Brazil and Body Image
For our honeymoon, we went to one of the most remote places on earth. Just to get there, it took five flights. We went to the northeast of Brazil, Jericoacoara and Fernando de Noronha, an island 217 miles away from the coast.
This was not my first time in the "pais tropical." The first time I went there was back in 2018, when I went for Rio’s Carnaval. Before attending carnaval, I could sense there were some stark differences between my hometown, San JosĂ©, Costa Rica and Brazil. For once, I felt like women in Brazil were very comfortable with their bodies. Maybe it was the lack of clothes I knew carnaval was notorious for or the dancers in Anitta’s videos. Once I visited, I realized I was not wrong but there was more than met the eye.Â
My first day at Ipanema beach, everyone was wearing a thong. It didn’t matter whether you were a size 00 or 44, and that to me was liberating. All of a sudden, cellulite was everywhere. Not something to be ashamed of or concealed, but a REGULAR condition of the human body. The norm.Â
How many of us feel that our backside is something to be ashamed of? According to our last design survey, more than 45% of us.
Contrary to popular belief that in Latin American countries big butts are celebrated, in San JosĂ©, Costa Rica the beauty standard when I was growing up was being skinny… everywhere. I never fit that mold because I have, like Missy Elliot once said “thick legs” and a butt. And when you are 5 feet tall, it's noticeable. Growing up, I was always very self-aware of hiding what I had inherited from my mother’s mom. No tight pants, no short skirts. Aside from worrying about my cellulite, I also had to conceal the million and one mosquito bite scars that permanently live in my legs.Â
In Brazil, I saw the ladies strutting what God gave them. In some cases it may have been what the surgeon gave them, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was the level of sensuality that permeated their gait. I decided to ask a Brazilian woman I met at carnaval what she thought about my hypothesis, did Brazilian women feel more comfortable with their bodies? She answered: “I dress like this,” pointing to her skimpy gold bikini, “for me.” “I want to feel sexy, not be sexy.” I don’t know about you, but I dress mostly for other women and working at an all-women co-working space, makes me think that I am not alone in this. Maybe I should start dressing up for myself...
Although Brazil is known for being the plastic surgery capital of the world, I found their approach to the body and appearance refreshing. When we stayed in an Instagram-friendly, but not guest friendly hotel, in Jericoacoara I felt like a minority. Most people there looked like TV stars. The second you left the hotel however, the same that I experienced at Ipanema beach happened again. People legitimately enjoying their holiday, fearlessly wearing the most skin revealing bathing suits. Not to say that in my hometown or in the east coast of the US, the beach is not enjoyed the same, but there is a level of freedom and relaxation that can only be attained with outside-of-the-comfort-zone exposure. Take it from me, who proudly wore a thong bottom and nothing else.Â
To read more on body freedom, check this out.
