“I still have my days when I look at myself and I say, ‘Oh, I wish I could change this about my body.’ But I realize that that’s how we have been conditioned to think about ourselves by society, media and sometimes our family. However, when I saw other women who looked like me being open and honest on social media, I asked myself, “Why can’t I do that? Why can’t I be this confident?” So I decided to make it a point to try and challenge myself. Could I make myself see my body in a different way and accept it as it is because bodies change? Mine changed and I needed to not be harsh on myself. I needed to try to change my inner voice. Be softer and kinder to myself.” – Awande Mabaso