A few weeks ago a friend was asking about the size range of plus size clothing. I explained that the fashion industry would have us believe that anything over a size 12 is plus size. Her immediate response was one of disbelief, almost as if she had never bought anything from the rack. “I would be closer to the lower end of that then, just barely a plus size.”

“Why the denial?” My inner plus size beauty refused to be quiet. “You wear my clothes and I am a plus size.”

I am rather tall at 5′9″ and she is much shorter at 5′4″. She borrows my dresses, shorts, tops; basically anything that is not intimate or long pants. She did have the grace to look embarrassed.

I then pointed out that plus size doesn’t mean ugly or stupid, though you would think it did with some of the shows on TV or ads you see. All it means is that more material might have to be used, giving the industry a reason to bump the prices up. That makes me think that the smallest of the small get ripped off pretty well, but that is another discussion.

Beauty has nothing to do with size. The shining light of the beauty within is what we seek in a friend, partner, or love of our lives. Outer beauty doesn’t equate to kindness, intelligence, or love.

Every woman, whether large, small, or in-between, should be allowed and given the opportunity to feel beautiful. She should have options of gorgeous clothes and accessories that make her feel special. This is my mission, to bring those options to the plus size beauty. Do you have one in your life?