I'm Conceited And I Got A Reason!

already about you. Yes, yes, But the topic today is going to be all about body positivity and on the flip side, body insecurities, social media and feeling confident in your social media. I think a lot of people have hangups on what they put out on social media. I know I do. UM and just feeling confident and good about yourself and ultimately not giving a damn. Hey hey, hey, And it's kind of special because we have a guest,

Yes we do. We have a guest and she's so special and I can't wait for you all to meet her. You're gonna learn so much from her. I promise you are going to be so confident and you're going to be working those pictures and those photos, so stay tuned, Yeah, stay tuned. Okay, But before we get into all of that, you know, we got we gotta do what we always do, which is talking about our reasonably shady moment of the week. Robin, you got one. I'm gonna let you go first, Okay, good, alright.

So Robin and I actually had a party recently, people, and the party was at my house and it was beautiful. We invited a couple of friends, all girlfriends, and we're all sitting down and we were having a great time and we were kicking and we were drinking and we were eating. And one particular stink faced individual was a little mean to me. Okay, and this is my house.

You can't be meaning me at my house. Now. You can be mean to me when I leave my house, but you can't be mean to me when you're here, okay, at my home. So I asked for her to leave in a very nice way. Just leave, just kidding your car. You don't need to be here, scadado. And it was so shady. This is the shady moment, guys. She she decided to stay. She's kept her happy ass up on the couch. So I'm confused because I'm like, say, no more. What are you telling me to leave peace? I'm out? Yes,

So that was very shady. That was my very shady moment of the week. I hope that you all don't experience that because it's not cold. All right. Well, um, my week was just as eventful as yours. And I'm going to piggyback off that story and that same shady person was shady to me as well. What I yes, but I mean I don't understand how do you invite people on a trip and your rude is hell to them in the invite, like insulting and rude as hell, like that sounds real shady in a trip. I don't

think I'm going on like word. I mean at this point, I'm friend, I'm afraid for my life, like I don't know about that. Yes, so yeah, that is my shady moment. Yeah, it's just there's so many shady people out here, and you know, the reasonable part of me, Yes, I had to kind of step back and ask people what did I do something wrong? You know, I always want to know, like what did I do to contribute to what's going on?

And you know most people are like, no, you ain't tripping, like it's it's you know, it is what it is. And Robin just just that, just in case y'all new to us, Robin is always the reasonable one. She's always looking for the best in people. She's always seeing like the bright side of the rock, and I'm just shady. So if Robin is called in the shady, it's a problem, right, it's a problem. And I really literally was like, well, what how would contribute to this or how can I

make it better? Or well, you know, what could I have done differently? Or let me look at it from another perspective in all the other perspectives that I asked were like, um, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah right, Okay, So people, we got to get back to the topic at hand, Okay, which is I'm conceded and I got a reason. So, like you said, Robin, I mean women, black women especially, We've all got insecurities and we all look at ourselves in the mirror and which things were different.

And that's just physical insecurity. We also have emotional insecurity, we have spiritual insecurity. Um, people have insecurities with their professional career or where they are in their life, just insecurities in their relationships with other people or you know, some people need or crave more attention than they're getting

for what ever reason. Um and all that can be can stem from just different experiences as a child growing up, and it's it's so crazy, Like, as a parent, I think I'm a little more aware of the things that we say and do to our children because those experience that they have can really shape who they are as

an adult. And you see adults today that have issues or hang ups or insecurities and you're like, wow, you know, but you're so accomplished and you're so beautiful and you're so funny, and and you're like, well, where did this come from? And you find out when you dig deeper and deeper and deeper that something happened in their childhood or their mother was always telling them to put the cookies down, or you know just or you know, their

grandmother was always criticizing their hair something. So there's we we as adults have to be careful how we treat our children because that stuff sticks with them for real. Yeah, And I have three girls, teenage girls, so everything with them, they wake up in the morning and they're insecure about something just because the confidence is not there yet. I know that confidence comes with like when they feel confident in an accomplishment. Right, So that's not there yet, but

it's it's getting there. But I do want to tell you all a couple of insecurities that I have. Oh my goodness, this is breaking new job. Yes it is, because she oh here perfect okay, um okay. So when I was younger, like and and I remember this because my kids are now at the age, that I hated my stomach. Like I was a skinny girl with a fat stomach, Like who wants that? That's just disgusting, right, right, I can relate to that. And I couldn't lose my stomach,

so my legs were skinny butts. I had no booty, y'all, just no booty at all. Um. But I had like a fat stomach, and that always made me feel uncomfortable.

And even when I dressed really cute and had on pretty dresses and heels and all that, I just still felt like my body was off and it really made me just kind of like I remember when I was interested in guys and I would like try to hide my stomach, like that's weird, right, And the guys probably don't even notice, like anything, they don't notice your stomach. They probably think your stomach looks great right right now.

