,Around this time a year ago, I wrote an article about being plus-sized & proud after finishing my freshman year that brought me confidence in my appearance. Now I want to kick that statement up a notch after going through a year of revelation. I can honestly say that I changed for the better to a point where I can proclaim this: I'm not fat, I'm CURVY!

"So Cora, how did you come to this realization?"

I have been through a lot in the past year wanting to look as pretty as my friends and the other girls on campus. It goes to show that every girl has the potential to dress lovely whether vibrant colors or latest trends but each of them has to dress according to what's in the reflection than next to you in the store. After finding stores that were suitable for me, I felt that it was time to update my wardrobe a little bit. I went shopping with my friend and we found the same thing in our individual sizes. Neither of us got it but it was great to have that moment knowing that I can wear the same thin as someone with an entirely different body type than me. I even tried out online shopping with a dress for the Sadie Hawkins dance and it worked out great!

Since being back home for the summer from college, I found myself at Belk which was a little different since I haven't found myself shopping there lately because the clothes they had in my size were all vibrant colors with bedazzled fruit/animals on the front. The store went through a total reality check in regards that there are young ladies who are not the body type of a fresh No. 2 pencil and decided to make a change. Now there is a section called Young Contemporary & Curvy, thanks to Kim Rogers. I was so astounded by the styles that I bought my first cold shoulder top there and I am loving it!!!!

I also got into dance ministry this year where I am the only girl in the group over 150 pounds and I still moved swiftly like the other girls who were so supportive of me.This the checkpoint where I began to soar; I became surrounded by incredible girls who helped me slowly get back into something that I love doing & makes me feel weightless at the same time, especially since we all craved carbs after rehearsal. I was scared out of my mind about standing out in the wrong way until our first performance where social anxiety faded away. It felt so great having a such a positive response showered onto me after an 8-count solo of Cora-ography.

Truth be told, beauty doesn't ACTUALLY come from outward appearance, at least not true biblical beauty. Don't try to make yourselves beautiful on the outside, with stylish hair or by wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. Instead, make yourselves beautiful on the inside, in your hearts, with the enduring quality of a gentle, peaceful spirit. This type of beauty is very precious in God's eyes (1 Peter 3:3-4 CEB) Beauty, comes from the heart, and yours is truly beautiful, and that makes you, no matter the size or looks, it makes you gorgeous, honest to God gorgeous.

Labels will always be around, but you should define them rather than the other way around. As accurate as using plus-sized as a description, it doesn't roll off the tongue like curvy. This is such an illuminating state of mind. Now I can wake up and wear whatever I feel like because it all fits, looks great. and I enjoy what I see in the mirror.