Empowerment in self-love: Finding happiness in any shape or form

In our fast paced, ever-changing digital world of endless scrolling and swiping, we are rapidly introduced to a stream of information and not all necessarily healthy. Social media can heighten self-doubt with comparisons of how you look and who you are. Women have often been held to societal expectations on appearance and to abide by the status quo of what body size to be.

Dressed in self-confidence, flair and with the perfect pair of heels, Tshering Yangzom strides into the picture ready to challenge our perceptions of how we view others and more importantly ourselves. A Civil Engineer from Paro, Yangzom describes growing up struggling with the feeling of inadequacy of her appearance fuelled by the media she consumed that lacked representation of someone who looked like her.

“Today we are so heavily influenced by social media and keeping up with the society’s definition of beauty, that we often forget to embrace all body types. Social media only showcases the idea of how we should look and not the more important message of accepting and loving who we are” shared Yangzom.

The body positive path that Yangzom is on, wasn’t always filled with snazzy outfit-of-the-days and fun DIY’s, instead Yangzom describes having to hide her love of fashion just because she was plus-sized. From name calling in school to excessive dieting in college, it took a pivotal moment in her life when she fell seriously ill to change. Realizing that it would never be enough no matter how much weight was lost if she did not love herself first, she also became aware that in trying to conform she was sacrificing her mental health and denying who she truly was.

“Loving yourself is not selfish. All my life I’ve been waiting to live until I lost weight. Waiting to find love, waiting to travel and waiting to wear the clothes I love. I was too busy focusing on my next diet to see the best parts in life. Happiness is not a size and self-love must be unconditional.” said Yangzom.

In the midst of a global pandemic, Yangzom used the lockdown to proactively chose a new path to funnel her creativity and self-expression. Starting in September of 2020 as a small budding idea for an online page to share the growth of her self-confidence, has now grown to over a thousand joining Yangzom’s body positive movement. ‘Bhutanese Plus Sized Fashion’ with the tagline ‘You are no less than anyone’ is an online platform that showcases Yangzom’s styling help for her fellow plus-sized community and equally fashionable tips on how to remain kind and loving towards yourself, especially in such trying times. She has not let the pandemic slow her down, grabbing every opportunity with gusto to spread the idea of body positivity leading to being featured in magazines and articles.

“Creating the page was the best decision I ever made; it gave me the ability to regain my self-worth and to move past the negativity I’ve experienced. For that I am grateful for how it has changed my life. I took my chance to spread a little positivity and make people love themselves a little more. To show them that it’s okay to accept the way you are at any size, that big is beautiful too and self-love is the key. After all, happiness starts with ourselves.” Yangzom said warmly.

Living in a society where your weight is often discussed with the same regularity as the weather, Yangzom’s wave of self-acceptance is radical and uplifting.

“All I ever wanted to do was to bring the concept of body positivity into the limelight. Especially in our Bhutanese society, I wanted to be that somebody in our community to teach the youth about the body diversities and tell them that real beauty lies in embracing your own unique selves. I want to reach out to as many people as possible and remind them about one very simple thing, that is to love their body no matter the size, shape or color” declared Yangzom.

Yangzom is a shining light for others who are looking for direction in their own journey of self-love and body positivity.

“Being seen and represented is something we all desire and deserve. It gives me immense pleasure to be that for somebody. To be an example for anyone out there doubting themselves. When someone reaches out saying that I have helped or inspired them, it moves me to realize my impact, that I am valued and that my existence matters.” beamed Yangzom.