A Body Love Story: Ariel

Hey babes! As you may know, we here at Bare Elegance Boudoir have been working on

a project called The Body Love Project. This is where we help tell the stories of babes just like you who have taken the boudoir plunge and what it has meant for them before, during, and after. Our gorgeous goddess today is Ariel, and we can’t wait for you to learn all about her boudoir journey. Ariel rocked her shoot and, in her interviews, was incredibly open and passionate about her experiences. We think she’s inspiring, and hope that her story touches you as much as it touched us! You’ll see us chime in with a few comments here and there, and you’ll know it’s us when you see the * before a sentence.

Trigger Warning: Sexual assault, childhood trauma, eating disorders, and body issues.

Before the Shoot

BEB- Tell me your story. What do you want people to know about who you are and why you are participating in this project?

A- I am a survivor of sexual assault that I experienced as a young girl. At such a young and impressionable age, what I experienced ultimately led to body image issues, disordered eating, excessive exercise, and overall feeling completely uncomfortable in my own skin. Over the last year I decided I was done hating my body. I’ve been going to therapy regularly and committed to myself that I would be 100% honest about my struggles. Though I believe this healing journey to be life-long, as I approach my 30th birthday I wanted to be bold. I wanted to prove to myself that I am powerful, beautiful, safe, and can be at peace in my skin.

*We are so humbled that Ariel shared this with us, and her dedication to healing is awe-

inspiring. Thank you, Ariel!

BEB- Tell me about all of your favorite features and the things you would like to emphasize in your photos! This can include physical body parts or a part of your personality!

A- I am super goofy, so I would love maybe some candid photos of me laughing or just having fun! I would also like some serious photos since I do have many (or any of those). I like my eyes, legs and my back.

BEB- Are you nervous about having boudoir portraits done? Tell me about your feelings

leading up to your shoot.

A- Yes. I am nervous because it is something outside of my comfort zone. That being said, it’s one of the reasons I want to be a part of this.

*What do comfort zones and glass ceilings have in common? They’re both best when you purposely shatter them!

BEB- When did you decide that Bare Elegance was the right boudoir studio for you? Was

there any one moment that stands out in your mind?

A- When I first talked to Ginny! And when I became a member of Bare Babes Lounge. Ginny is so amazing, sweet, and I could feel her authenticity and genuine spirit right away!

*Seriously, our Facebook page is fire, you should check it out if you haven’t already.

BEB- What do you want other women to think and feel when they view your portraits in your featured blog post? Is there anything else you want to share?

A- I want women to feel their own power. To think - know - that they are beautiful, strong, worthy, and amazing, exactly the way they are.

*Preach it!

After the Shoot

BEB- Now that your session is over, how do you feel about the experience? Was it everything you had hoped?

A- The experience was more than I hoped! I was excited, but nervous for sure going into this. Ginny made me feel so at home, like we had always been friends and were just having a girls day.

*If you can’t have a girls’ day in your underwear, what are you even doing, really?

BEB- Tell me something that you learned about yourself from having this experience.

A- I learned to challenge my thoughts. To look at myself a little bit differently and with a whole lot more compassion, appreciation, and love.

BEB- If you were nervous before, tell me when your nervousness disappeared.

A- My nervousness really disappeared after I put on my first outfit and acknowledged the nerves and awkwardness. Ginny and I laughed about it, and I felt at ease.

BEB- Do you have a final message or take-away from the Body Love Project?

A- This work is necessary. As women, we often receive negative messages about ourselves and our bodies at such a young age. It then takes a lifetime to overcome such ingrained ideas. This project, the photo shoot, was truly life changing. When I am having a day where I am not showing myself the love I deserve, I pull up a photo Ginny took, I look at that woman and finally see what others do.

*That’s us in a nutshell, babes. Ariel took the words right out of our mouths. You are beautiful right now, right here, just as you are, and we aim to prove it through the work we do every single day. You are worthy, you are powerful, and you are a STUNNER!

Special thanks to guest writer Kasey Schroer for providing our voice in this article!

Ready for your own Body Love session? Fill out our contact form HERE