Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Scott.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lisa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Lisa Scott aka Asil. Although I was a very active child involved in many activities like biking, dance school and cheerleading I still struggled with my weight. Looking back I personally did not have a problem with how my body looked. I feel I was more concerned with how others viewed me. I was always the tallest in my class since pre-k, I was a little fuller and meatier than other girls my age but I would not identify myself as fat. In my eyes my body was strong and athletic and could do anything I wanted it to do but my peers considered me fat because my body composition was naturally larger. I wrote this book not only for young girls like myself who struggled with personal image and self-esteem issues, but for the mothers and fathers who are raising these often times bullied and fragile young women. My hope is that THE LIFE OF ASIL will motivate and give hope to those who like ASIL are struggling to find their way through this journey of life. I only wished I had a book to read like this one as a teen, I felt all alone and very confused about my body growing up. My mom struggled with her weight most of my life she would take diet pills and join weight watchers off and on. She hated being fat. Looking back she was never larger than a 14/16 at her heaviest. My brother and father were thin though they developed into overweight adults eventually. However my immediate family were fat haters and very critical of my weight. For years I would watch what I ate all during the school year to stay as thin as possible which meant eating oatmeal for breakfast and 2 pieces of fruit during the day and many times no dinner. I had no idea that I was probably borderline flirting with an eating disorder. During the summer months when I was relaxed and out of school I would eat more normally. Breakfast and dinners. It took me years to understand my body and years to start owning the body I was given. In later years I was encouraged by my mother to pursue plus modeling after she seen an ad ran by a plus modeling agency looking for women size 12-20. I was at that time barely a size 10-12, 16yrs old and in my 1st year of college. I attended the open call and was actually told I was too small after being measured by the owner of the agency, I don’t think up until then was I ever to small for anything. I learned about another plus size agency from the other girls on the open call and later went to that agency where I was sent to take pictures with a professional photographer (test shoot) I came back to that agency 2 weeks later the owner had no idea who I was. She looked at my pictures and gave me a contract that day, I went on to have a successful career as a plus model for 3 decades. Working for Essence, Belks, Avenue, Lane Bryant, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Ebony, Ashley Stewart and traveling the world. Being a plus model boosted my self-esteem tremendously. Here I was making money off of the body I was always told was too fat. I was being told I had great legs, beautiful skin and was wonderful in front of the camera. I had come full circle. My parents and friends couldn’t stop bragging about me. No more was fat ever mentioned. When I decided to tell my story I would get very emotional and stop writing. I called up my old college speech professor and shared my writing dilemma she recommended I write as if I was talking about someone else. It’s always easier to share someone else’s story than your own. That’s why I decided to spell my name backwards. When I did this it was like an outer body experience and the words just flowed.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My biggest struggle was because of the body shaming I got from my peers growing up, I shut down a little. I was always super active, social and talked nonstop but the negative comments I got growing up and the constant seemingly examinations of my body and weight made me stay quiet. I think I stopped talking so I wouldn’t be noticed and my weight wouldn’t be a topic. I definitely became an introvert something that took years to undue. Although I was very confident in my abilities to get great grades and dance very well I lost my voice. As a girl, young woman and woman it is so important to find your voice and use it. Not having a voice can make you suffer unnecessarily.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My book The Life of Asil Volume 1 is a series created for the plus size pre-teens and teens who are dealing with body image, body shaming and self-esteem issues. The Life of Asil is my story, my true life experiences and I know what it is like to be considered overweight and suffering in silence while trying to put on a brave face for the world. This series is to support the teens and know that they are not alone. I know that my book The Life of Asil is different from anything else because it’s based on my real life and I am connected to every “Asil” out there because I am her. I want to share my hurts, pain, struggles, decisions and resources to help every plus size girl out there who thinks no one understands. I understand because I was you. I also currently blog about plus size fashion, beauty, travel and lifestyle on my blog at www.TheShoppingSlayer.com as a hobby. You can find me on Instagram @TheShoppingSlayer.
What were you like growing up?
I was active, outgoing, and social always made friends easy. I loved to go bike riding, roller skating, dance and cheerleading. My personality was friendly and cheerful until I realized my plus size body would get attention I didn’t want.
Pricing:
- The book is $16 on Amazon
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelifeofasil.com
- Email: TheLifeofAsil@gmail.com
- Instagram: @thelifeofAsil
- Facebook: TheLifeofAsil
- Twitter: TheLifeofAsil
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0615319076/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529865127&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=the+life+of+asil&dpPl=1&dpID=51MKRH0Ay5L&ref=plSrch
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