With all of the buzz around Shakira & JLo’s performance at the Super Bowl, I decided to go ahead write this blog post.

This is something I have been thinking about for months but never really had the courage to put it out there until today. I had the fear of, “will I lose business from this?” ….. “will I lose potential influencer partnerships from this?'“ and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if you don’t want to work with me because you thought this photo was ‘too sexy’ for you, than you really wouldn’t vibe with me as a person.

I think the most extraordinary thing about social media is that everyone can share who they are, break stigmas, and voice their opinions. It’s easy to see a photo like this one on this post, and just automatically think… “Another dumb blonde trying to be Instagram famous.” I’ve seen so many comments on other women’s posts about how they should cover up, or how they are objectifying themselves…… usually these comments come from other women. Sure, a man will chime in every now and again with a comment, but typically the negativity about how a woman is dressed comes directly from other women (do better ladies).

The more I have thought about that, the more I have been intrigued. Really can one photo or a few photos tell you everything you need to know about a person? Can you determine a person’s IQ from a photo? Can you determine their heart? Can you determine their morals? Sure, you might not want to be wearing what they are wearing, but does it warrant a negative comment?

Many negative comments floated around the internet after Shakira and JLo’s performance regarding their outfits. Was that jealousy? Was that hate? Was that body shaming to beautiful women?

I don’t believe that being sexy or taking a sexy photo (or many) is mutually exclusive to being a good business woman, or intelligent, or a good mom, or a Christian or whatever it is exactly that you identify with.

In today’s world, you can be anything you want to be…… but by shaming others for how they are dressed or look just puts them in a box and enhances the stigma around it. I sure know that my ability to take a sexy photo doesn’t affect my ability to be a blogger, brand builder, entrepreneur, or whatever else it is that I choose to be.

So I encourage you to be part of the change, less judging, less negative comments, and more women supporting other women (and men).

As always I want to hear from you!

XO,

Madison