I had twins, so I got rid of my stomach because I sat on the table and the doctor handled that. But it's all good now it's flat flat, Okay, she on flat flat. But I you know, that really bothered me until I had that taken care of. Now, I'm not saying that that's how you should take care of insecurities, but that's actually how I took care of that one. But anyway, one other, big one, and y'all are going to be surprised about this one. I hated to speak

in public. What I hated it, like, had so many insecurities, like got dry mouth, I would start sweating. I'd be like, oh my god, I have to talk in public, like I did. I didn't don't do it. I promised you a second. I didn't want to do it. And I think the issue, like now that I can look back on it, I think the issue was I felt like I had to be someone else, like I had to

create something and be like a dynamic speaker. Yeah, I had to jump off the stage and as opposed to just like being me, right, But I had to learn that and that took I don't know, into my thirties to kind of get there for that, which is a little pathetic, right, not really, No, public speaking is so uncomfortable, and I think one of the things that attracts people

to a public speaker is their confidence. It's not about you know, their their actions and them being you know, demonstrative on the stage and and you know, being dramatic. It's like, your confidence enough to keep someone in tune with what you're saying. Right, And it didn't help that I'm married, like Mr public speaker, Like that didn't help either. That that made me even have more insecurities because it's like I can't measure up to this dude. Um. But

eventually I just got there on my own. And now y'all can't shut my ass. Oh we cannot. I'm speaking and speaking and speaking and speaking and speaking. Yes, you know. And it's funny. When I've done public speaking events, I feel like I'm like it's an outer body experience. It's really weird. Like I do really well and people tell me like, oh, that was great, and I'm like, really wasn't. Like I don't, like, I don't know what. I don't remember one thing I said, but it's it's very weird.

So I almost feel like you know when you have when you do speak in public, you have to almost like remove yourself from the person that's actually talking. Like it's kind of weird. So since you shared two insecurities, I'll share two insecurities. One insecurity is my shoulders in my back. I'm very broad, okay, and I'm the worst because I'm laughing. I'm okay, okay, robb It. I promise you. I never thought you were gonna say that. That was

so weird. It's so random. You're you're you're describing yourself like a linebacker, like, but I you're not a football player. You've called me a linebacker? I have? Or was that? Yes? Do you remember I'm the worst? I want to hide? Do you remember season three when um Monique had the umbrella up to me? Yes, you say something like you're gonna hit her like a linebacker. You something like robbing with her line? Or was that someone called me linebacker shoulders? Okay?

That was it was you roll the tape. I'll take it. I called her that. But it's like Carly, did she call me? Do you remember? Yes, Carly, who's always with us is confirming Okay, she's done some research really quickly on her laptop. Unless she confirmed, people like, oh my god, she's not your friends. She called you a linebacker and so okay. But Robin, I did not know that that was an insecurity. Had I known that, I would have

never said that. Okay, it's not an insecurity where I'm crying about it at night, like but still no. But when I get dressed, um, you know some certain things I don't like the way they look on me. But because I'm so broad across the shoulder, so it's like, you know, you dress your body according to I don't know if you call them your flaws you know, or your securities. I don't. I guess it's not really an insecurity, but it is something that I'm aware of that I

if I could change, I would. Well, I think your shoulders are beautiful. I'm making up for lost times. Well, thank you. Um. And then my second one, and it's not a physical one. It's I mean not um seriously physical, but my voice. I hate my voice, like I and this stems from childhood when I would answer the phone at home and like that, you know, they'd be calling to talk to my mom and they'd be like, Mark, my brother's name is Mark. So they thought you were

a boy. They thought your voice was a boy, so they'll be like Mark, is your mother there? And I'm like, no, this is Robin. Okay, now that's funny. Now that's worse than linebacker shoulders. I thought you were a board, right. And I know that I have a deep voice. I know I have, um, I guess it kind of like monotone voice maybe, but like I just so, I hate my voice, Like I hate listening to myself. So I probably will never listen to this podcast guys, because I

don't want to hear myself. Or I'll just press play and like put it on mute, you know what I mean. Okay, that that means you didn't hear it if you but press play so we could get a so we could count oh okay, the fact that someone listened to it. Okay, okay, okay, But I like, I don't on the show. I hate hearing myself on the show, and and it's it's kind of weird. This is almost like this podcast is really out of normal character for me because I'm not long winded.

I don't like to talk much if you notice, like I usually just get straight to the point. I don't. I don't tell long stories. I don't hold the floor for a very long time because I don't like to hear my voice. Oh, Robin, you've made up for that. I mean, I don't know how I got on TV. Yes you're not only are you on television? Podcast? And yes we have a podcast. So look this podcast we we have, we don't have a contract for several more episodes,

so you got to get over it. Yes, so that I mean, so that tells everyone despite your insecurity, I mean, I'm telling you that my insecurity is my voice, and I'm on a podcast and a TV show and I'm still here and I'm still you know, confident in what I'm doing, and I'm still passionate about what I'm doing. And so just because you know it's an insecurity for yourself,

don't let it stop you from your opportunities. Now is a great time to bring in our very special guest, because she's like an expert on all things dealing with insecurities, getting to your best, confident self. She's gonna talk to us a lot about social media and how that could be like the devil right, but then it can also be like Jesus because it can bring us to um a great place. Our first guest to the Reasonably Shady Podcast is Robin's girlfriend. So yeah, that's that's great. Yeah,

so the round of applause. Yeah, and you know, um, this a part of what I love about the platform that we're on is having the ability to put our friends on, you know, to spread the love, to share the wealth, and so you know, you guys might hear from a lot of our friends first, but it's also to show you all that we got some badass friends. Okay. I mean we're just not getting picking up anybody on the contact okay, because we got some cord of friends.

These are are badass friends that we're going to be introducing you too. Word okay, So without further ado, I'm going to introduce our guests, Jennifer, John Pierre. Is it is it? Jean Pierre, Jennifer, Jean Pierre. Yes, you ask somebody say it again for a people in the back Jennifer, Jean Pierre, Jean Pierre not Jean Pierry, right, people always yes, love that love it? Ok and you are from Haiti?

