I will be honest: The idea of shopping for a swimsuit used to terrify me. Everyone has their own insecurities, but as a plus-size person, those insecurities felt so much more heightened. I focused so much on what I wanted to cover up that it took the joy away from being in the water. Over time, after following influencers, models, and folks that I just thought were cool and shared the same body shape and size as me, I realized that if I can love and admire them, then I can feel the same way about myself.