Though without a doubt there are places in this world where it's much harder to simply exist as a woman than others, I think we can all agree that being a woman can be a challenge no matter where you are.

First we start off our journey as children, and for the most part this is supposed to be the simplest time of our lives. Puberty of course has a way of complicating things, especially since you're never always fully ready for the changes that suddenly happen almost over night. A lot of the time we're not expecting, prepared for and definitely not wanting the attention we receive all of the sudden in that stage of our lives.

When puberty finally ends and we're at the beginning of being women, we then of course start entertaining the idea of relationships, short term at first, then long term after that. Eventually some of us might find long term stable relationships that lead to marriages. After that might even come children, lives that you've created and now have to help guide through the beginning of their own journey.

Along the way many of us will have gone to school, pursued a life's dream or calling, and made a name for ourselves and built a truly satisfying career.

What I've just described, if done right, with nothing but encouragement, proper education, love, support from all those around us is nothing less than a beautiful and incredible journey into womanhood. A journey that would see us be confident to be who we want to be and do what we want to do.

Sadly, this isn't how the world has worked for most of us, if any of us at all.

Bullying, depression, disorders, and outright abuse of all kinds touch our lives throughout our journey, and leave scars that never truly heal. Feelings of doubt that leave us questioning our self worth hold us back, and keep us in dark and lonely places. Bullying from our peers make us fearful of trusting anyone when we need others the most. Abuse... more than anything else abuse can leave your soul hurt, and make you hate life itself. Sometimes these are brought on by people that we trusted, but hurt us instead, sometimes these are brought on by horrible, horrible circumstance.

What should have been a beautiful journey into womanhood can now be a horrific nightmare, one we can't always find a way out of. This is a terrible place to be with yourself, and it can make the world seem like an equally terrible void, where no one understands you, and nobody cares about you.

This is exactly why Pinup Girl Style matters as much as it does. It breaks my heart to know that these things that I've described have happened to so many other women, and will sadly continue to happen. We're not alone though. I've never met so many women like myself, even if they're half a world away in another country, I know you are so much like me. I know that I don't have to share my stories of hardship and pain with you, because they're your stories too. You've been through that hardship, you've tripped, you've fallen, you've had your share of sand kicked in your face, and we've all found each other here.

It may have been a similar taste in vintage and retro style clothing that brought us to PUG and then later this site, but it's the finding of how to love ourselves, whether it's from friends, loved ones, life choices, PUG's awesome outfits or all of the above that's made each and every one of us a Pinup Girl at heart.

Not too long ago you see I was in a terrible place. I'd had a bad set back in my career, and I wasn't where I thought I would be at this point in my life. A lot of my own scars that never really healed seemed to come back and haunt me again.

Then I found PUG, and it gave me a few reasons to smile. Just a few at first, but when you're not smiling at all that can mean all the difference in the world. Not too long after that I picked myself up and got my career back on track, and a year-and-a-half later I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. A lot of it does have to do with my career, my loving husband, and some really amazing friends that I have. A lot of it also comes from right here, and knowing that there are a worlds worth of women who've been through this all too, who've shared their stories here on Pinup Girl Style, who've healed themselves and helped others heal.

Down the road of course I'm going to have more blog posts about dress reviews, outfit combinations, ideas for pinup photoshoots, pinup get togethers and everything else that you can think of. I just wanted to take the time tonight to tell you guys why I'm a part of this community, what it's meant for me, and why being a part of it has become a part of how I see myself as a woman. I know who I am now, and I'm confident in who I am. It's taken me a while to get here, but here I am and I couldn't be any happier.

So thank you Pinup Girl Clothing for building this site to bring us all together. Lastly, I want to share a quote from a movie that I love, that applies to everyone here. From Laura Byrnes to the users who've given me answers to the forum questions that I've asked.

Even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you, I love you. With all my heart, I love you.

Hugs,

Tahitia :)