I am okay. Nice Okay, okay. So. Jennifer Jean Pierre is a widely recognized and award winning fashion and lifestyle blogger with vast expertise and experience directing social media and digital campaigns. Jenn has been featured in the New York Times Style section, Essence, and in Style magazines. She effortlessly and authentically blurs the lines between personal style, health and wellness, and body positive messaging in a transparent, yet very personable way.

Oh god, this is a big word, Jesus, Oh my god, this is this is none of your insecurities? Was reading? Was that reading out loud? Is that one of your insecurities? How do you say this? Eponymous? It's basically like my I know what it means, yourself, you're, you're, you're, You're named it after yourself, But I cannot I know what it means. I can't bring up then, and neither does anyone listen to this podcast like her name okay okay, and I think her introduction is done. I think we

need keep it going. Okay okay, and her popular in herself name blogged I have a story about this too, Okay, I'll share it later, okay, and popular Instagram page She has a massed a community of faithful followers, which are no doubt a testament to her relatable personality. When she's not sharing advice with fellow bloggers, Jen spends time working on her budding photography career. Jen is also constantly constantly thinking outside of the box to keep her community of

fans engaged. She's extremely passionate about making the world a better place and makes it a point to champion for social injustice. Born in Haiti and raised in Michigan, Jen currently resides in Maryland with her husband to bonus children and a star in her own right, her adorable daughter Teagan. Moved by the way loves me, she loves Okay, so give us, give us share social media handles first, so people can like at John here, so people can look it up. Now, so you can look you can look

her up now as we're talking. Yes, absolutely so. If so, Jenn. If there's like a post you want to want to refer to, people can follow along. But I just want to personally speak to why I thought Jen would be a fantastic guest for this podcast. I won't. I'm not destined and that we're not that deep. Rob and I are really nothing sace, no joking, Okay, So um Jen I met just through gosh, just being around d C. I used to work in PR. Actually that's maybe yes.

So I used to work for a PR agency, and you know, our eyes are always open to okay, you know bloggers and what's going on in the you know, who's popping in the local area and who could you know come make a post for one of our clients and stuff like that. So I think I've known about you for a very long time since gosh, maybe two thousand twelve or something. Um and I started and her content is so authentic without being thirsty. Yeah you know what I mean. I mean I do have some thirst traps,

thirst traps. I've seen some skin on their and some little sex, but it's not like thirsty, thirsty traps. It's not like um nasty thirst traps. It's just it's I'm confident, Yeah, I do it when when I actually do it, when I'm feeling insecure, I'm like, you know what, I'm gonna put on this outfit and I'm going to show it off because it helps me, right, and it helps you. But so it helps your your followers, the people who are seeing these posts that they're saying, Wow, she's so confident,

she looks so happy. What you know what's holding me back? And so so I've known Jim for a while. Her content has been amazing. I struggle with my own social media presence, um just because it's funny. I saw a post the other day that that it just came across and the girl was saying, you know, why aren't my pictures good enough? Why do I stop and not post something because it's not perfect? Or you know why am I over analyzing everything? Like I should just put it

out there? And I'm like, like, I literally I have thousands of pictures on my phone and I don't post them because they're not perfect. The lighting is not perfect, my my my hair is not perfect. Well perfect to you, isn't perfect to your audience. Well I know, but we're under scrutiny a little bit more than the average person.

And so and it's kind of sad because I am instead of embracing the ninety point nine percent of people who love me for me and who are you know, nice and supportive and positive, I'm holding myself back because at that point zero one that is going to have something to say So, for instance, and I'm telling somebody else's business, I have a picture of One and I that we took the other day and I want to post it, but One gained a few pounds, and I'm like, his face looks fat, and you know what I want

people to talk about. Face is fat. One space is not fat. And I'm probably looking at it closely because I know that he like, you know, did he say his face was fat? Are you thinking his face in the gain weight? Okay? But did he say I'm not No, I didn't point out to him. He didn't say it, but do you let me? Okay? And as you're pulling that up, Jen, I want you to think about a couple things. So one, I want you to share also

your insecurities. I'm looking at your social media page right now and I'm borderline like I don't like you anymore because it's actually, I mean easing like this this No, it's amazing, And the reason why it's amazing it was everything is like clean, right, it's so clean, it's purposeful. You you're like killing it like mine is like my social media My i G page is like junkie. It's just like I feel like I post everything too. This is so clean and fresh and like your backgrounds are perfect.

So I need to we need talking to school that I go to every day. Oh so you go to a place alright, alright, alright, So we're gonna stay focused because first I wants not so Jen is going to share like tips on just you know, how to put out great And it's not about being perfect. It's about being engaging if if you want engagement on your page, and I guess people have to ultimately decide like what is their personal social media for That's what I want to talk about. Yeah, okay, Okay, his face is I'm

so mad at you right now. Okay, so one I'm your friend, Robin is not. And the picture that she is going to post because we're sitting here talking about it, you look like the same amazing wine that you always look and your girlfriend slash fiance slash white is being a little shady and that should actually have been her shady moment. Okay, I'll take that, so Jim lad us all right, all right, Well, first let's talk about that picture. Okay. The reason why we're not supposed to do Okay, it's

the lighting. No, it's because of the camera angle. Okay, so whatever you haven't because it was probably tilted up and going down, whatever is closest to the cameras was gonna look bigger. Your head's always gonna look bigger. If you notice when I take my picture is you never have a high angle for me, and I'm short and I'm squatty. Okay, so this number one, you gotta get down,

down and lean see Okay. See. I feel like there's like levels to that because I feel like people have heard that advice and I've had you know, I say, oh, can you take a picture? They like, okay, I gotta get down and you know what you're doing? Yeah, And then I look at the picture, I'm like, what the hell? Like I'm looking up my nostrils and you got my knees?

