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Kimberly Feliz, a New York-based content creator, shut down body-shaming comments on a dress she wore in two of her videos
Kimberly’s outfit featured a colorful one-shoulder dress that she says she felt “empowered” in despite the “offensive” criticism she received for it
“My style is bold, maximalist, and risky. I’m here to stand out, not to fit in,” she tells PEOPLE of her style after responding to the “distasteful” commentary
Kimberly Feliz’s get-ready-with-me video started off like any other. Seated casually in the front seat of her car, the 29-year-old social media influencer touched up her makeup and chatted about her favorite beauty products. The loose-fitted one-shoulder dress she “threw on” for the video wasn’t the star of the show — that is until the look was barraged by body-shamers. Suddenly, her comments section turned into a “hate fest.”
“There were a lot of emotions,” Feliz now tells PEOPLE of watching the “extremely offensive” opinions on the fit of the dress and her appearance flood in. Out of all of the feelings, she felt “shocked, appalled and confused” over why a look that made her “feel empowered and unapologetically” herself would cause such uproar. “I was speechless.”
Comments reached such a level of “disrespectful and distasteful” that Kimberly took it upon herself to directly hit back, particularly in response to someone who assumed she was a “breast cancer survivor” simply based on the way the dress laid on her body. Although, Kimberly says her response post was not so much as a “clap back,” but rather her way of “taking away power from negative comments.”
Kim Feliz/tiktok
Kimberly in her one-shoulder dress
“I wanted to focus on the fact that we don’t want to tear people down over minute details. What I aim to bring is positivity and showcasing that you can be confident at any size,” she explains. “There was no ill intent or defense on my end, I just wanted to address it.”
“It’s funny because this isn’t the first video that’s blown up for me that has received a lot of ‘weird’ comments from viewers. I don’t ever respond with a video, but I do try to stick up for myself in the comments here and there in a tasteful manner.”
Kimberly would describe her style as “bold, maximalist and risky,” which one could gather from her love for the colorful — and now viral — dress. But, “I’m here to stand out. I don’t dress for anyone else and I wear what makes me feel sexy and comfortable,” she says. “I don’t conform to what people think I should be wearing because I know whatever piece of clothing I put on, I make my own.”
Coming this far in her self-worth journey wasn’t easy for Kimberly, who says she was bullied when she was younger.
“My confidence wasn’t built overnight, but wearing bold bright colors, prints, florals and what people would consider unflattering brings me joy and happiness because I remember a time where I felt I didn’t deserve to be seen and I needed to hide myself behind dark colors that would give me a more slimming shape,” she shares. “As I’ve gotten older, I found the confidence that allowed me to overcome my insecurities, love myself and appreciate the body I am in.”
Kim Feliz/tiktok
Kimberly’s get-ready-with-me video
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Kimberly let’s this love “shine so bright” that she doesn’t care if it makes others “uncomfortable,” and she encourages others to lead with the same philosophy.
“You don’t have to ‘earn’ self-love by changing your body, waiting to reach a goal or fitting into someone else’s standard of what beautiful is,” she says. “I want my content to remind people that confidence is a daily choice, and it starts with showing up for yourself now, not waiting for someday. Your body deserves to be celebrated in every season and at any size. Wear what your want, wear it your way and wear it with confidence.”
Read the original article on People
