Embracing My Māori Beauty: A Journey of Self-Love and Laughter

Kia ora, beautiful souls! 🌟

Today, I want to take you on a journey - my journey. It's a journey filled with laughter, self-discovery, and an epic battle with self-doubt. But through it all, it's a journey of love and not just any love, but the most important love of all – self-love.

In a world that often makes us question our worth, I've come to realize the incredible power of self-love and self-acceptance. It's a journey that wasn't always a walk in the park, but let me tell you, the reward at the end is worth every uphill battle.

Every day, I remind myself: 'I love myself, I love my body, I am enough, I am strong, I am wanted.' These words have become my daily dose of empowerment, my secret recipe for facing the world with a smile and a dash of humour. 🙌

But let's rewind a bit. You see, embracing my Māori features wasn't always on my agenda. I've got the whole package – high cheekbones, a round flat nose, big lips, big green eyes, and those Polynesian curves. But I just didn't feel attractive. Even when compliments came my way, I'd dismiss them with a casual wave of my "painted-on" taringa (that's 'ears' for those not in the know). Selective hearing? Perhaps.

For years, this lack of self-acceptance gnawed at me, even from my childhood. It's tough for a kid and even tougher as a young adult, and it inevitably leaked into other areas of my life. But why? I wasn't entirely sure, but I had to heal, and it wasn't going to happen through plastic surgery (thank goodness!). The feelings would still be there, lurking in the shadows.

So, a few years ago, I decided to embark on a journey with myself. Now, between you, me, and my big Māori lips, I had to hang on tight. I knew it would be a wild ride, full of bumps and bruises, but oh, was it worth it!

Fast forward to today, and things are different. I love my Māori-ness, every inch of it. Those big eyes? Well, they help me see more of the world! 😉 I've even added a feature – my moko kauae (chin tattoo) – which I wear with pride. The looks I get now are pure gold – people fringing on 'gawking,' and I'm absolutely okay with it. I respond with a smile, a friendly hello, or sometimes, the legendary "eyebrow nod" 😏. And yes, sometimes I get an "eyebrow nod" in return! 😁

Embracing your unique, beautiful self isn't a destination; it's a continuous journey. We're all a work in progress, and that's what makes us wonderfully human. So, remember, you are strong, you are enough, and you are wanted, just as you are. 💚

And here's the cherry on top – embrace the humour in life, especially the humour in yourself. Laughter is, after all, the best medicine, and sometimes, the best reminder of how brilliantly quirky we all are.

So, love your guts, embrace your uniqueness, and share a laugh with the world. Together, we'll paint it with the colours of self-love, one smile, one laugh, one 'eyebrow nod' at a time!

Stay fabulous,

Shel 🌈😄🤣💖