It could never be the latter. It’s slathering your stretch marks with oils and butters and swallowing the disappointment that rises in your throat in the morning when they haven’t vanished. It’s hearing your friends receive compliments on their various outfits for you to be told repeatedly that yours is ‘flattering’. It’s losing the will to point out that people’s concern for your health wouldn’t exist if your dress size were to be divided by two. It’s acknowledging the space you take up and truly believing that you are worthy of being there. It’s taking the time every evening to show yourself some love and appreciation because the world can be a cruel place at the best of times. It’s being loud and being quiet. It’s being dainty one day and being the bull in the China shop the next. It’s thanking both sides of your family for making you and moulding you. It’s learning and recovering and breathing and smiling. It’s being authentically you and holding your tongue the next time you go to apologise for it. Follow Claudia on Instagram @claude_knight.
7 SlagMag_Dec2020.indd 7
7 13/12/2019 00:20
