The whole thing started when I purchased a black swimsuit. I uploaded the above photographs at my Instagram profile (@elliefilippidou) with said swimsuit and I was -actually, I still am- quite fond of them. I had no idea that this bathing suit is considered by many ''too sexy'' and ''provocative'' and that by uploading them I would unwittingly invite every overly confident man to message me, with at best, sleazy comments or worst requesting to send them more intimate pics.
 At first I was amused, I do not tend to dress too sexy and I'm quite shy about the way I look, was my choice so out of character? And if so was that a positive or a negative step?
 After discussing it with friends we all agreed that the bathing suit is indeed sexy but the photos weren't so provocative or sensual enough to reveal a woman willing to ''shake that thang'' -actual quote of one of my 'admirers'-.
 The truth is I knew from the start that my choice was revealing but after years of playing jump rope with my weight and feeling insecure, I relished at the thought of having enough confidence to buy it and wear it in public, for once to not be self-conscious about my looks.
 Don't get me wrong, despite the way it feels it's going, this post isn't a feministic attack on ''men who view women as objects'' or about fat-shaming or skinny-shaming or even society-shaming!
 This post is about how we view ourselves and how this view can quickly change due to some random comments from strangers on the internet.
 Of course there are women who wouldn't bat an eye at these comments, who would be able to ignore everyone completely, but I think the majority -myself included- yearn for approval no matter its source. I am not here to judge which attitude is right or wrong, in fact I find them both healthy and acceptable. But I am here in an effort to convince myself and all the others who may be reading this post to embrace Blake Lively's words: I never think about how other people will respond to the way I dress.
 And if this advice didn't inspire you maybe what I try to keep in mind will, don't take anything personally from anyone you aren't personal with.

KISSES.

E!