We all have to start somewhere

[Marlena Dahlstrom]

I've seen a couple of new girls mention how far they feel they have to go to be pretty.

I'll admit to being insecure about my looks so I know how it can be intimidating to feel you're an ugly duckling among the swans. But few of us (GGs included) were born beautiful, it's something we learn to make ourselves. The good news is that it's something anyone can learn.

In that vein, I just wanted to point out that not so long ago, I looked like this (be afraid, be very afraid...):

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4393/beforescary17zh.jpg

OK, it's one of those photos I thought I deleted, but my point is if I can transform from this to what I look like in my new avatar, you can too.

[TGMarla]

Way to go, Darla. You got guts, girl! I've seen a lot of posts here about how ugly some of us feel we are. I admit that I feel that I don't even come close, but hey, we're all a little insecure in some ways, right?

Thanks for sharing. You rock!

:eek:

[Paula Rae]

Way to go Darla,

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.
Darla, you are really some sweetheart of a Gal.
Thank you.

Ricki B

[Faye Emmette]

Dear Darla,
Many discussions are about " looks, size, passability" etc. I feel the basis for this forum and it's followers is our grey area of Gender.
Gosh you don't look like Marylin Monroe, and I don't look like Sophia Loren but we dressup and we get comfortable. How good does it feel hey? Great!
Perhaps ( as in my sig) everything is in degrees and how much of our delight in just being ourselves is relevant to the ideal of being a movie star.
You can't take a bad photo Darla. It's just that one prefers the nicer ones.
:ld:
F.

[melissacd]

Darla,

Thanks for sharing that with us. It helps us to put things into perspective, that with the right steps most of us can look very beautiful. It gives us all hope and something to aspire to.

You are a great role model for the rest of us.

Huggs
Melissa

[Lauren Richards]

Seems to me that most gg's are pretty insecure about their looks, too. Even the really pretty ones, which totally amazes me. Looking around, girls come in all shapes and sizes, and lots of different faces, too. Seems to me if we are a little worried about how we look, that is just a nice way for us to feel closer to our feminine side.

Yes, like all things, practice and patience will improve our looks, and comfort, and hopefully, joy and acceptance. Nice post, Darla. Glad you didn't delete that photo. It is good to remember where we came from...

Lauren

[tifftg]

Darla, every time I think you have touched the maximum chord, you take it to a new level. It is so amazing that you share of yourself with this photo and with who you are in so many ways. You've come a long way baby, you are right, there is always a first step and it usually is less than we hoped but it was the beginning of the road we are going on.

You are so awesome girl.

Tiff

[TGMarla]

Thanks, Alie. That's sweet of you to say. You're a dear!
:cool:

[susiej]

Darla,

Your photo reminds me of a character in Oscar Wilde's famous play, The Importance of Being Ernest. Her name is Lady Bracknell, and she's a bigoted, snobby high society dame of the 1900-1910 period. She the most powerful figure in the story, haplessly very witty as well, and when the play is staged, there is often a long list of actresses (sometimes of both genders) auditioning to play her!

The point is -- viewed in the right context, with the correct expectations, even the person in the photo you so courageously showed us can be "read" as feminine, if not gorgeous.

Femininity, as well as beauty (and of course, pornography :)), is in the eye of the beholder!

Darla, you are one nervy broad!

Hugs,
Susie

[Joanne08]

Hi Darla,

Great post and great pic, (only in the sence that it is a starting point of persistance to perfection). I have a few, actually more than a few, pic's that equal yours but I don't think anyone will be seeing them now or in the future. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

LOve, Jo

[darynn_NWPA]

You are just being a normal female !!!

I have yet to meet a female that actually thought they were pretty. The closest I ever heard was "I'm prettier than her", but they are always looking for that magic thing that will make them pretty, then when they get it they are disappointed and start looking for something else.

As for me, I'm not pretty as a man and I have no delusions about my feminine charms. I dress because I like it and suffer the same fate as most real females; I am what I am, I envy those who are pretty and try to learn to be prettier tomorrow than I was today. There are a lot of very pretty girls here and I love the pictures.

darynn_NWPA

[KathrynW]

Darla-
If you don't mind me asking, how much weight did you lose?
You look great... ;)

[Marlena Dahlstrom]

If you don't mind me asking, how much weight did you lose?

5 pounds at most -- although I'd dearly love to lose more. Admittedly, it's not a fair comparision between the two photos since they're not from the same angle, but it does point out the importance of the right lighting and right pose.

If it makes people feel any better, I probably took 30 pictures to get the one used in my new avatar. And like all glamour photos it represents the best-case scenario under controlled conditions.

[robinLynn]

Way to go, Darla. You got guts, girl! I've seen a lot of posts here about how ugly some of us feel we are. I admit that I feel that I don't even come close, but hey, we're all a little insecure in some ways, right?

Thanks for sharing. You rock!

:eek:
i agree with marla way to go girl

[Shannon]

Darla -- thanks again for stepping up to the platform. I know I've gone through a similar transformation in my appearance, acceptance of myself, and skills at "packing and presenting" myself. "Its the journey, not the destination".

[robinLynn]

way to go darla and marla is right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rachel Morley]

Wow! what a difference! In your new avatar not only do you look slimmer and more attractive, you look younger too! :)

[tifftg]

I found this one. I think I have come a ways. I hope so at least. This was from Nov 2002, also a trip to Chicago.

Hugs,

Tiffany

[Paula Rae]

Hey Tiffany.

Quote: "I think I have come a ways"
From a Jack to a Queen, may be an adequate description.
Thank you for posting the not so good, along with the very good.

Ricki B

[Marlena Dahlstrom]

Brave girl Tiffany! You've definitely come a long way baby!

[tifftg]

Thanks Ricki and Darla, I'm happy that I keep practicing my makeup skills and losing some weight helped a lot. But lot's of work to even look halfway decent.

Tiff