Love the Skin You’re In: Why Body Confidence Matters More Than You Think
The Power of Body Confidence: Changing the Way You See Yourself
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, I had the pleasure of participating in ALTAR's Bring Your Soul to Work Day, a gathering designed to bring women together for connection, creativity, movement, and personal growth.
I led an interactive session called "Loving the Skin You're In," all about body appreciation, confidence, and building a kinder relationship with ourselves.
It was such a wonderful day of community and connection. The event included coffee and conversation with other women, movement with Kathleen Aharoni, an optional community lunch, and a creative SoulCollage® workshop. I loved being part of a day that encouraged women to slow down, connect with themselves, and invest in their own well-being.
During my session, I explored something I'm incredibly passionate about: body confidence, self-love, and the ways our relationship with our bodies affects how we live our lives.
I started by asking the audience a simple question:
Have you ever skipped an activity, changed your plans, or had less fun because of thoughts about how your body looks?
Maybe you've avoided a pool party because you didn't like how you looked in a swimsuit. Maybe you've passed on a photograph, skipped an event, or decided not to wear something you loved because you weren't comfortable with your body.
These might seem like small decisions, but when you add them up, they represent something much bigger. How many experiences do we miss out on because we're waiting to feel better about our bodies?
Where Do Our Body Image Issues Come From?
I shared some of my own body confidence journey and talked about where so many of our negative thoughts about our bodies originate. From childhood messages and media images to societal expectations and years of comparing ourselves to others, we often develop beliefs about our bodies that have very little to do with reality.
And the hardest part? We carry those beliefs with us for decades.
What I've Learned From Photographing 2,000+ Women
Over the past 10+ years, I've had the privilege of photographing more than 2,000 women at Chicago Boudoir. I've worked with women of every age, shape, size, and stage of life.
I've heard their stories, witnessed their transformations, and watched women see themselves in an entirely new way.
One thing I've learned is that confidence doesn't belong to a particular body type. I've photographed women who are traditionally considered beautiful by society's standards who struggle with body image, and women who have spent their entire lives feeling insecure who walk out of the studio seeing themselves differently.
Through the stories of women I've photographed, I shared some of the lessons that have become central to my own philosophy.
Five Things I Want Every Woman to Know
There is no particular weight, dress size, age, or body shape that makes someone sexy. Confidence, attitude, and the way you carry yourself have far more to do with how you feel than the number on a clothing tag.
Taking care of yourself, appreciating yourself, and making yourself a priority isn't vanity. We spend so much time taking care of everyone else that we sometimes forget that we deserve that same kindness and attention.
3. Confidence is a skill you can develop!
Confidence isn't something you're either born with or without. Like any other skill, it can be practiced and strengthened. It starts with challenging the negative stories we tell ourselves and learning to see ourselves differently.
4. Loving your body will get you further than hating your body!
Think about how much energy we spend criticizing, comparing, hiding, and trying to change ourselves. Imagine what we could do with that energy if we redirected it toward living our lives instead.
You don't have to love every single thing about your appearance to treat yourself with kindness and respect.
5. Your body confidence has EVERYTHING to do with your business success!
This was an especially important part of my presentation.
The way we feel about ourselves influences how we show up professionally. It affects whether we're willing to put ourselves out there, speak up, take risks, promote our businesses, ask for what we're worth, and pursue opportunities.
When we're constantly questioning whether we're good enough, attractive enough, or worthy enough, those insecurities can spill into every area of our lives, including our careers and businesses.
Learning to feel more confident in our own skin can open doors we didn't even realize we were holding ourselves back from.
A Little Perspective Shift: I Have a Body!
I ended my presentation with a simple exercise that I think is worth remembering.
How many times have you said, "I hate my body"?
What if, instead of focusing on all the things you dislike about your body, you simply changed the statement?
I HAVE A BODY!
A body that lets you experience the world. A body that carries you through your days. A body that deserves to be treated with kindness, regardless of its size, shape, age, or appearance.
Your body is not your entire identity. It's just one part of who you are.
And you deserve to live a full, happy, exciting life right now, not someday when you lose 10 pounds, fit into a certain size, or finally look the way you think you should.
My Biggest Takeaway
If there's one thing I hope women take away from my presentation, it's this:
Stop putting your life on hold until you love the way you look.
Wear the swimsuit. Get in the photograph. Go on the vacation. Start the business. Put yourself out there. Take up space.
You don't need a different body to live a different life. You just need to start believing that the body you have right now is worthy of one.
And that is what loving the skin you're in is all about.
A big thank you to ALTAR for inviting me to be part of Bring Your Soul to Work Day. I loved connecting with such an inspiring group of women and being able to share a message that is so close to my heart.
Learn more about ALTAR: https://www.altarcommunity.com/
Want More Body Confidence Inspiration?
If this message resonated with you, I'd love to share more! I've created a collection of free body-positive resources to help women build confidence, practice self-love, and develop a healthier relationship with their bodies. From daily inspiration to practical tools and encouragement, there's something to help you along your journey.