Can I fill you in on a little secret? I really struggled with self-confidence as a teen. It all started in the 5th grade: I hit puberty *way* before all of my classmates, and I was 5’7” by the time I was 12. I stopped growing after that, but I definitely felt lanky and incredibly awkward for years.
Not to mention: I was bullied throughout middle/high school as well, and my self-esteem took a major hit. Oddly enough, I didn’t become fully confident in myself until I went to college. It was refreshing to get a fresh start, and stepping out of my comfort zone ended up being the best thing for me.
I think the key to having incredible style is to be confident. It doesn’t matter how much your clothes cost, or if you’re wearing the latest trends — it matters how you feel in the outfit. Here are a few tips and tricks on how I stay confident no matter what time of month it is!
Find Your Miracle Beauty Product
I usually don’t wear makeup every single day of the week — I typically only put on a full face when I’m either doing a photo shoot or going to media events. For those days when I’m keeping it casual, I have a few “miracle” beauty products on-hand that always help me feel more confident.
For me, my miracle product is a brow pencil. My brows are very, very light, and they’re almost the same color as my skin. Filling in my brows instantly makes me feel more put together, and they help frame my face. I also have to have a lip balm on hand as well — because no one enjoys dry, chapped lips.
Staying Protected
Let’s face it: it’s hard to feel super confident when it’s time of the month. It’s normal to feel a little uneasy at the thought of leaks ruining your favorite ensemble. That’s why I won’t leave home without a Tampax Radiant or Always Radiant in my bag. It’s my go-to brand for good old shark week!
Tampax did a study, and the results are pretty surprising: did you know that 4 in 5 African American women (ages 18-35) avoid wearing certain types of clothes during their periods for fear of leaks? Ladies, we should feel free to wear whatever we please, all month long. I love using the Tampax Pocket Radiant tampons because they offer an incredible amount of protection, in a discreet, compact size (yes, they will fit in even the smallest clutches!)
The Tampax and Always Radiant Collection is up to 100% leak-free so you can wear what you want every day of the month. Cheers to that!
Ditch the Trends
Even though I’m a style blogger, I’m not inclined to follow every single little trend that I see. I think some trends look pretty ridiculous, and if you’re not 100% loving a trend, it is easy to look like fashion roadkill.
While I love to try out new trends, I always try to stay true to my personal style. I’ve passed on a few hot trends over the past year, like tiny sunglasses and dad sneakers, for the simple fact that I don’t think I’d be able to pull it off. If a trend doesn’t make you feel amazing, don’t wear it. You’re more likely to be self-conscious if you’re attempting to pull off a trend that just doesn’t suit you!
Want to support other confident women? Tampax and Always are hosting a Radiant Dance Off, and from now until October 31st, you can vote for your favorite majorettes from HBCU’s across the country. The top five videos with the highest number of votes will be judged to determine the winner. You can also share videos of their dance routines across social media using #RadiantDanceOffContest. Pretty cool, huh?
Click to Cast Your Vote!
Thank you to Tampax® and Always® for partnering with me on today’s post! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Photos by Tom McGovern
