Thriving Through the Thirties

I’ve always had a thing for being in front of the camera. Maybe it’s because growing up, my mother hardly took the time to capture my life in photographs. I don’t blame her, though. She was a single mother juggling two jobs to raise me, her only daughter. Pictures weren’t exactly at the top of her priority list, which is completely understandable.

Working as a cultural journalist, constantly surrounded by professional photographers, only deepened my love for being photographed. Admittedly, I only have three go-to poses and four facial expressions in my repertoire, but I consider myself “camera-ready” more often than not. So, when my friend Winnie mentioned her upcoming photoshoot, I knew I had to somehow wriggle my way in.

However, it was such short notice, and my insecurities flooded in immediately. I had less than 24 hours to prepare for a professional photoshoot. My first panicked thought? “What on earth am I going to do with my hair?” I’d been working from home for the past few days and was deep in my looking-like-a-homeless phase. Plus, I’m still on a diet and nowhere near my ideal weight. But then I remembered my current mantra: “Love my body at all stages.”

No time for a trip to the salon to get my hair perfectly straightened? Why not immortalize the everyday me—the one people see on a daily basis? I mean, I’m comfortable showing up to work looking like this every day, right? “But most of my clothes don’t fit!” that nagging voice in my head protested. “No big deal,” I retorted. “I’ll make do with what fits.” I wasn’t parading around naked while waiting for my old clothes to fit again, was I? So, there I was, au naturel, with my wash-and-go hair and my trusty “Chou” as a backup.

Funny enough, my belly was the least of my concerns as Marck and Clarens worked their magic on me. Not once did I worry about whether it was showing or felt the need to suck in my stomach. In fact, seeing the final result made me realize I should cut myself some slack. I may not be where I want to be yet, but “Nou pa pi mal”. Sometimes, that realization is all it takes to muster the courage to keep pushing forward—harder and stronger than ever.

So, here’s my advice to you all: Acknowledge where you are in your journey. Document every step as you move forward. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Live authentically and boldly, unafraid to reveal your true self to the world. Don’t let your insecurities crush your self-esteem. And, above all, love your body at every stage—it’s the only one you’ll ever have.

These words are as much for myself as they are for you. As I navigate the tumultuous yet exhilarating waters of my thirties, my final verdict is: Thirtyish and fabulous!”  Now, it’s your turn to define yourself however you see fit!