St Lucia’s body-positive setting was a confidence increase for Stephanie Yeboah, who now recommends the Caribbean island to fellow plus-size vacationers.
Rising up in a plus-size physique doesn’t come with out its negatives. From the polarizing remedy I might get from strangers to lack of entry to primary services, in all places I turned I might be made conscious that my measurement was a problem to others.
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This precipitated me to develop a self-hatred of my physique that manifested itself in a wide range of methods – together with avoiding journey or being seen in public.
Once I’d open up journey brochures or see holidays marketed on TV, I might be met with pictures of fashions with smaller, super-toned our bodies residing their finest lives on vacation.
I satisfied myself that journey and seaside holidays weren’t for people with our bodies like mine and that I used to be too fats to get pleasure from myself overseas.
It sounds foolish to recall these moments, however on the time, the dearth of physique variety within the advertising and marketing of journey made me assume that you possibly can solely go to these seaside locations in the event you had a physique kind that match society’s normal of magnificence.
Touring solo as a confidence booster
All through my early twenties, I launched into a vanity journey of types. I used to be maturing, and wanted to shake off trauma in addition to unlearn the poisonous narratives surrounding physique measurement that I had internalized whereas rising up. This was important to dwell my finest life.
A part of doing so included taking the leap and touring solo to spice up my confidence. I began touring in 2016, and whereas I had an incredible time, I caught to cities and rural spots – in different phrases, locations that didn’t require me to put on bikinis, shorts, skirts or spaghetti-strap tops.
Although I might slowly really feel my confidence rising, I wasn’t on the level the place I felt snug in my physique.
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Then, in 2019, every part modified for me. I used to be invited to go to St Lucia for a number of days in honor of Black Historical past Month. Whereas I used to be crammed with pleasure, part of me was additionally crammed with dread.
Visiting a Caribbean island might solely imply one factor: sizzling climate and seashores. The considered having to put on items that might preserve me cool gave me emotions of tension. I had come up to now in my self-love journey; however was I able to go all out and put on a swimsuit?
All of my outdated insecurities resurged with a vengeance: What would individuals say if I did? Would I have to work out earlier than going? Ought to I’ve a ‘bikini physique’? Wouldn’t it be acceptable for me to put on leggings on the seaside?
I made a decision to exit on a whim and purchase three string bikinis, only for fun. My intention was by no means to put on them publicly, however to simply see what I appeared like in them.
Essentially the most body-positive of locations
Quick ahead a number of weeks later and I arrived in St Lucia. It’s no hyperbole for me to say that it is among the most lovely locations on Earth. And what makes the island lovely isn’t simply the agriculture, the Piton mountains or the seashores, however the individuals.
From the second my airplane touched down till my flight off the island, I used to be greeted with our bodies that appeared like mine: Plus-sized our bodies of St Lucian girls sporting lovely wrap skirts, tiny shorts and crop tops, simply going about their every day lives.
Nobody stared at them or questioned them for daring to put on such clothes. They have been handled as regular human beings. And in that second, I’d by no means earlier than felt so seen.
Once I arrived at my lodge, I eliminated the tags on my new black-and-red bikini and popped it on with a cover-up, and headed for Rodney Bay seaside. A pal mentioned I ought to have my photograph taken, so I made a decision to let go of my inhibitions, take off my cover-up and pose in my size-24 bikini.
The frenzy of adrenaline that got here with doing that was merely addictive. I used to be met with compliments and cheers, with individuals telling me I must be a mannequin. I wasn’t used to my physique being seen in such a constructive means, and the impact it had on my vanity was momentous.
Magnificence in all sizes and styles
Locals I met informed me in regards to the St Lucian normal of magnificence and the way it typically celebrates curvier our bodies. I found for myself how larger our bodies have been celebrated on the island, and the way St Lucians acknowledge that magnificence is available in all sizes and styles.
As somebody who has grown up within the shadows of the Westernized requirements of magnificence and its favoritism towards slim our bodies, listening to this different take was music to my ears.
I spent the remainder of the journey sunbathing in my bikinis and strolling proudly in sundresses. I started to develop a newfound sense of confidence. I felt enticing. I felt snug. And for the primary time, I felt like I deserved to get pleasure from myself unapologetically.
I’ve returned to the island once more, and the second time was even higher than the final. I’ll at all times credit score the gorgeous island as being the place the place I bought my body-image groove again.