Why knees? So there's a couple of tricks if you're doing with the iPhone, Like if you're going to take it higher, you want to just be slightly eye level, okay, so not like over where you're looking down on somebody with the phone. And then when you're taking any iPhone picture where you're doing the full body, what I do is actually flip the iPhone around horizontally upside down. Yeah, so I usually take a lot like this because then it's not going to get a whole bunch of like

weird ground. You're gonna get more like sky or ceiling. Oh kay. So she's flipping her phone with like the lens on the bottom with somebody else, because then it gives you more body, more top instead of whole ground. Have you ever had somebody take your picture and it's like all this ground and then half your head is Yeah, people take horrible will be a phone flipping, honey, be

phone flipping. I am so excited. I'm sorry. We got some graphics, yes, yes, yes, yes, so people watching this on on the video that we record, Yeah, we have some graphs. We have graphics, and it's all about us. They're beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Saw when I walked in. Thank you. I don't mean going to cut you off. Okay, So this is what we would love for y'all to do since we now have a new tip. It's called phone flip to take the picture.

So tag us, you know, tag reasonably shady when you post your phone flip pictures. Yes, yes, and then we might we post them. Okay, I love that idea. Yeah, absolutely, tag Jen John oh boy, yes, yes, yes, So how do you feel How do you remain so confident because clearly from your social media play age, you're killing it. Um, you know, if I gained four point eight pounds, my confidence is like on into the trash. Can I can say that you're not like size six? And what side?

What's that? Do you my sharing to share everything? Let's let's just rewind a little bit, because it's funny that you say that because I lost sixty four pounds when I was pregnant, because I was so sick when you were pregnant. Yeah, so after I gave birth, I was like sixty four pounds and I was like, yes, even though I was sick. I was like, yes, I'm back to what I feel like. And it was funny. On my way here, I was like, none of my jeans fit?

What happened? What happened? What happened? Covid? Covid? Yes, the panorama, you know all of that, damn demmit. Like I was like, but at the end of the day, I'm just like, am I healthy? Yes? Okay? Can I move? Yes? And I still gonna look cute in my clothes. Solutely okay, But so the question you said, it depends on the brand. Sometimes I'm a twill, sometimes I'm a sixteen. That it really depends on the brand. Because that's something we can talk about too, is like brands have no idea what

they're doing when they comes to sizing. I'm sure you've you've you know, kind of dealt with that. Yeah, yeah, that's you know, it's so cool. It's like, um, you you've already you've told me many times that, like, you don't like shopping, but yes, but if you look at your feed, like you find the best clothes that complement your body and make you look even more amazing, so you gotta like, I mean, come on now, you can't not like shopping and have this amazing feed full of

cute looks um, so fashionable. It's so fresh. But it's also, like I said, not thirsty. You know, it's like you don't look like everyone else, very unique in individual like I live by Inhale fashion Exhale style liked hold on hold on Inhale fashion Exhale Style. Yep, hell does that mean that means you take what, like the trend forecast tell you you Inhale It and then you exhale it and make it your own. You put your own stink on it. I like the sting. I'm talking right now, y'all.

I like this dying around like a walking mannequin. You gotta add your little zest to it, like I owe it. The way that I see it is the streets are my runway, and I'm gonna struck no matter what. Okay, So that's how I operate every single day in life. I love it. I'm but I'm feeling like this is coming from you internally. Yeah, okay, so yes, you're fashionable,

you're killing the social media game. But like, talk to me about like how you got as confident as you are right now, because that's really what exudes your page, your social media page. You're like your confidence than um. It's funny because I would have to say my Haitian parents, and Carly is probably like but but honestly, there's patient parents are the most judgmental people you will ever meet. And Virgos. I was raised by a Virgo mother terryus mother.

That ain't that um, but they were just so judgmental and they have something to say about every little thing you do. So you can either become a people pleaser or you can just be like, forget it. I am me, I'm going to own it. I just chose the ladder. Okay. My mother doesn't like it. Still to this day, she'll send me a message like I think that scirpt is too short and that isn't too big for that, And I was like, oh, did you like it? Do you

want me to send that to you? I bet you would be cute on you, Like I just flipped the script on her. So I think it was just a choice for me. It was either I was going to drown in insecurities and everything that was kind of being put on me, or I was just gonna own it and have fun and realized life is love that too. And that goes back to what I was saying about

parents really shaping their kids as adults. So you know there's parents that I mean, there's there's kids who take that stuff to heart and it becomes insecurities and by the time they're an adult, it's like way too late to change. So you know, good for you for I know, well, I like my like just like you said about your mom, Like, my mother called me last week and she was like, just that that broad wasn't working on TV, like get

rid of it. One boob was higher than the Wait a minute, my mother called me one day, was on TV and was like she was like she was like, yeah, the same thing that your mom said. She was like, one boob was higher and bigger. And I was like, Mom, you've got to be kiddy right now. She's okay. So apparently my mother was not the only one. They need each other. You know what, my mother needs your mother's phone number, so she because I don't she gonna call me,

