Plus-size model urges women to write a love letter to themselves this Valentine’s Day

Danielle Fowler
·Freelance Writer
Letter
Charli Howard has urged women to pen a love letter to themselves ahead of Valentine’s Day [Photo: Getty]

Plus-size model Charli Howard has written a love letter to her body ahead of Valentine’s Day and urges other women to follow suit.

As part of a campaign for lingerie label Agent Provocateur, the 27-year-old apologises to herself in the moving note and promises to love herself “flaws and all” going forward.

Addressed to “Her Body”, the model details the “complicated” relationship she’s had with her appearance in the past after years of comparing herself to other women.

View this post on Instagram

To my Body, This is a letter to say thank you: a thank you for all the times you loved me, when I showed you no love at all. Our relationship in the past has been complicated. I spent years comparing you to numerous women I will never be, and against bodies I will never have. I based my value on what other people thought of me or saw in me, seeking their approval before I sought my own. My curves were shameful; my stretch marks hideous. My hair should’ve been different; my clothes a size smaller. I was never satisfied with what you gave me, even when you tried telling me I was enough. I wanted to change you in the hope someone else would love me in the ways I couldn’t love you. But, in reality, you’ve loved me better than anyone else ever could; more than anyone ever will. I put so much focus on looking perfect on the outside, that I forgot about the love you offered me from within. And the truth is, Body, you were perfect already – I was just blind to it. When I abused you, you never left. When I criticised you, you never fought back. You’ve repaired and renewed me; kept my heart beating and my blood pumping. You never gave up on me throughout all the times I was ready to give up on you. And, years later, when I finally realised how much I needed you, you continued to love me like you had from the beginning. That is true love. So this is a promise – a promise to love you, flaws and all, and to make up for the years I didn’t realise your worth. And while my skin might not be the smoothest, or my hips the smallest, you’ve taught me what I needed to know: I am enough. So we’re in this together for the long run. Because you may not be perfect, Body, but you’re the only one I’ve got. All my love, Charli xxx @agentprovocateur

A post shared by Charli Howard (@charlihoward) on Jan 24, 2019 at 10:34am PST

“I based my value on what other people thought of me or saw in me, seeking their approval before I sought my own,” she wrote in a post shared via Instagram. “My curves were shameful; my stretch marks hideous. My hair should’ve been different; my clothes a size smaller. I was never satisfied with what you gave me, even when you tried telling me I was enough. “

“I wanted to change you in the hope someone else would love me in the ways I couldn’t love you. But, in reality, you’ve loved me better than anyone else ever could; more than anyone ever will.”

Later in the letter, Howard speaks candidly about the abuse her body has endured over the years as she struggled to love herself.

“I put so much focus on looking perfect on the outside, that I forgot about the love you offered me from within,” she continued. “And the truth is, Body, you were perfect already – I was just blind to it.”

In conclusion, the model makes a promise that while her “skin might not be the smoothest” or her “hips the smallest”, to always love her body no matter what.

Now, Howard is urging others to do the same by writing a love letter to our bodies this romantic season.

The model took to Instagram to write, “So this Valentine’s Day, we’re encouraging you to write a love letter to yourself and celebrate the things that make you, ‘you’.”

View this post on Instagram

I can’t quite believe it – I’m the new campaign girl for @agentprovocateur 🥰💋🙏🏼💯!!! WTF!!!! I used to pin Kate Moss’ campaign photos up on my wall, dreaming of shooting for AP one day and now my dream has come true… except I’m modelling for them at the size I’m naturally at, with the ‘flaws’ I used to try and starve away. What a turn of events!!! 🤯 I hope this proves to all you women out there that you that you don’t have to be rail thin to feel sexy in lingerie, or even to become a model if that’s your goal. (I know that if I’d seen a model with a few stomach rolls when I was a teenager, I probably would’ve felt a bit less bad about myself 🙏🏼) So this Valentine’s Day, we’re encouraging you to write a love letter to yourself & celebrate the things that make you ‘you’. 🥰 Show yourself some love & wear lingerie that makes you feel sexy and empowered, regardless of whether you’ve got a partner or not. After all, loving yourself starts from within ❤️💥❤️💥❤️ Thank you @sarahshotton @jordanjcmitchell @lizmatthewspr for making my dreams come true 💫 Photos @camille.summersvalli styling @ursinagysi make-up @ammydrammeh hair @raphaelsalley nails @sylviemacmillan.nails ✨ #agentprovocateur #LoveLettertoMyself #bodypositivity #curves

A post shared by Charli Howard (@charlihoward) on Jan 24, 2019 at 9:01am PST

“Show yourself some love and wear lingerie that makes you feel sexy and empowered, regardless of whether you’ve got a partner or not. After all, loving yourself starts from within.”

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