It was just an ordinary Sunday. My sister and I were at the mall buying some last minute clothes for back to school. Everything was fine until I saw it...

The crop top.

I don't know why I was so attracted to the shirt. Maybe because the sign above the rack was labeled "sale" or maybe because they all came in my favorite colors.

I've never worn a crop top before.

Actually, I've never worn anything that shows my stomach. I like to keep my stretch marks and muffin top tucked away. Baggy shirts and oversized sweaters usually keep it all hidden.

But that day, I felt different. For whatever reason, I felt confident. So confident that I grabbed two hangers and marched towards the dressing room.

I placed a pink and blue one in front of me. They were the type of crop top that hugged you as tight as your skin. My heart was already pounding just thinking about squeezing myself into this tiny piece of fabric.

What if it doesn't fit? What if I can't wear anything cute because I'm too fat? Why am I even putting myself through this?

Before I could let the voices in my head talk me out of doing it, I threw the pink top on and took a long look at myself in the mirror.

Although it wasn't stunning or perfect, it wasn't bad. The rather plunging neckline really showed off my busty chest, but that didn't stop me from trying on the next one.

The blue one fit even better! I sort of... liked it. Of course, I could see my tummy bulging out of the skirt and the red lines that run across the skin were visible, but suddenly, none of that mattered.

For the first time in a long time, I felt free. That might sound cliché, but that's the only way to describe it.

When I was standing alone in the dressing room, I realized that the only person who should care about what I'm wearing or what I look like is me.

I'm not skinny. I'm a little too tall. I have extra blubber around my stomach and arms. My cheekbones are huge. My feet are disgusting and my butt is as flat as a pancake.

Despite all the flaws I just listed, I still love my body the way it is. I respect it because it's mine and only mine.

So if I want to wear a crop top, I will. And if you want to wear a crop top, you should. It doesn't matter how big you are or what others might say.

If you feel confident in what you're wearing, you'll always look beautiful.