Tia Mowry's Postpartum Journey Isn't What You'd Expect
Somewhere along the line, Patriarchy convinced women that our bodies were made solely for their aesthetic pleasure. At some point, we forgot that our bodies are amazing machines that create life and move mountains, and instead came to the conclusion that it is our obligation to maintain our bodies by standards set by society. Women like Ciara and Teyana Taylor have slayed our entire lives by showing off their miraculous post-baby snapback bodies; and though these women give us inspiration, it's important to set #BodyGoals that reflect your own reality.
Ciara said that she worked out two or three times a day with a trainer to lose the 50 pounds of baby weight that she had accumulated during her pregnancy, and Teyana Taylor said she was able to reveal her post-baby snapback after only 6 days because of her extensive workout regimen before, during, and after her pregnancy.
The images constantly perpetuated in the media may lead some to believe that a quick recovery from 40 weeks of pregnancy is the standard, but stars like Tia Mowry-Hardrict say f*ck your standards, we've entered into an era of creating our own. She wrote in an Instagram post:
"This is MY #postpartum. Two weeks in. Do I still have a belly yes. I actually look like I'm 4 months pregnant and that is OKAY. I wanted to shine a light on how our society creates false expectations after a woman gives birth. Ladies, it's okay that our bodies are not PERFECT after our babies are born. Give yourself time. Go at your own pace. Don't allow people to put a time limit on YOUR body. You've just accomplished a miracle! #Love yourself, love your new body, embrace it. It you want to make changes than that's your desire and no one else's. Ps, #moms freaking rock! #fashion."
Tia's confession reminds women everywhere that the only expectations that you're held to are your own. In 2016, the actress opened up about how her journey to self-love came through navigating the road not usually taken: embracing her scars.
Along with dealing with the newfound nooks and crannies on our postpartum bodies, many women, including Tia, must learn to find beauty in their c-section scars.
"I call my pooch Cree. I have a caesarean scar, and I love that scar. It reminds me of the moment where I gave birth to a human being."
So often we see our scars as undesirable, when really they should be worn with valiance because they are war wounds. It is no easy feat to give birth to another human, and our scars are imperfectly perfect reminders of that victory.
As mothers, as lovers, as women, Tia reminds us to find beauty in our imperfections. She is proof that our insecurities are no match for the confidence we find in embracing a positive self-image. She continued:
"I'm not as thin as I used to be, but that's OK. I'm who I am, and I just want to encourage moms to embrace those changes. Those changes didn't happen in vain. We all go through cycles. That's life. We don't have to be perfect, so embrace your imperfections."
Your postpartum body may be different from Tia Mowry or Teyana Taylor, but it doesn't make it any less "normal". Despite popular belief, pregnancy and childbirth is some real sh*t, and your body needs time to recover.
Set #BodyGoals that realistically embody your reality and that are conducive to your lifestyle.
Featured image via Tia Mowry/Instagram
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime