Terika

Visual Art – Portland

I have spent my entire life trying to beautiful. I was born with a congenital giant nevus. By the time I was 18 I had, had 15 plastic surgeries. From facial reconstruction to breast implants. I went through the traditional High School drama of I wasn\'t skinny enough and I wore weird clothes (I had a passion for 3 piece dress suits). Years went by and slowly started to realize that it was cool to be unique and different. I started wearing the \"wrong\" clothes and doing the \"Wrong\" thing because I wanted to fit in with my new alternative friends. When in reality the people that wanted to look after me were getting scared away. After my third child I got really skinny. Skinny to the point I was scaring my friends and family, which encouraged me to eat even less because for the first time in my life I could fit a size 5! Now I have had another child and never lost the baby weight, but couldn\'t be happier with my husband. I no longer worry about every little thing I eat, or care that I\'m not dressed right, or put my style before my work. I put my priorities in order while still being me. I have my tattoos, and I dye my hair when I can, I wear suits (still!) and I put my nose up at jeans. I am me without paying any prices I\'m not willing to pay.