body confidence

Our goal of getting strong, healthy and beautiful through weightlifting celebrates our womanhood and the amazing things our bodies can do for us.

I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and took the class. I’ve since learned that pole dancing is much more than what people may think it is.

If you are in a bit of a rut and are looking for a proactive and fun way to spend some of your extra time this summer, our groovy suggestion is to dance!

When I finally get to hold a diploma in my hand, I will think back to the day that I almost denied myself a chance to graduate from UC Berkeley because of my curves. My body is an empowering part of me, which I embrace with confidence, but it will never define my success!

When it was my turn to model, I strutted down the runway, moving my hips from side to side, throwing smiles at the cheering crowd of girls and at the judges. I struck a pose, flipped my hair over my shoulder and walked back toward the exit of the runway. I had never felt so powerful or so confident in my life.

I knew I had to change the way I viewed myself. I then remembered what my dad always told me just to get me out of the house on time in the mornings: “No importa lo que te pongas, siempre te ves igual de bien” — “No matter what you wear, you always look beautiful anyway.”

As I lay on my bed scrolling through the 40 photos I took, my eyes filled with tears, and I threw my phone at the mirror. I looked nothing like the photoshopped pictures online. I was upset that I was trying so hard to be someone else.