Fashion Blogger Spotlight: Maya of Pink Caboodle

Hope those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day!  We here at TCF are sooo thankful for all of you!  We are also thankful for all of the amazing plus size bloggers who just keep on slaying with their personal style!

Last week, we brought you the lovely Michelle of The Glam Mom, and this week we have Maya of Pink Caboodle!  Through her blog, Maya shares her journey towards loving her body and lots of supportive and helpful ideas to help you increase your body positivity.  Her style is a bit eclectic, but all things pink!  She is a plus size blogger YOU NEED TO KNOW!!

Meet Maya of Pink Caboodle!!

Blog:   Pink Caboodle
Age:  27
Height:  5’3″ 
Location:  Cherry Hill, NJ

How long have you been blogging?  3 years

What or who inspired you to become a fashion blogger? What led you to it?
There are a ton of bloggers/celebrities who inspire me, however, I am most inspired by the most important woman in my life: my mom. She inspires me to always live true to who I am, and to find beauty in who I am. As a plus size woman, she has always been very fashionable, and confident in her body. She continues to inspire me to try new things, go against fashion norms and wear what makes you feel special. My only hope as a fashion blogger is to inspire other women to feel the same way about their bodies as my mom inspired me.

The Evolution

Do you blog full-time, for fun, as a hobby? Share your evolution!
I’ve always enjoyed writing, writing short poems and stories as a child. It wasn’t until recently that I started to share my writing with other people. I started my blog in 2014 while recovering after major surgery on my legs. I used this time to share more on my journey and struggles as a plus size woman.

It was also during this time that I began exploring the world of fashion, discovering bloggers who rocked it in the plus size industry. That encouraged me to give it a try too. It started off as a hobby, now I am currently blogging part-time alongside my social media business. It’s my dream to blog full-time, until then, I’m doing everything I can to fund ‘the dream.’

What is your favorite asset? Your legs, arms, waist? How do you play that up?
My favorite assets are my arms and legs…which is crazy for me to say because I used to hate them. I’ve always had very thick arms and thighs, I hated them growing up because they were the telltale sign that I am fat lol. I have grown to love them…they’ve been good to me.

My arms held me up when I had to use crutches and walkers to help me walk after surgery. My legs have been through so much, they are scarred. But each scar reminds me of all I’ve been through, and have overcome. I love to show them off by wearing a sleeveless dress/shirt, and skinny jeans…whatever makes me feel sexy and confident.

Challenges

What are the challenges, if any, you face regarding being plus size?
This is a relatively “new” struggle for me. Due to multiple surgeries on my legs, I’ve actually become shorter (I used to be 5’6″). Some of my favorite outfits are now too long. Another “struggle” that I’ve always had is that my arms are larger, and sometimes require that I size up to fit more comfortably. I always try to make the best out of an icky situation.

THE FAVES

What’s your favorite thing about being plus size?
It’s a journey, and it requires me to be creative to find new ways to dress an outfit that I can’t do straight off the mannequin.

What’s your favorite thing about being a blogger?
As a plus size fashion/body positivity blogger, what I most enjoy is being a source of encouragement and motivation for other women and young girls to love who they are. It’s scary at times, being vulnerable and sharing my struggles as a plus size woman, but it’s beyond rewarding to hear when you inspire someone to embrace their body.

Who/what are your favorite designers/brands?
ELOQUII, hands down. I always love their designs and their mission to move fashion forward by providing more inclusive fashion for all body types. I also love Curves With Purpose (a new plus size boutique based out of Nashville), Fashion Nova, RainbowShops, Fashion to Figure, Ashley Stewart, and so many more!

Who Are You?

Describe your personal style.
My personal style is whatever makes me feel good. I don’t know if this is good or bad, lol. I’m big on wearing whatever makes you feel good: confident, sexy, BOSS, classy, etc. So I don’t stick to one particular style…except the color pink 😉

Which bloggers inspire you? Plus or straight size! Any bloggers currently on your radar?
I’m inspired by so many bloggers, both current and new. I first got into plus size fashion by following bloggers such as GarnerStyle, CeCe Olisa, The Curvy Fashionista, etc. However, I am also inspired by many up and coming bloggers such as: The Dreamy Realist, Eclectic Kurves, The Pretty Plus, Style Vicksen, Fearless Flawless Free and so many more!

Plus Size Fashion

What do you think about where plus size fashion is today versus a few years back?
I think it’s definitely improving, we’re moving in the right direction. But there’s still room for improvement. There are so many brands and influencers that are currently representing in plus size fashion, that I didn’t have as a child or teenager. It’s great that young girls today have these sources to look to, but until plus bodies are represented equally in all its shapes and forms, there’s still a segment of people who are being left out.
What do you think or hear from readers, is one of the biggest myths about plus size fashion?
That you can’t wear your arms out. I fell victim to this myth for a very long time, wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer. I’ve learned that its more about me and what I’m comfortable with, opposed to what other people find acceptable.

More to Know

Are you working on anything or have anything to share? Anything else you want The Curvy Fashionista’s readers to know?
In addition to my blog PinkCaboodle.com, I am working on The Pink Caboodle Podcast, a plus size podcast focused on promoting Body Positivity and Confidence to women of all sizes. With topics on life, fashion, beauty, self-esteem, love, faith, and so much more! I am also working on Repeat Positive, which is a 30-Day Online Experience created to cultivate Self-Love & Body Positivity by encouraging women to recognize the power of their words.
Podcast: pinkcaboodle.com/podcast
Repeat Positive: pinkcaboodle.com/repeatpositive/Lastly, what does Curvy.Confident.Chic mean to you?
Wow, so many things. But to sum them up:
Curvy: Acknowledgement of my body, being beautiful, thick and curvy.
Confident: It’s a journey of self-love. No one is completely confident, but I owe it to myself to treat my body to the best of my abilities.
Chic: Unique Style. Wearing what you love.

Check out Maya’s blog at PinkCaboodle.com!!!

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