Tiger Stripes

In high school up until about the age of 24, I was extremely insecure about having stretch marks. I remember my granny purchasing some stretch mark removal cream she saw on a TV commercial. Yeah, the cream didn’t work at all. In the summer you could crack an egg on the cement and it’ll start to cook from the blazing sun. That type of hot. I would wear a long sundress or pants making sure I covered the stretch marks on the back of my legs. Being pregnant with my biggest blessing, my son, my stomach began earning its tiger stripes as well. I’ve finally come to the realization that my stretch marks were here to stay. 

 It wasn’t until I went with my sister and friend to the beautiful island of Cyprus, that I truly embraced the love for my beauty marks. My friend said, “Girl, you earned those tiger stripes you better love them!” She was right, I had no reason to be ashamed or destroy my self-esteem for something that made me unique. From Kendrick Lamar, empowering women in his hit single “Humble”,

“...show me something natural like ass with some stretch marks.”

To Dvsn expressing his love for stretch marks in his song “P.O.V” that I'm so infatuated with. “...You know that I like those tiger stripes come put them stretch marks on me.” Those lyrics helped boost my confidence and adore my stripes of honor! In a world where sometimes you are shamed for loving something that is not acceptable for others. Remember to never stop loving yourself and never hind what makes you, you!