Featured Angel – Buniqua 💋
My name is buniqua and I was born and raised in Alaska. I am of Yup’ik Eskimo, Middle Eastern and Scottish decent. I was adopted as an infant so if you’re wondering where the curves came from, I’d like to know, too! I’ve loved fashion and beauty since I was a young girl. I consider my style less trendy and more individual and classic.
In addition to beauty and fashion, also enjoy design in various platforms from food design to interior design. I love to spend my time hosting others with comforting accommodations, good food, drinks and company. I am an entrepreneur and blooming influencer for the positive positivity movement. I am constantly working on balancing conquering all of my dreams while remembering to slow down and enjoy life as it’s happening.
I’ve always had more confidence than concern about my curves—I was blessed. I learned to embrace my curves at a young age and celebrate the insane power they have by rocking fashion with confidence. I was never the “skinny girl” and never will be, and I’m okay with that!
I don’t have to be skinny because I am sexy, strong, bold, delicate, soft, and full of love. During my youth I performed in cheer, theater, dance, and music and was never self-conscious about my body. I never felt ‘too fat’… I felt strong and talented and powerful.
Don’t get me wrong… I have insecurities and have gone through highs and lows of valuing my body image, just like everyone else. I wasn’t until adulthood that I really began to experience the body shaming culture.
In college I had a fiancé who would regularly make comments about my weight which spun me into an eating disorder that I’ve battled ever since. I took every diet pill, worked out 2-3 times per day, starved myself just so I could be as small as possible. Clearly, he and I didn’t work out. Blessed.
In current day, most men adore my curves, however it doesn’t come without the social pressures to fit into the “snatched waist” club (which I’m still insecure about). Over the years, I have had several men ask me what size I am or how much I weigh as part of their “getting to know me” because unfortunately in society’s standards, there is a cutoff point between the desired “thick” woman, and a woman who is too fat.
While plus size women are more socially accepted and celebrated (and low key desired) most men end up making it official with a petite chic who fits into their social image better, because there is no room for “fat girls” there.
In my experience, when it comes to body and image shaming, the biggest culprits are women. There is a ton of woman-on-woman crime in this arena; myself included. Once, I literally had a girlfriend tell me to “stop eating” during a girl’s trip, only to turn around the next morning and report to the group what I ate the night before… as if it was worthy of shame.
In the professional sector, I was told certain women were not fans of me because of the way I presented myself—put together, hair & make-up, curves, fashionable—so I literally used to dull myself down for meetings or events to “fit in” or hide in with others… as if being your best self, curves and all, is too much. I’ve learned that when women body/image shame each other, it’s often connected to our own insecurities.
Years ago, I committed to consciously stopping myself when I went into the mode of judging other women and started to look inward instead. I’d ask myself “what was triggering that for me? Where do I need to heal?” I’ve grown a lot from the practice of looking inward. I also know that there is so much power in complimenting your sisters whenever possible, and so any women don’t do this! Let’s change the narrative and lift each other up!
I choose to focus on celebrating my curves and beauty as one facet of me—one that compliments me but does not define me or my worth. In addition to having some bomb ass curves, I am kind, generous, beautiful, funny as hell, smart, independent, talented, creative, and nurturing.
I have been fortunate to have so many positive influences in my life that it’s hard to pick a few. I have a core group of girlfriends who have loved and celebrated me through every chapter of my life. I think that with the right group of women standing beside you, developing into your most authentic self isn’t as scary, because you know you have baddies around you to catch you when you fall.
“Honey, if he’s not acting right, that is all about him and his own demons. Don’t you dare let yourself think that you are not beautiful or skinny enough to be worthy of love.”
There are so many plus size women that I absolutely adore! And what’s awesome about these women is that it’s not always in the fashion arena. Nabela Noor (designer and author), Ashley Lopez (digital creator and plus size fashion influencer), Christina Janine (fitness/lifestyle influencer), Kristina Heredia (plus size fashion influencer and baddie).
I think that social media has played a role in supporting the body positive movement. However, there are still so many mean people out there in the comment sections! It’s almost made it easier for bullies to target others. Fortunately, I’ve never experienced troll hate but when I do, I’ll know ‘I’ve arrived.’
I found Curvy Angels on social media and joined as a fellow member. Curvy Angels has helped influence my body positive vibe by posting content that embraces plus sized women. I also love seeing all of the other curvy angels doing their thing on the social platform—it has helped provide a pathway for me and other women like me to build confidence and self-worth.
I recently launched “buniqua beauty”, which focuses on resonating beauty from the inside out, reclaiming your sexy & embracing every line, curve & scar as a keepsake of what makes you YOU.
It’s a platform to share my journey of celebrating everything from aging to body positivity with the hope that it positivity impacts other women regardless of size, color, or age. I’ve enjoyed women reaching out to me asking me for makeovers, hair and makeup tricks, the products I use, or brands I wear. buniqua beauty is about practicing being bold and not shrinking because of what others think.
Follow at @buniqua_beauty on IG, @buniquabeauty on FB