I'm gonna be like, go somewhere else with that. That's hilarious. But you know, I I appreciate my mother is feedback at this point, but I only appreciate it now because I am so confident, right, But that comes I'm fifty years old, so that comes over time. And I know I can speak for myself and I know that with accomplishments, confidence bills. Um. I can look at my kids. You know, just the other day, UM adore my daughter. She had

to try out for the lacrosse team. She made it, and now she's like walking around the house like her shoulders popping, like she didn't done something so great. And I'm like, girl, you just made the team. I mean, you know it's not that, but for her, that gave her like a boost of confidence. Um, and I know that with sometimes when you know, especially women, because we put so much on ourselves. If we don't get what we're striving for, that knocks us and derails us and

we can't get back up. Yeah, I feel like small victories really help boost our confidence. It doesn't have to be you know, some groundbreaking development, It just has to be small victories. But then we have to look at Okay, when we do have our setbacks, how do we deal with them? How do we bounce back? Or how do we absorb them and learn from them or let them roll off of our back? You know that's kind of Um, I don't know, Like, yeah, that's a tough one. Like

it's it's it's easier said than done. Do you pull from something that your mother taught you when when your face with that, yeah, actually probably not what she taught me. With my grandmother, Like for me, my grandmother is like my legacy. She's like the top notch, Like nobody can touch my grandmother just because she was able to raise like six kids in a third world country, put them

all through college in the United States. She's just like to me, I'm like, yeah, Grandma, she wore heels every day, okay, like she was dressed to the nines. All her clothes were tailor made for her because I still have them. And for me, I was like, Okay, she has brains, she has you, and she's presenting herself a certain way every single day. No one's gonna know that there's that she's struggling because that's how she presented it, but not in like a fake like oh yeah, I'm doing it,

but more so because it made her feel good. So I kind of just kind of keep that legacy going. I love that. And then it's funny you made me think of my grandmother, because my grandmother, she's she was amazing, She was very special. She kind of said whatever the hell was on her mind, you know, in a in a very kind of comical but fourth right way. But she never wore pants, like not a day in her life.

And what you're right, So so it's funny that. So so I'm thinking, like her personality was one of very old fashioned, very traditional, so being able to be myself today, but having a grandmother that never wore pants. It's like, you know, it's kind of like we've come into our own while honoring our grand parents and the people before us, but we've still been able to confidently move to the beat of our own drums, no matter how much they hated it. You know, like, what are you wearing? What?

Like can you imagine like to a grandmother that never wore paints, never wore pants, like what a sweatsuit looks like to them? You know what I mean? Like, I can take you one distressed gene. Oh. When I came home with distressed gene, that's like on right now? Okay. My grandmother was like, well, baby, do I need to give me some food because she thought that you ripped them. She didn't know that this is the style. She didn't know what style because to her it was like why

would you do this? Yes, And my father to this day still would be like, you got holy you got holy gene. I'm like, oh my god, do I thank you for letting me know? I didn't see it. On a more serious note, my mother would away and I try to instill this in my kids. My mother would always try to look at She always ask me like, what is the learning lesson. What did you learn? What was God trying to tell you? Like, I will never forget I stayed out, um until three o'clock in the morning.

I might have had too many drinks. I was trying to eat fried chicken in my lap because somebody gave that to me on the way out the club and I was driving home and I literally like told with my car right, and I was like. My mother next day was like, what did God teach you that I was hungry, that I was don't drink and drive. I'm confused. I was like, but the but it really was like order French floating free down, don't ever do this again. You could have killed yourself. Um that's a huge example.

But you know, my mother has always been just the voice in the back of my head that's like, Okay, you got knocked down today, But what did you learn from it? And if you didn't learn anything from it, then shame on you. Yes, all right en, Let's get to like something that people most people really really really want to know is how to take great pictures. So much fun Yeah, because like I have like girlfriends so

funny you know that, aren't you know? In they're not public figures and we when we go to take a group picture, they'll be like, okay, Robin, how should I stand? Okay, okay, shut I put my my leg out up out, my hand on my hip. What should I do? And I'm like, I feel like we just need a like we need like a girl's night where somebody comes. I actually did that with my friends. Can you do yea? It was funny, like like, no, I should charge for that, seriously, like

you know how bad I am? No, I know, but no, this is a bit. I'm starting a business for you. Robin is always starting businesses. Always this seriously because now like people want to find more things to do in the house because you know, the pandemic blah blah blah. But that is a great girl's night in hire someone to help you, you know, teach them how to pose. They can take pictures. I don't girl. Okay, So we got we got to turn, we got to flip down. Okay,

so what else? And that's more for the photographer. Okay, now this is about you. My number one thing is I rarely ever take a picture like straight on. Like when I say that is like you're just squared right at the camera because the camera is gonna widen you. You don't want to be So that's number one. So you're saying, like I always tilt your body just a little bit, like have one hit maybe more towards it.

