Meet Michelle (@michellebeilhartz)
Chief Empowerment Officer | Self-Love Ethusiast | Dreamer
Toronto, ON
How would your best friend describe you?
Quotable, entertaining, honest and brave.
What are your three favourite emojis?
What do you love most about connecting and inspiring your followers?
I love creating a community and sharing life experiences where we can all learn from, and inspire, one another.
What do you feel makes your life aspirational?
I think people connect with authenticity. I don’t think my life is aspirational but I do believe there are experiences that are relatable. We’ve all had heartache, disappointment, joy and crave a sense of belonging. We all want to know that our lives have meaning and purpose. I think deep down we all just want to make a difference, connect and feel good.
Favourite swimsuit style?
I love a high waisted pinup two piece for comfort, and a bandeau two piece for tanning.
What does being a #swimsuitmodel mean to you? Why did you decide to be part of this campaign?
Being a #swimsuitmodel to me means being an ambassador for self-love. I can honestly say that there have been times when I either didn’t feel confident in my skin or wasn’t living from a place of self-acceptance. I was told to lose weight as a professional performer in my early 20’s. That experience turned into a decade of thinking and believing that my body was standing in the way of me receiving love and or seeing my dreams come true. For years I had felt that I wasn’t good enough because of a lie I was told, which I grew to believe as a truth. I acted brave and spoke bravely in front of others but my mind told my body a different story. Where I stand today has taken time, a healthy amount of self-work, dedication and continuous practice. It’s been a journey and it’s something I work on every day. Being a #swimsuitmodel reminds me of the courage it takes every day to look in the mirror and remind myself how worthy, how loved and how enough I am. I chose to be a part of this campaign because I wanted to remind ALL women that they are already ENOUGH right here, right now. Our value isn’t found in the mirror, in a job or in a relationship. That even if they are going through something right now, mentally, emotionally or physically that they are not alone and we all have our mountains to climb. Self-love will support them through it. I am not a body. I am a mind, I am a soul, I am a voice and I am a heart with so much love and light to give. I am grateful for the body that dances, loves, sweats and carries me through life with strength, courage and freedom every single day.
What makes a body beautiful?
I think strength makes a body beautiful. Confidence, laughter and strength.
What makes you happy in one word?
Movement.
What makes you feel confident?
Sweat makes me feel confident. I love to move my body and feel the strength and energy it gives me. Whether I’m dancing in my apartment, flowing through an asana series on my mat, riding my bike along the Lakeshore, running through my neighborhood, swimming or working out at the gym with my music blaring, movement fuels my soul. It’s like a meditation. I feel powerful, strong and clear. I feel at home.
If you could say one thing to someone who needs a confidence boost, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to someone who needs a confidence boost, it would be to feel the fear and do it anyway. You are already enough and the person you were meant to be is waiting on the other side of that fear. Nerves and excitement feel the same in our bodies- it’s our perception that changes the result. You know your own truth. You matter and playing small doesn’t serve the world or the call of the soul. Jump and the net will appear.