Comments
After the heartbreaking loss of my husband two years ago I suddenly found myself trying to navigate life on my own. Managing finances was especially overwhelming, and in an effort to make my savings grow, I decided to explore cryptocurrency. I came across what appeared to be a promising investment opportunity, an online platform that claimed to offer secure, beginner-friendly crypto investments with strong returns. Desperate to find stability and hope for the future, I trusted them and invested nearly $5,000 in Bitcoin. Sadly, I soon discovered I had been scammed. My funds disappeared, and the platform stopped responding entirely. The emotional toll of the loss was crushing. I felt devastated not just by the money I’d lost, but by the deep sense of shame and helplessness. As someone still grieving and trying to rebuild, the experience left me feeling even more vulnerable and defeated. In my search for help, I came across GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE. I was skeptical at first, afraid of being taken advantage of again. But I decided to reach out, more out of desperation than expectation. To my surprise, the team responded with compassion, professionalism, and genuine care. There were no high-pressure tactics or unrealistic promises. Instead, they took time to listen to my story, explain the process in detail, and answer all my questions with patience. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE worked diligently to trace the transaction and uncover where my lost Bitcoin had gone. They even helped me file a proper report with the relevant authorities. Their transparency and consistent communication gave me a level of comfort I hadn’t felt in a long time. A few weeks later, something I never thought possible happened. They successfully recovered about 50% of my lost funds. It may not have been the full amount, but it meant the world to me. More than just the money, it was a moment of hope, a sign that not all was lost. If you’re in a similar situation, please know you’re not alone. There are still honest, capable people out there who want to help. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE helped me reclaim not only some of my financial stability but also my confidence and peace of mind. I’m truly Grateful for everything they did for me. You can reach them on whatsapp+18582759508 web at ( https://graywaretechservice.com/ ) also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservice.com
Being the winner of a multi-million-dollar lottery certainly is a life-changing event for almost every single lottery winner. My name is Mavis Wanczyk from Chicopee, Massachusetts and I want to use this medium to tell you how I became the famous Powerball lottery winner of $758 million (£591m). I know many people would wonder how I had won the lottery. Would you believe me if I told you that I did it with spell casting? I met this famous spell caster known as Doctor Odunga and he was the one who did it for me. As shocking as it was to me, my famous comment to the press was “ I’m going to go and hide in my bed.” Never did I believe that Dr. Odunga would make me wealthy overnight. If you want to have your chance of winning and becoming very wealthy just like me, contact Chief Dr. Odunga at odungaspelltemple@outlook.com OR Email: odungaspelltemple@gmail.com and WHATS-APP HIM at +2348167159012 and you will be lucky. Thanks for reading and hope to see you at the top
FIX THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS TO ALL ACROSS THE
Get your ex back spell Lottery Spell Love/Reunion Spell Pregnancy Spell Protection Spell Freedom From Prison Spell Marriage spell Killing/Revenge spell Healing/Cure spellGLOBE ON:
Contact him for any of these today at:
EMAIL: odungaspelltemple@gmail.com OR Call and WHATS-APP HIM +2348167159012
After investing in what I genuinely believed was a cutting edge crypto trading platform I was blindsided to discover it was an elaborate scam. I lost 85 BTC my entire life savings. The emotional toll was immense. I felt deceived, helpless and ashamed. The website looked flawless, the interface was sleek and the representatives I spoke with were articulate and persuasive. But once I attempted to withdraw my supposed “profits” the platform suddenly became inaccessible. No response. No recovery. Just complete silence. In my Desperate search for help I stumbled upon GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE. Naturally I was cautious. The crypto space is riddled with fake recovery services that prey on victims a second time. But what set GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE apart was their verified success record detailed client testimonials and a transparent no recovery no fee policy. It was a glimmer of hope in a very dark chapter of my life. From the moment I reached out their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism. Their crypto recovery experts conducted a rigorous Forensic analysis tracking blockchain transactions identifying the scammer’s Wallet addresses and Collaborating with legal and cybersecurity entities to trace the Stolen assets. I was kept informed at every stage and every question I had was answered with clarity and patience. What happened next felt nothing short of miraculous. In less than three weeks GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE successfully recovered 72 BTC. I was amazed not just by the amount but by how swiftly and meticulously they worked. I had braced myself to recover a fraction of my funds if anything at all. Instead I regained the vast majority of what I had lost. GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE didn’t just retrieve my crypto they restored my faith. Their Integrity expertise and Dedication are unmatched in the industry. They didn’t promise unrealistic results. They delivered measurable outcomes backed by evidence. Their approach is not just technical but also human offering genuine support to victims who feel like they’ve run out of options. If you’ve fallen victim to crypto fraud don’t allow despair to take over. Reach out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICE. They are the most credible and capable crypto recovery team I’ve come across. Their work changed my life and I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone facing similar financial set back. You can reach them on whatsapp+18582759508 web at ( https://graywaretechservice.com/ ) also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservice.com