If you're going to do one that you're squared at the camera, then you gotta have like your superhero power stance, like either you're like hand under your chin, really handed to chick. I'd be like this, yes, can you a reference? Um, can you reference like something on your page maybe for people to refer to. Let me say, I actually on my reels, I have like how to pose. I have a whole so in your not your high but I don't know it's reel. Yeah, okay, that's the new Instagram

feature where they kind of bid off of TikTok. Excuse me, So so jens supposed to be happening with me with my Instagram. I got to get them. But okay, so I did a whole bunch of like just going through a bunch of um poses. But I'm actually going to have one on my YouTube, which is slower after you

go through your your superhero power woman pose. Another thing is definitely tilting one hip, putting one leg slightly in front of the other, so that way you get that long and lean that leg lengthening that I love so much. And then your arms. Never put your arms too close to your body because it's just gonna make them look fat matter what you do. I kind of um like something that does where she always does this, like it's

not like trying. Hands are not on her hips. It's more like her hands are on her thighs, and it's like making her arms go out a little bit. You never want to hunt your shoulders either, Like this is when posture. Really I have bad posture because I have scolosis, so I always have to be like, okay, so you don't want to punch, but do you want to pull them back? Yeah, you want to pull them back and then pull them down, okay back and because then it's

going to make your neck look longer. And when you're I mean, but speeding up neck, what do you do with your chin down? Chin slightly up? Because at the end of the day, like you want you don't want the shadows from the photography because it looks like you have bags in your eyes, I know, So you want to kind of look look up to the light. Source wherever the light sources. But it also depends if the

photographer is really really low. You don't want to be like this because then they're just gonna go up your nostrils like you were mentioning before, So up slightly, up slightly to okay, just a little bit, just enough to get that longly neck um because that always looks really good. If you really think about models, most of the one to make the most money have the long next you don't even realize it, yes, because it's like Bellade, that's

so beautiful, Yes she is. So those are some some things that till head straight on Till depends on what the message you're trying to evoke, you know, like if you want to do it till that's more like you like me, you know what, like is it a stink? Is it's like I'm a pet my favorite. But you can also do that with my favorite with the hands under the channel. Now, let's talk about smile during a picture. I feel like that feeling though, what do you want

the picture and tell about you? But I feel like when I when I smile, like my face just gets like I don't know, like I don't know, I don't really speaks get all yeah, so I is it better to like do that like fa laugh. I am all about the fake right, you know, like you just do that,

you know, like just a little. But you see how like my chin is still kind of up because you don't want to do the fake laugh and be like then you're going to get double chick, you know, so like you kind of want to angle it out, like okay, alright, so angle up out fake lap okay, or you could have the person who's taking the picture just say something fuddy right. Okay, alright, So one leg in front of

the other. What do you think about legs crossed if you do it at the ankles, like, don't cross it like your knees over, just a slight at the ankles. And I believe that the legs crossed should really only be when you're sitting nice and then you also want to cross them. But have what I'm doing it right now? I don't know why one leg further out, okay, like that front of the other. Body angled a little bit, just a little bit, shoulders down, back and down, arms

not squished at your side. Yeah, you can just like form like triangles, um and then don't press them too much to your body, because then you're gonna you know, squish right, okay, chin slightly up, slightly up, okay, love what else was it? Oh? And if you're looking dead onto the camera, give like a little you know, the chin action, some sort of power post something otherwise, or look away. If you're not comfortable looking right at the camera, look away, look away. You know what about the whole

like smies your eyes. I'm terrible. It's smizing, are you. I need to learn. I need to learn how to smize like Tyra. Tyra has it down. Yeah, but that's why I always just give the you know, the angry woman that's me every single time. Um. For me, I do a squint. Okay, that doesn't work for everyone, it just works for me. Um. I know when I was taking your pictures, Rob and I up telling you close your eyes, and then right before I took the picture, I was like, okay, open them now, because you were

automatically like closing them. Um. So that actually works too. If you're not comfortable in front of the camera, just close your eyes and then right when the photographer tells you you just open and you can smile right then and there because then You're not gonna have a forced smile on your face for so long waiting for the picture. Do you recommend that if you're like feeling a little low that day, to bust out with like amazing flick,

like just to make yourself feel better. Okay, So definitely when you're feeling bad, I think, so get your pictures on. That's when you like you can do with selfies, and that's when you practice. I mean, at the end of the day, it's always about the practice. Practice makes perfect, okay, because I find like I'll ask someone to take a picture of me, and you know, they give me the phone back and they walk away and the pictures are horrible.

So so like, what tips can we give our photographers or the people who are taking our pictures are amateur ione pictures, so that we make sure that we get good pictures. Put them where you want your picture to be taken. Take the picture how you want it, Show it to them, be like this is how I want it. Did you see where I was standing? Did you see how I held the phone? This is how I wanted Okay, but these are random strangers on the street that we

pull out. Okay, what do we tell the waiter. Yes, we're at a restaurant, group of friends, and we want the way to take a picture. Is it a group picture? Like it's a group you don't care? Well, we we care. I mean because if it's a group picture and you're kind of sitting sitting at the restaurant, or more we're sitting, we're sitting at the table with a group, I would

say later to take a cute picture. Take it landscapes so that it's wide and you've got a lot of you know, environment, because then you can always just crop it Instagram, because if you take it vertical, they always crop someone out or somebody's half of their bodies out. And then I would go right back to that that flip the phone. Yes, everybody, Okay, I know we have

to practice that, we have to try that. So along those lines, like what are some apps that you recognize it for people, you know, for amateurs like us to use to kind of look like professionals, or just to have an engaging feed, like you know, it's I know some people, it's like your social media is really literally just for your friends and family, but you still want it to be engaging. So the first thing is you got to determine what your aesthetics are, Like, what do

you want your feed to look like? So? Do you want a dark and gritty, moody feed? Do you want light, bubbly and happy? Do you want to follow like a plan where it's like picture quote, picture quote, Like you got to determine that first. People doing that. I'm the only one that just throws anything up. But I think what you're saying, I think that's what holds me back from putting stuff because I'm like, oh, like what, I

don't have a theme. I don't have like a like a consistent appearance on my page, Like what does it need to be? And so instead of just posting because I want to shock yourself out of it, Yeah, yeah, can it be a mix? Like let's say, right, so let's say you want to be gritty, but then you want to be light and airy. So that's where I

