OWN YOUR SASS PART V

*Outfit details with affiliate links: Pink Trench Coat (Oh Polly) | Sweater (ASOS) | Jeans (NAKD) | Sneakers (Shoes of Prey) | Bag Belt (Florian London) 

I am finally back with my #OWNYOURSASS series and I know I’ve taken a break from this topic, but I am glad to shed light on four badass women that I look up to. For those who aren’t aware, I decided to give more awareness to the adjective “sassy” because I’ve been called that quite a few times throughout my life. I used to shy away from it and would even mask that trait, but now that I am older, I am embracing it because it’s part of who I am and the energy I own. Instead of being shameful for being too “sassy” I am now owning it and hoping other women can join me!

I have reached out to another group of women that I think are amazing, confident and beautiful. Here’s what they had to say about what sassiness means to them and how they own it.

• Selma Ali:(@selmastyle)

Sassiness to me means confidence, ambition, success and so much more. It’s being unstoppable. It’s facing adversity and overcoming it with a smile. When you present yourself as “sassy” it basically tells people to not even think about overstepping you in any kind of way. I’m a very sweet and sympathetic person but I’ve had to learn through experiences that in order to be taken seriously you must put on the sassy hat, especially when you meet people for the first time. Being sassy is not a dirty word and I feel like a lot of people associate the expression “you’re such a sassy girl” with a negative meaning. In other words, let’s all #OWNOURSASS and continue to be outspoken, proactive and courageous.

• Sonya Teclai: (@sonyateclai):

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of sass is confidence. It gets a bad rap at times but I think it’s all in how you use it. Sass can be aggressive, yet it can also be luring and charming. It all depends on how you’re dishing it and who’s taking it. I began to own my sassiness in high school and I’ll be honest, I was so extra haha. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Before then, I was a shy little girl and had insecurities I was dealing with. I also came from an extremely reserved culture so I spent some time suppressing that form of self-expression. I think by the time I got to high school I was just spewing all of the sass I had collected. I’ve definitely fine-tuned it since then. Owning my sass has evolved into being honest about who I am and what I want at all times-even when I’m not sure of the two or when it’s not convenient to.

• Brittany Lo: (@brittany.lo):

Sass is delivering your thoughts and actions with confidence and conviction. Sassiness often has a negative connotation but I believe it’s a positive trait and it gives me character. Sassiness allows the person you are engaging with to remember the passion you have for what you are talking about and to leave a lasting impression. And if I have a differing view on a topic my sass allows me to challenge the person to think about it from a different perspective. Sass simply spices life up!

• Seaane Chin-Hoyte (@hairbyseaane)

“Sassiness means classiness to me. Being a free-spirit, wild heart, gypsy soul, I say what I mean and mean what I say in all aspects of my life whether it be business, socially and spiritually. Honesty is the best policy and this is how I live my life with purpose, compassion and diligence.”