.V. shows like Project All Stars, Project Accessory, and Project Runway airing in different countries.

In my opinion, I think this show is a great way to showcase new fashion designers through the media. In the T.V. show you can really see every designers style and work ethic. You always hear of famous designers like Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, and Jason Wu, but with this show you can see designers who haven’t been discovered yet and what they can bring to the fashion world. For me, I just love watching the process of how the designers can create a whole look in the matter of a day. I think it’s crazy that they can sketch something on paper, go to Mood to buy some fabric, and then just sew together a new, modern, look for the runway! I also love betting on who goes home at the beginning of the episode just to see if my answer is correct. Unlike most T.V. shows, this show is not about reality T.V. show drama, while a few arguments pop up here and there, it’s not constant throughout the show. Project Runway really focuses in on the designs that are being created, not the side drama.

This T.V. show is a great show to watch when you need something light and entertaining in your day. The intensity of the competition between the designers keeps you on your toes, while the designs that are created help you appreciate modern fashion and lets you learn about new techniques and looks. I would defiantly recommend this show to those who are interested in fashion, but also for anyone who just loves a reality T.V. show!

Too Much Makeup?

If you are like me, you wear makeup every day. Whether it's just a bit of concealer and mascara or a full face of product, I rarely ever go outside without a bit of makeup on. But every so often when I'm out with friends or at school, I will always get a, "Why are you wearing so much makeup?" or a "Why did you try?" attitude. For me, makeup isn't something that I want to cover up my face with, I truly have a passion and interest in makeup and fashion. Getting up in the morning all tired and groggy, I can instantly be perked up with a splash of water on my face and applying my makeup. When I'm about to go out somewhere nice or perform onstage, I always feel more prepared when I have applied my makeup and did my hair. Weird, right? Makeup is like an art form to me, I can instantly change my facial structure, enhance my features, and make myself feel beautiful with just a brush stroke. It's something I continually mess around with to create different looks, just like how others would play hours and hours of golf to perfect their swing.


But other than the fact that I just am genuinely interested in the field of makeup and fashion, I also believe that makeup isn’t designed to conceal your face, it’s made to enhance it. When applying makeup, I am always confident in my own natural skin, but there are places where I can enhance it with makeup. I have a motto that if you aren’t comfortable in your own skin, makeup won’t do you any justice. This is because makeup shouldn’t ever make you into a new person, your flaws and imperfections are what makes you human. Everyone has places on their face and body they are insecure about, so let’s just all be insecure together! It was very hard for me to accept that at first, I had a huge acne problem and very short eyelashes so I use to put tons of foundation and mascara on to conceal it, if anything it just made me look even worse. Now I still have a few spots here and there, but I first make it my job to use acne face washes and products to make sure it goes away and then cover it if I need to. But if I needed to go out with no makeup on, I would be 100% okay with that too. Makeup should be something that just gives your inner confidence an extra boost to help you go the extra mile, not something you must have to make it acceptable for you to be seen in public. Always remember to love yourself before your makeup is applied and to love yourself after as well.


I shouldn’t feel ashamed for not wearing makeup and I shouldn’t be ashamed for wearing it either. Makeup is something that makes me feel happy and I thoroughly enjoy putting it on. So to everyone out there who’s insecure about putting on makeup, I say go for it. You can apply a heavy face of makeup or just a dash of lip gloss, as long as you feel beautiful, no one can bring you down.

Gossip Girl: Fashion Review of Blair Waldorf

For the second part of my Gossip Girl fashion review, I will be talking about the ever so dramatic, strong, passionate, shopaholic, stylish Blair Waldorf. Blair is one of my favorite characters on the show because she is determined and will always work hard towards her dreams. Though she may be a bit rude to her "minions" and a bit dramatic at times, she always has a caring heart and only wants for her friends to be happy together. Not only is she is a great person to watch on television, she has an amazing sense of style. As her famous quote goes, "Whoever said money didn't buy happiness didn't know where to shop", you can always find her shopping at the top notch stores, picking out what is in or out of season, and looking great even when she's not feeling so great. 

If I had to describe Blair's style in 3 words they would be, sophisticated, classy, and show-stopping. She always manages to look very classy New York in everything she wears, which describes her personality very well. One of my absolute favorite looks from Blair is when she wears the bright green peacoat with the neon yellow bag and heels. This outfit screams Blair. It shows her classy, sophisticated style with the structure of her pea coast and her bag, but the colors pop out making it a bright and "showy" look that would just attract attention. I also love the fact that the pea coat isn't just your average pea coat, it has cut off sleeves and flares out at the end making it very fashion forward, perfect for Blair! 

Another show stopping look from Blair is when she wears the gorgeous red gown paired with hot pink shoes and clutch when she's in Paris. This look showed that attention grabbing Blair style, but also that princess like style that makes Blair still seem more classier. At the very end of the episode she meets up with Chuck for the first time in a very long time and she wears this gown and walks across a bridge to meet up with him. It was an absolutely heart breaking moment, but this dress was the perfect finish for this romantic yet tear-jerking scene. 

Blair's school style is very similar to the style she wears outside of school. Though she still wears a tie, a blazer, and a skirt, she plays it up by wearing colorful tights, decorating her blazer, and wearing cute sweaters to make the uniform not so bland. The ever so famous headbands she wears make a statement to her fashion style, but also her social status at school! 

 Finally, let's talk about her wedding dress. She does get married two times on the show, but I'm going to be talking about the dress she wore in the last episode wedding with Chuck Bass. This dress was a gorgeous sky blue Elle Saab fitted gown that enhanced her whole body shape. This dress is not like most wedding dresses since it's blue instead of white, but Blair isn't your normal everyday person. This looked absolutely stunning on her and I finally got to see Blair and Chuck together at last!

Blair Waldorf is one of my favorite characters on a TV show. She's determined, organized, sassy, and has an amazing sense of style. Until next time upper east siders! XOXO