Archive for the ishotmyself Category

Evolution and Change with Body Image Issues

Posted in ishotmyself with tags body image, I Shot Myself, IShotMyself Sequoia, self confidence, Sequoia Redd, stripping on September 18, 2008 by sequoiaredd


photo taken by Edwin Cardona

The lame ass catholic (and yes, that is lower case on purpose) middle school that I had the pleasure of attending, I would have to say has been one of the schools that has left the biggest mark on my life, mainly because it was the only school I had been at for three years. When I was growing up, my mom switched schools on me just about every year, sometimes twice in one year.

Some friends (only two, really) that I’ve remained in loose contact with over the years, from high school and middle school, get touchy when it comes to my work in the sex industry saying that I’m not the person I used to be and how much I have changed. I guess I can see their point, but definitely not in the negative sense.

Up until I was 17, I was depressed, overweight and had my nose buried in fantasy novels (mainly Harry Potter, The Wrinkle in Time series, and most things Phillip Pullman) because my real life sucked. Around high school is when I started getting into recreational drug use vs. fantasy novels as an escape.

Right after I turned 17 I got kicked out of my house and thats when I decided to make my real life cool enough to live, rather than spending all of my time reading fantasies or escaping from it.

The first step for me personally in this journey, was to get in shape. I had been overweight most of my life and had crippling insecurities and low self esteem because of it. So, I got up early and started every morning on the beach, running my ass off, literally.

I lost alot of fat, 30 lbs to be exact and I felt pretty good too. But I still felt incomplete. Around this time I started porn and was highly criticized because of my breasts. They weren’t full enough or perky enough and in some scenes they would just have me keep on my bra. This is part of what I hate about the mainstream sex industry, the fact that they try and standardize everything about sexuality and the human body.

Anyways, time went on, I started dancing, which is still one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. One of the only bad parts about it was when guys with three chins would ask you when you were getting your boob job and having to hang out in a smoky club all day. My favorite part about it was the mental exercise I’d get each day by trying to hone down my (for lack of better term) hunting skills with the men who’d walk in.

When I went to Australia is really when I think I began to get over my body issues. Especially when working for IShotMyself.com (<this link will get you a 10% discount on a membership), the main reason being that its an erotic website which pretty much hands over the camera and allows you to do the sexy story telling yourself. This was probably the site that I had the most qualms about working for because I wasn’t sure if I was creative or imaginative enough to do it. But the day came round, Gala handed me a camera and I shot myself out in the Australian bush.

Sequoia- Forest_Diva

The folios I have made there are still the work I will show off the most and am most proud of out of all of my naked picture work. I love the site, I love the concept and I love how it puts the power in the hands of the model/artist/photographer.

Sequoia - Gee_Whiz

Anyways, if you don’t already, get your butt over to IShotMyself.com and sign up for a membership (you’ll get 10%) off with this link!

Then search for Sequoia and look at my folios there!