Women Empowered: Stephanie Yeboah
Stephanie Yeboah is an Author, Plus Size Fashion Blogger and Cover Girl taking the fat acceptance movement by storm. You may recognise her from the pages of Glamour Magazine, hitting the airwaves on BBC Radio or gracing your screen on MTV - this girl does it all. Stephanie has recently published her first book ‘Fattily Ever After’, click here to pre order.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
The knowledge that I will hopefully be having a fast-paced, busy and productive day: I LOVE being busy!
What gets you through tougher moments in the day?
Having those quiet moments alone to breathe/meditate, listen to music, or play video games on my Nintendo Switch. More than often however, I like to tune out and listen to music when things get a bit rough.
Do you have a motivational mantra? What is it and when do you use it?
I wouldn’t say I have a motivational mantra per se! I do have a very strong sense of self-trust and self-belief, so knowing that the only person I only really rely on is myself makes me feel at ease with day to day activities, because I know at least that I can never let myself down.
You’re a busy woman - how do you make sure you find time for self care?
My Nintendo Switch! I’ve always been hugely into video games, comic books and fantasy worlds as I see it as a form of escapism: playing video games such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a great way for me to escape day to day life and just have fun! It’s a portable games console, so it comes everywhere with me!
What is your top self-care advice for busy women, like you?
My top tip is to always have at least one day where you don’t do anything and don’t leave the house. Focus on yourself, whether it be cleaning the house, spending the afternoon reading, working out, playing video games or even online shopping and cooking. Do something your body enjoys in the comfort of your own home and surroundings.
How does beauty factor into your self-care?
I’m very strict when it comes to my skincare regimen. I’m a huge fan of the korean 10 step routine, and I do it every night. It’s great knowing that I’m investing so much time and energy into my skin and seeing great results as a byproduct of that. It also allows me to spend 15 minutes a day just looking at myself in the mirror, and that bit of peace for me - is incredibly important.
What are your beauty routine non-negotiables?
Hyaluronic Acid is absolutely non-negotiable for me. My skin LOVES it, especially the ones made by The Ordinary! I use it morning and night and my skin drinks it up. As I double cleanse, oil cleansers are of vital importance to me too. I refuse to simply use a water-based cleanser and nothing else. My skin (which is oily) works best with other oil-based products.
What does your morning skincare routine look like?
I use a face wash that contains vitamin C, and sometimes a scrub containing lactic acid if I feel like there’s a bit of oily buildup going on. I then put on some Hyaluronic acid, and then layer with a Niacinamide + 10% Zinc serum, before finishing with a day moisturiser that features more hyaluronic acid, and Alpha Arbutin (which is great for hyperpigmentation).
How does your make-up routine affect the way you feel?
I guess for me, I only begin to feel the affects of my makeup when I get down to my lips. I always wear a signature red lip, and frankly I feel pretty naked when I don’t! It gives me such an amazing confidence boost, and makes me feel like I can conquer anything. It has to be the right shade of red though: blue tone based! For that, my go-to is Stunna, by Fenty Beauty.
Which body-care products do you turn to in order to transform the way you feel?
I do love a good body scrub, as it makes me feel squeaky clean and just...renewed. My favourite at the moment is Cookie Dough by Lush as applying it feels like growing new skin (in a non-painful way!). My skin always feels brand new and smells of cloves and cinnamon which is an added bonus!
I’m also a huge fan of nut-based products, so anything containing shea and coconut butter/oil is right up my street. I moisturise my skin twice a day after showering and my favourite thing to use is the Palmers Cocoa Butter as it reminds me of being a kid and using it everyday. It’s an absolute firm fave and it smells amazing!
You write about living unapologetically, what does this mean in your day to day life?
The mere fact that I exist in a dark skinned fat body means I’m being unapologetic. How I look will always be considered political, regardless of how I feel about it, so I try my best to live my life without censoring myself or making myself smaller for anyone else’s benefit. I wear what I want, express myself how I want to, have big hair, wear bright colours and do as much as I can to live authentically and fearlessly.
What advice would you give to girls looking to begin a career in writing?
Absolutely make use of social media sites such as Twitter. Almost see it as an online CV for prospective employers to look at. If you’re passionate about something, create a thread and tag in publications or fellow journalists - you never know who may be watching your timeline!
What has been your greatest career achievement so far?
Finishing my first book ‘Fattily Ever After’, which will be coming out on the 3rd of September!