For as long as I can remember, I have been bigger. Not obese. But bigger. Especially bigger than all my friends. I can still remember the day in second grade when a boy that didn’t know any better told me I had a "fat tummy." Since that day in second grade, I have been cursed/blessed with the self-consciousness of my "fat tummy."

During the middle school years, being plus size was the worst. Being short and wide, nothing fit right, especially with everything changing at the age of 13. Not to mention, it was the time when everyone was obsessed with shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch and Hollister, and as we all know, Abercrombie and Hollister clothing sizes were always at least one size smaller than any other store you went to. Even through all those struggles, I'm here to tell you I survived and made it through!

Let’s skip through the high school years and just go straight to the present. After 21 years of life, I am convinced I have figured this plus size clothing thing out! Here are some tips for all you girls out there.

1. Don’t shop at places that don’t offer plus size. Simple as that!

For years, I was doing whatever I could to get into the clothes that simply didn’t work for me and my body style. I would walk into the store go through every rack and try everything on, but nothing fit properly. Once I started to embrace the stores that actually worked with my body, I had a boost in my self-confidence because I didn’t have to worry about feeling terrible about myself walking into a store that didn't even carry a size 12.

2. Be healthy

Yes, I said it! Even as plus size, we need to work out and be healthy. No, we might never have a thigh gap, but making yourself feel better is one of the biggest parts of feeling better and being confident in your own body. Trust me, I am not a gym junkie nor am I a food health freak, but there is something about a good workout that just makes you feel better!

3. Wear cute clothes

In the past five years, the number of stores offering plus size clothing has multiplied! My favorite stores for plus size clothing are as follows: Rural Bliss , Target's plus size clothing, Maurices, and Nordstrom’s plus size clothing. After discovering that these stores carried plus size clothing, it restored faith to me that I wasn’t the only what out there trying to cope with being plus size. There are many other stores and celebrities that have started plus size clothes lines, but these are just simply the ones that work for my budget and unique body type. Not to mention, the clothes are adorable! At times, I find cuter plus size clothing than I do "normal" sizes. Just make sure to check out all your options!

Society is quick to point out our fat tummies. but in reality, we don’t have to worry what anyone thinks! We have so many things we, as plus size women, can do to make sure our confidence shines through for any occasion! Embrace your beauty and don’t feel as if you must live up to the beauty standard, because your unique beauty is truthfully what matters the most!