Bronx Fashion Week: ‘’Not Just Beauty: A Movement"
Written by Flora Montes, Cohort 8 Winner
When my daughter was diagnosed with "vitiligo" (a condition in which the pigment is lost from areas of the skin, causing whitish patches) I was compelled to reassure her that she was indeed beautiful. Regardless of what is on the outside, natural beauty is not defined by society’s views on physical appearance, weight, or size. Instead, it manifests from the heart in acts of compassion and kindness.
As a Puerto Rican woman who was born and raised in the South Bronx, I knew I needed to push the envelope against naysayers who claim that only a size 2 or 4 is “beautiful.” I felt compelled to reassure my daughter and many others like her. I also understood that deep within me, there was a voice screaming to believe that I could be a successful businesswoman, regardless of my age, size, and background. That despite all the naysayers, I could build a Fashion House that would defy all odds in a borough where many don't truly take the time to see the beauty and all the positive, creative things that are born from these concrete streets.
Beauty should never be defined by the size of your hips, age, or skin color; the only factual definition of beauty is the one that comes from within.
- share
- Copy to URL