This week on our Friday Fashion Blogger Takeover we welcome the beautiful Leah from her blog Love Leah! On Love Leah you’ll find plus size fashion and radical self love, plus occasional beauty and lifestyle posts. She describes herself as ‘a gal who’s young at heart but slightly older in other places!’ Check out her blog!
How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been a plus size blogger for 6 years.
Who’s your main inspiration?
My readers. They keep inspiring me to push the envelope with daring outfits and to live an unapologetic life as a plus size woman. The support I get from my readers and the people I interact with on social media is huge. I share my life with them and they give so much back in return.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Venice. I’ve wanted to go for years because I love history and architecture so I’d probably take about 300 photos a day. A bellini at Harry’s wouldn’t be a bad thing either!
What do you enjoy most about being a blogger?
The emails and comments I get from my readers who tell me that seeing me live life as a proud plus size woman enables them to live more boldly. It’s the best compliment ever, because a long time ago I didn’t have any confidence either. I’m living proof that working on self-love changes your life.
Do you face any challenges with being a plus size blogger, if so how do you overcome them?
Well there are less clothing choices, obviously – but websites like Yours Clothing offer a dizzying array of fashionable styles, so things are much better than they were. I think the biggest battle we face is from within the plus size fashion industry. A lot of plus size clothing companies won’t feature anyone at the larger end of plus size on their social media. If companies sell us clothes they should be happy to share us wearing them – we shouldn’t be a dirty secret. Yours is one of the best plus size companies because they feature bloggers of all sizes on their social media. The answer is to keep sharing your own photos on social media, too – represent yourself for all the other plus size people out there.
What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out as a plus size blogger?
Firstly set up a Twitter account just for your blog so you can network. There are so many friendships to be made out there so get stuck in! And most importantly of all, believe in yourself and your right to be heard. I didn’t when I first started blogging. I was at the very beginning of my self-love journey and I had so far to go. I was frightened of my own shadow when I started blogging and didn’t feel worthy so I kept quiet far too much! Of course now things are completely different and I can look back and see how far I’ve come – I get better with age like a fine wine! J People are drawn to others who radiate confidence so believe you deserve to be a member of the community, believe in your body, believe in your opinions. You have every right to be heard and accepted.
What do you love most about your body?
The softness of it. My nieces are 4 and 11. The four year old loves using me as a climbing frame and the 11 year old loves cuddling up to me. I give the best hugs with my lovely plump arms. Everyone loves my hugs.
Do you blog full time or just as a hobby?
I blog full time because I have Fibromyalgia, M.E., and joint hypermobility disorder. I can’t work in a conventional sense because I have so much pain and fatigue. I also have mental health struggles so my blog is a big focus – it gives me purpose in life. It helps me help people, people who used to me like me. If I can help one person a day feel better about their body and help them feel happier, that’s fantastic because everyone deserves to feel great in their body.
And last but not least – What’s your favourite Yours Clothing piece of clothing?
Oh my days, it’s the Limited Collection acid wash jumpsuit! It’s so comfortable and looks effortlessly cool. I adore the whole collection to be honest – I have to sit on my hands because I want to buy everything!
https://www.yoursclothing.co.uk/limited-collection-grey-acid-wash-jumpsuit-p
