I’m sure by the title you already have an earworm of the classic Whitney or Chaka Khan version of ‘I’m Every Woman’. Sorry, not sorry!

Think about the song though, not the sexual references but the classic line “I’m every woman.”

When I think about what I balance as a woman daily, that song bounces back into my head. When I’m at work juggling responsibilities, I realise I am every woman and can accomplish anything! When I look at my To-Do list, the song applies as I’m trying to be every woman, every day with never-ending tasks. 

And when I’m trying on clothes, this song plays on repeat. Every. Single. Time. 

There is nothing that can break my mood faster than a simple try-on session. 

Here’s an example: I enter Store 1- looks like today I am a Large. Store 2 – size 8, Store 3 – size small, Store 4 – wait… a size 14?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Sometimes this is all within the same store or aisle. I am every woman in sizes, and for some reason, I let it define me. 

In those moments, I decide that the number on the back tag is what makes up 100% of the woman I am. That goes both ways, up and down the number scale. Large = bad, Small = good. 

I have no idea why this matters so much! Is anyone else guilty of cutting the tags out of your clothing, so your partner doesn’t see? As though he would change his mind if he knew my underwear was an L or XL. It doesn’t help that across the globe sizing is so disjointed with significant players in the fashion world not even considering catering to anything over a size 12.  

Look at these pictures; one skirt is a size Small the other a Large. Can you guess which one is which? 

If you guessed the skintight black version is small, you’re correct (the smile might have given it away). I am a curvy girl, and the fabric, cut and many other factors go into what size my clothes are, but that doesn’t mean my body is bad or good based on the size. 

Thank goodness for independent makers and the major companies that are shifting to cater to ALL sizes and provide great fabrics that move with all types of women’s bodies. (Insert high praise for Untamed here! Thank you, Emma, for being such a pioneer of REAL and ALL women and including appropriate sizing!) 

I think it’s time I start cutting out the tags in my clothes for myself. Maybe when I no longer know what size I’m reaching for, I’ll start worrying about other factors like if I fed my body good things today, watered it, moved it and said good things to it. 

Like Whitney said, “I’m Every Woman. It’s all in me!” And by now I think she meant all of those other good things that make us the amazing women we are. 

Stay positive ladies; we are all different for a reason. I am Christina Ray, and I am telling you Confidence is sexy!

Checkout Christina on her Instagram page