Hi loves! Today, I’m going to push you to always follow your dreams. I’m going to be completely raw with you. Honest. Real. Bare. I feel like society is consistently telling what to do and who to be. A little Spanish girl from Paterson, New Jersey will never be able to be this or that.

Have you heard this before? OR WORSE? Have you created these thoughts in your head? I HAVE. I’ll be the first to admit it. It’s called being SCARED. Scared to be vulnerable, scared to be seen or heard. Sometimes, without even knowing, we psych ourselves out from doing something we love.

Don’t Listen:

THAT HAS TO STOP. I would remember watching the Victoria Secret Fashion Show and during commercials literally pretend to walk down my hallway in my house. I’ve always wanted to be on that runaway.  I always loved the idea of being on stage/performing. But, like most of us, I SAID “I’m only 5ft and there’s NO WAY I’d ever walk a catwalk.” I put those thoughts in my head and let them control me.

I let myself be the one who told me NO. I was the voice in my head, that put those doubts in there. Besides, the ones that society and social media put in our heads as well. I’ve had people tell me my eyebrows are gross, I’m not skinny enough, not talented enough. Those voices I just put off to the side, because to me that means I’m creating a conversation. Those HATERS are just that, HATERS!

Confidence:

But how DO you get rid of your greatest critic? YOURSELF. It wasn’t until I started dancing that I started to build and work on my confidence. Then, I start competing in pageants. That’s where I BLOSSOMED. Being in a room, full of about 150 women all beautiful, all different, all empowering, all fierce, made me feel lucky/blessed. The sisterhood we have is incredible.

The fears we all share, hear, have are similar but we also know we have a platform, a voice to create change. I’m lucky to be a part of a generation where we want to push the boundaries, create change, make impactful choices. That’s confidence. Knowing, I could impact just 1 person with my story creates confidence in me to push boundaries.

Always Follow Your Dreams:

I’ve always been a fan of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. From seeing Tyra Banks, Kate Upton, and now the “regular girls” from the #SISWISEARCH who don’t have agents or agencies to back them up. They would always make woman feel sexy in their barest at times. Then they started SHATTERING PERCPETIONS! I felt completely HEARD. There was finally a chance to be seen for ME, not just my frame or size.

I submitted a video last year to the SI Swim Search and didn’t get picked to move on. But just being seen by the world and getting praise from others who wished they had the confidence to put a video on IG, was EMPOWERING enough. I felt like I was finally at peace with my body. I felt I was sexy, beautiful, but most importantly confident in my OWN SKIN.

This year, they are having another Swim Search and I’m going for it again. It is one of my dreams to be able to be on the pages of SI and I won’t stop until it happens. I want to be a woman that others can relate too, can feel empowered by, and most importantly make you feel as beautiful are you are.

For all my short Latinas to feel beautiful and confident. For all the kids from small towns, ghetto neighborhoods or whose parents took the risk to come to the United States for a better life. I want YOU to feel empowered, confident, and like you can do ANYTHING you set your mind too. SO WISH ME LUCK!

Finally… 

Always follow your dreams! Never give up! Never let anyone place any doubts in your head. You are in control of your destiny and your life. I’ve had so many opportunities open up just because I was willing to take the risks, didn’t let others opinions get to me, and be vulnerable on social media. It’s okay to have doubts, but don’t let them control you. You have the power to create change, to inspire others, to hold others up high. DO IT.

We are blessed to live in a diverse world where we can do anything we set our minds too. Will it be easy? No, but that’s the beauty of it. Learn from the hardship and rejection. Continue to break down barriers and shatter perceptions. I believe in you. I want you to get everything you want and always follow your dreams. Don’t just follow your dreams, but live your dreams. 

XOXO 

Karen Giuliana