Beauty of the Month - Rosalie Shapes

May 2025

How did you discover Beyond Beauty Project?

Through a Instagram.

How did you break out of the box of perfectionism?

I broke out of the box of wanting to look perfect. I literally transformed my body first, before breaking out of this box. What I’ve learned is that aiming to look perfect makes us insecure because there’s always something we could improve. When we fixate on that, we forget to focus on our uniqueness and who we truly are. The moment I shifted my focus and started living from who I truly am, I began to see that diversity is beautiful and something to be celebrated.

What advice would you give your younger self about the pressure to be perfect? 

Maybe it’s a little cliché, but I would definitely tell my younger self that beauty comes from within. We don’t have to look a certain way to feel or be beautiful. When we truly own who we are and how we look, that’s when we are beautiful. There’s no such thing as a ‘normal body’ or a ‘perfect body’. You are perfect. That’s why you’re here. Come as you are. That’s what the world needs.

How has your perception of success changed over the years?

I used to believe that my worth depended on how I looked. I didn’t fit the beauty standards and so I thought I was less worthy than others. As I grew older, I realized that this was just a belief and that I have the power to choose a different one. I began to see that we are so much more than our appearance. Our worth has nothing to do with how we look. There’s beauty to be found in every individual, regardless of appearance. When we start focusing on our inner beauty, it naturally begins to shine on the outside too.

What helps you live authentically?

What helps me is regularly checking in with my own needs and becoming aware of my thoughts and beliefs. We are all conditioned in certain ways, and if we don’t pay attention to what we truly want, it can be tempting to do things that don’t align with our authentic needs. So I ask myself: “What do I want or need right now?” Another thing that helps is questioning my thoughts and beliefs: Are they still true for me? Are they based on old insecurities or outdated patterns? Or do they still reflect who I authentically am? I truly believe that living authentically starts with knowing we are worthy, exactly as we are and then choosing to act from that place.

How do you practice self-love?

I take time to rest, work out, read, dance, journal, have deep and meaningful conversations, meditate, listen to podcasts, and go for walks.

What are ways you honor your body?

I express gratitude for all that it does for me. I nourish it with healthy things — food, movement, and rest. I compliment it.

About Rosalie

As Rosalie Shapes I’m currently working as a body-inclusive model, confidence coach, and podcast host (Dutch). My mission is to normalize body diversity, which is a passion that grew from my own struggle with body image. During puberty, I developed a rare skin condition that left scars all over my body. On top of that, I lost 45 kilos, which resulted in a lot of loose skin. My body has always looked different from the ones I saw around me, and that made self-acceptance a real challenge. I want to help shift unrealistic beauty standards so that we can create a world where no one feels less worthy because of how their body looks.

Rosalie's Socials:

IG: @rosalieshapes

https://www.rosalieshapes.com

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