We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Shrader recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Embracing Body Confidence: The Skirt Project

In a society that often imposes impossible beauty standards, it’s essential to take a stand and embrace body confidence in all its forms. For years, I battled with my own self-image, struggling to find acceptance and love for my body. But from this personal journey, a passion project was born – The Skirt Project. This endeavor is fueled by the desire to encourage and empower women, regardless of their size, shape, race, age, or stage of life. Through this project, my mission is to showcase the beauty, confidence, and power that resides within every woman, while fostering a community that embraces the #womensupportingwomen movement.

Embracing All Women, Unconditionally

The Skirt Project aims to break down the barriers and stereotypes that society places on women. It recognizes that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. It is a platform where women can feel seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are, rather than conforming to narrow standards of perfection.

This project is about embracing our bodies as they are, celebrating our individuality, and recognizing that our worth extends far beyond our physical appearance. It’s a reminder that we are all deserving of love, respect, and admiration, no matter what society may dictate.

Building a Community of Empowerment

At the heart of The Skirt Project is the belief in the power of community. By coming together, women can uplift and support one another, creating an unstoppable force that defies societal expectations. Through social media campaigns, events, and collaborations, The Skirt Project aims to foster a network of women who inspire, motivate, and encourage each other to embrace their unique beauty and potential.

The #womensupportingwomen movement lies at the core of this project. It encourages women to celebrate each other’s achievements, lend a helping hand, and provide unwavering support. When women stand together, we can conquer anything, break through barriers, and rewrite the narratives that hold us back.

The Impact of The Skirt Project

The impact of The Skirt Project stretches far beyond the confines of social media. It is about creating real change – in how women perceive themselves, in how society values and respects all women, and in advocating for body diversity and inclusivity.

Through personal stories, photoshoots, workshops, and events, The Skirt Project seeks to challenge societal beauty norms, promote body acceptance, and inspire women to love themselves unconditionally. It gives women the space to redefine what beauty means to them and empowers them to live their lives with confidence and pride.

Join the Movement

The Skirt Project invites every woman to be a part of this empowering movement. Share your own journey, your triumphs, and your moments of self-love using the hashtag #theskirtproject. Together, let’s make a difference in how women perceive themselves and create a world where body confidence reigns supreme.

In conclusion, The Skirt Project is a passion project born from my own body confidence journey. It aims to encourage and empower women of all shapes, sizes, races, ages, and stages of life. By embracing the #womensupportingwomen movement, we can defy societal expectations and embrace our beauty, confidence, and power. Join us on this journey of self-love, acceptance, and empowerment. Together, let’s show the world that no matter who we are, we are deserving of love, respect, and celebration.

Remember, you are beautiful, you are powerful, and you are enough.

Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey there, I am Amanda! Also known as…“The Skirt Queen,” “That Baja Blast Obsessed Photographer,” or “The Overly Bubbly, Hype-Woman!” 💛 Trust me, I’ll answer to any of the names mentioned above because honestly, that’s me in a nutshell. 🤓

I am proud to say that I’m a wedding and portrait photographer and have been able to serve my clients in the Staunton, Virginia area for over 6 years now! I am also the founder of The Skirt Project – a women empowerment & body positivity movement, one of the Co-Owners of Virginia Creative Collective – a rentable photo studio, and I am currently the marketing manager for Community Culture Thrift Exchange.

A BIG part of my story that I am beyond thankful for is #theskirtproject!

The Skirt Project is a passion project born from my own body confidence journey. I have always been a plus-size girl, with low self-esteem and problems connecting with others. So, after having a crazy idea of bringing women together through the power of a beautiful & flattering maxi skirt, the skirt project was born!

We have successfully hosted numerous events and photoshoots, allowing us to connect with women from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. Our goal is to help women empower each other through building relationships. We want every woman to feel beautiful in her own skin NO MATTER THEIR SIZE, SHAPE, RACE, AGE, OR STAGE OF LIFE!

I want to show all women how beautiful, confident, and powerful we are and that when we come together as one and truly embrace the #womensupportingwomen movement, we can conquer anything!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2022, I experienced a major turning point in my life. After investing years into my business, embracing the exhilaration of married life, and raising our son, I was blindsided by a seemingly insurmountable challenge – my marriage was on the brink of collapse!

I had been dedicating an immense amount of energy to my business, inadvertently neglecting my personal life. Every day, I would either come home and spend endless hours on my computer or arrive home really late, after another photoshoot. Regrettably, I failed to prioritize self-care or family time. Not only did I distance myself from my friends, even the girls from the skirt project community – a community I was striving to create in order to build new friendships – became distant figures.

The most transformative turning point in both my business and personal life arrived when my husband looked at me and said: “Enough.” At that moment, I finally realized how much pain I was causing myself and the ones around me. I knew something had to change!

From then on, I kept trying and would not give up. I made sure to manage my time and created a routine that was important for both me and my family. This routine included the right balance of work and life.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Be yourself! As lame as that sounds, people connect with businesses more if you show up and truly be yourself! I think the biggest thing you can do to build an audience is connect and encourage your people! It truly makes a difference!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amandashraderphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandashraderphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandashraderphoto
• Other: The Skirt Project Community Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskirtprojectcommunity/

Image Credits
Photography by Jo