would say, like filters or presets come in. And so presets are basically filters that you've made, and so that comes to app So light room, light room is my favorite room I don't even know people made, but yeah, you can buy them. You can buy presets on like let's see of however, you want your photo to look and you throw it in the light room and it'll

just edit it. Yeah. Yeah, so like I have, like I have a couple of mine that way, even though I have it maybe like a dark photo, the color is kind of the same in the same So that way, when the eye is looking at my feed kind of

just all flows right. And I think it's more it's it's more important to have a consistent feed for when someone goes to your actual page exactly and they're seeing, you know, the whole grid, do that anymore, but actually go to your whole feed to look they're just because if they're already that's I mean, y'all are like figures, So it would be nice. So it's not about like, oh, this one picture has to match the last picture the

last week. But it's like, oh, when people look at my feed and its entirety, you don't want it to be all over the place. Okay you wait, wait, you did not say what app that is a pencil? Why he's about at light room? Yes, okay, I'm going to add, but you could also um tessa um. So she's a blogger. She well, she's a photographer who turned into a blogger. And she made her own app, which I love too. And she's got a whole bunch of already just put in presets. You just put in your photo. You can

go through each presetz. T e z z Az has presets. Yeah, those two I really really love them. Yeah you should. But the other thing is is what we've found in the photography world is a lot of these presets aren't made for us our skin tone. You know, sometimes it wash. This is out. So that's where a lot of black bloggers came and said we're going to create our own. So you know, there's Chasing Denise. She's got Chase some Denise, Okay, Chasing Denise. There's Um Massani that's who I use. I

love hers. Um. Who else? There? Mayor of Evans m O S S O N y I. So do you find these on Instagram or is this an app? Um you can find them? I believe they sell him on Etsy Creative Market. So this isn't like I go to the app. Well you can do it, Tessa is an app, okay, but if you wanted the precess that we're really made for our yeah, there's a lot, right and so um I thought Etsy was just buying jewelry. I am people out here selling amazing things. Um, we don't have a

whole lot of time. Now, we don't have a whole lot of time, so we have so I would like to kind of pull like the top thing that we got out of this today because I feel like there's so many things right well, oh no, when we have our questions, we have our social media, our reasonable shape. Yes, yeah, we got a little bit more to cover. So before we wrap up, Jin, is there anything so so you've done? And I think a lot of people should realize, like

almost everyone can monetize their Instagram somehow. So that's why it's important to put out great content, great pictures, great photos. Um, and you've done an awesome job and being able to do that for yourself and so you know, just people who it's not just about looking cute on Instagram, it's about monetizing. So I suggest everyone please go to Jen's page, visit her blog, Instagram at Jen Jehan Pierre. Yes I do www Jen jihon Pierre dot com. You can learn

a lot from her. And even if it's like you're making a few bucks off of an Instagram post, you know why not? Why But that's why you want to build a nice presence on Instagram. Yes, and you don't want to leave any money on the table. And that's going to tie into helping with your confidence because you make a couple of couple of dollars a couple of coins and trust and believe your confidence is going to

increase absolutely. So do you have do you have any other important things that you want people to know to hear anything that we didn't touch on. So when it comes like social media, the one thing is I think a lot of people are like, well, this is what I like, so I'm going to post it. I do that too, but I also have been doing it so long, I know what my audience like. At the end of

the day, it's what your audience wants to see. Because if you're posting things that nobody wants to see, it's not going anywhere, especially if you're thinking that this is going to be a business. So for me, it is a business, So I have to be marketable. I have to constantly do an audit of my insights, kind of take a look and see what my demographics are, what are people you know, enjoying. I mean, there's there's so much to this like it's a whole other conversation. It's

like a whole job. It really, I mean it really is. Use that's my full time job too. Um. But yeah, you have to do the audit. You have to really take a look and see what are people engaging with, what do they want to see from you, and then give them more of whatever it is that But then don't they get that? Change it? You can switch it up, Okay, like I did. Um this morning, I had to do

a shoot for Amazon Groceries. But I was like, if I put some groceries on my feet, people are only like, I'm not liking this some food, Like I'm not a food block like food I post, I post some good food. I gotta look at your food. Okay, maybe not don't don't please, You're gonna judgement, no judgment, no judgment, it's no judgment. But I had to change it up. I

had to make it editorial. So I was in my kitchen with a fancy dress on, cutting up some vegetables because at the same way, I can tie in that this is about food, but it's going to stop them in their scroll. That makes sense. Yeah, that makes sense. Okay, So so people need to be a little bit more thoughtful when they're posting these pictures. So if they want this to be a business, right, yes, So don't do what galla. So if you'll look at my page, just don't do what I do because I just throw up

any old thing. Um. You know you influenced me to buy something once though. Oh what did I do? That leather body suit that has the biggest I bought that after I saw Really Okay, I'm an influencer, y'all, it's all. Did you take me? Did you make me feel good about myself? No, you didn't. You didn't want to help me with my confidence. My confidence could have been low that day. You tagging me would made me feel like, well, I openness and I tagged you're right, right, right exactly exactly.

