One word I can use to describe this decade is “confidence”. Things weren’t always easy before 2010. This was the decade that I truly became Cheyenne Lenore. Here’s my story!
Where The Journey Began
Me wearing the plaid dress below is me in 2010. This was broken Cheyenne, trying to figure out what was not making me confident. I didn’t like what I looked like – I didn’t love myself one bit and the name calling and bullies didn’t help. I was worried I would not make friends in high school and be treated the exact same way that made me not love myself.
I wanted to be a singer. I wanted friends. I wanted to be confident, but didn’t know how. I would sit there at the foot of my bed writing songs and singing to make myself happy. It worked. When I felt like I didn’t have a voice, singing was my voice.
What did I do to change from broken to confident? My environment changed. I left the people that were suffocating me in my life and I moved to the best high school. I met the most amazing, supporting and uplifting people there.
What happened? I gained my confidence there. I still was hesitant, but I learned to be better and that it wasn’t me that was the problem, it was the people I was around that made me feel like I was nothing.
When most people say they hated their 4 years in high school, I say I loved mine. My experience wasn’t filled with hate, bullying, name calling, judgement like middle school. It was filled with friends, happiness, opportunities and the ability to live out my passion which was singing. Singing was the reason that I got through all the bullying.
Overcoming My Struggles With Confidence
I moved on to college, and that is where I valued my most important lessons of confidence. I was practically on my own in a big college world. That is where I truly broke out of my shell. I realized the events that took place when I was younger and realized I was truly bullied. I always thought the problem was me, but in reality – it was them. For years, until my Freshman English class in college, I thought it was me. I wrote my story for my class assignment. That’s when I knew I would have to share it one day.
Sharing My Story With The Internet
I started telling people what I went through, but people were so curious as to how I got out of the depression I was in before I got out of high school. I would explain to them that my passions are what got me through every single negative word thrown at me and every negative thought that crossed my mind. Singing was my saving grace. I invested so much time in my passion. That is why I am still here. (I auditioned for American Idol several times to, but that is a different story – click here to read my stories).
I started the University of Tampa in Fall 2016. I was so excited to continue my education in business management. I was in my Informational Systems class and had to start a WordPress blog account to blog weekly. I failed at this assignment, but I always loved the fact that I knew I could start a blog for free.
April 15th, 2017 I started my first blog ever, Blogs By Cheyenne. My blog turned one in 2018. When my blog turned 1, I rebranded everything to Cheyenne Lenore – my name in 2018.Then it turned two in 2019.
I knew that blogging was exactly what I was meant to do. This outlet gave me the opportunity to share my story. Everything I went through. Everything I was feeling about my confidence. I wanted to give any plus size women hope that you can become confident and love yourself physically and mentally through all the curves, lumps, cellulite, thick thighs – every inch of you regardless of the beauty standards!
I had so much doubt when I was younger but, I became stronger. I became confident in who I was, where I wanted to go and who I wanted to be. I learned to love me for all my curves, dreams, goals, passions – most importantly my physical appearance. The appearance that people bullied me for, for years. I was finally embracing every part of me that was made of for years. It was time to let me shine.
Following Dreams Until They Come True
This decade I auditioned for American Idol 4 times. That was a huge part of my confidence journey. I took all four rejections and made it into positives. I learned in 2011, 2017, and 2018 that I wasn’t made for the singer world. I was a singer because I needed singing. I needed it to get me through. So, I let it go. My dreams changed. I will always be thankful for the singing voice I have. It helped me through the toughest time of my life.
I graduated this decade, on December 15th, 2018 with my degree. This was the most important day of my entire life. Throughout my education I knew I wanted to be an event planner (and a blogger). It was something I was always fascinated about. I decided Fall 2016, I would be seeking a degree in Business Management to achieve my goal of having my own business in event planning. The dream is still alive, 2020 is the year and a business reveal will be happening!
Girl Boss State Of Mind
This brings us to 2019. Today. I am a Girl Boss. I am Plus Size. I am 24. I am Confident. I am Happy. I never thought I’d be telling my story for hundreds – maybe thousands to read. I could write a book with all the details of my life, but for now – this will do.
I am so proud of myself and where I’ve been this year – this decade. This is the evolution of confidence and of a true girl boss.
My picture below is the exact representation of my confidence journey – how confident I am – jumping out of my comfort zone wearing leather skirts and faux fur in public, raising my arm fat in happiness, letting my fat roll show in a tight skirt, having my tummy stick out – 2010 Cheyenne would never believe it. But girl, it happened and I couldn’t be more proud.
I hope this blog inspired you to look back on how far you’ve come this decade and all the things you’ve gone through that have made you that happy and confident person. Thank you all for reading my story. From the bottom of my heart, I love each one of you for reading this. It means the world to me.
I cannot wait to see what 2020 will bring for this girl boss.
See you in 2020!
Cheyenne Lenore
