I Smiled Without Showing My Teeth—for Years I used to hide my mouth when I laughed. You’d think I was trying to be mysterious, but it was shame—plain and simple. The kind of quiet, growing shame that creeps in over time. One day you’re posing for pictures without thinking about it, and the next, you’re…

I Used to Dread My Own Reflection The light in fitting rooms is cruel. You know what I mean—too bright, too honest. Every lump and fold seemed exaggerated, like the walls themselves were mocking me. For years, I avoided trying on clothes in stores altogether. I’d buy the largest size online and pray it stretched…

I Didn’t Recognize the Woman in the Mirror It was a Tuesday. That kind of gray, heavy morning that already feels like the middle of the week before it’s even started. The alarm went off at 6:00 AM, and I stared at the ceiling like it had the answers. My bones ached. Not in a…