But yeah, I remember I saw that on you and I was like, yeah, I need that. Yeah yeah, so cutet fit me right now? But it was, um, yeah, So, Jim John Pierre, you have been an amazing guest. You have so much to share. It has been so fun. Um. I love just talking to you because you do inspire me to you know, you you let me know, like Robin, people want to know what's going on. They want to see you more. You need to, you know, put stuff out there and I'll get there one day. You're gonna

get there because I'm gonna be still on you about it. Yeah. And to know that Robin, you know, especially you and I have the ability to brighten up somebody's day. I get anybody a little push, a little boost, and so we have to be a little more conscious of it and and do it because if we can help others, that's what it's all about. You got that so right, and it could be so much. Yeah, So absolutely yes, and we just have to tune out the haters. I'm

thankful that I don't have that. It's not I've gotten something always I'm sure. I'm like, well, yeah, I know girl, yes, crooked thing because I left my retainer after a basketball tournament, right, yeah, but that but that makes unique. I was like, okay, alright, So we have covered a whole lot, and you know, yes, and we thank you so much. Jen, You're you're amazing

and we'll have you back. So don't don't go too far. Um. But we have a new segment guys that we want to introduce to night and it is called Reasonable Talk with our shadesters, okay, And we like to do a whole lot of social media interaction. We'll throw questions out, always prepared to be prepared to listen and give us feedback. Yes, And we love just asking people on the spot a question and we get such great feedback. Yes. So to question was in line with the topic the episode. What

are your physical insecurities? And I think this is such a great question because you listeners are going to realize, Wow, most people have the same insecurities that I do, and so to hell with our insecurities, y'all insecurities be gone exactly. So I want to just share um a lot of the responses. Okay, So stomach is number one. Stomach, stomach, and you said that absolutely foopa, yes, poopa, that's it. So that food, but that's it. And I mean and I and I feel like, you know, I have a

little foopa to um. Yeah, yah, I mean that that that thing is it is hard to get rid of, right, you see, if you're super thin, you're still going to have that a little something. So so the answer to all of that is because we all have it, don't

be insecure about it, right, Yeah, let it go? Absolutely, Yeah, absolutely, because and even though we know we have a food, but like other people won't even notice it, right, you know, so skin, so whether it's discoloration under eye, you know, dark under eyes, moles um skin was a big response. So everyone, you know you're you're not alone. Well, no one's skin is perfect. That's just it is what it is. So understand that and why why are you trying to

reach for this perfection of skin? Right? Like God gave you some skin, and be comfortable with the skin you in, right, And I just say, you know, I mean, I don't know. I don't have like the magic pill for perfect skin. But drink more water, you know, I think a lot of times our skin does not look great or because we're not drinking enough. Water always comes from inside. Yeah, absolutely so, so you know that. So we have stomach number one? Skin was number two? What's the number three?

Just wait? Overall in general and yes, yes, especially after COVID, I think you know a lot of us are not happy with our weight, but that is something very common. So but with the weight, I always feel like it's not necessarily about the weight, but you always want to be be mindful of it because it's about your health, and it's about being healthy, living a healthy lifestyle, and people, you cannot continue to complain about your weight. But you're

eating fried chicken. Um, you're not eating healthy. You're drinking a whole lot because you're hanging out with your girlfriends and y'all like talking about nonsense, like understand what you're doing to your body. And I'm not saying don't do those things, but just do things in moderation exactly. And it's not easy. It's not easy to be disciplined and to eat all the right things. But like you said,

everything in moderation. So weight is a is a big one. Um. I thought I heard from some men saying, so the men are insecure about their chesty. Okay, they want you know, they want to have a bigger chest. You know, maybe they have some man boobs that they want to get rid of, so that's an insecurity. Their hair are line, Oh yeah, that's the man. Oh yeah, yeah, you can get you know, theles or whatever it is. You just

cut it off, just cut it off. I mean, bald men are sexy, so I would rather And this is like every other week conversation in my house because one is like, oh it looks like my hair's going back, and I'm like, nah, you know what I mean. So, so it's that is definitely a big struggle. And then we just have you know, nose crooked teeth, smiling, yeah yeah, and arm yes, I have arm jiggle on here m aging.

So I have one person that responded about aging. It was probably more than people, but but her response said, it used to be aging, but now I don't care. And I love that if you're aging, you're living. So but it's also you should be grateful that you're aging. We're not dead, right right, absolutely absolutely so, and we're all going to age, all of us, and so you know that's one thing. It's like, you know, we just I think we should just feel blessed that we are

aging and get botox. Yes, but people should know, like, look, if you feel you're feeling insecure about something, do something about it, Like, don't just wallow in your insecurities, do something about it. Strive. I always say that I strive for my greatest self and that is a daily personal struggle and strive that I that I have for myself and I try to instill it in my kids. So you know that's my recommendation, just strive for greatness, right,

but they're not perfection. Yeah, I agree, but there's some things that maybe are hard to change or can't be changed. I eat my big shoulders, right, so I don't see is never going down. So you know, just focus on the other things that you are confident of every single day. Look at yourself in the marriort might sound cheesy, would just be like, wow, my shoulders are beautiful. It's like

the perfect hanger for so strong. But if you think about it, mannequins always have like hanger shoulders, so technically you're like the perfect mannequin. Yes, Robin you okay, I'll take it. Thank you all right, I think that might be our show. That is our show. I hope you all enjoyed it, and I hope you tune in next week. Yes, Reasonably Shady, Yes, indeed, we are reasonable and we are shady. And next week, yep, we'll be here being reasonable and shady.

Thank you guys for listening. We appreciate you. By Reasonably Shady is a production of the Black Affect podcast Network. For more podcasts from our Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows, and you can connect with us on social media at Robin Dixon, ten, Giselle Briant and reasonably Shady h