Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Viva.

Being Body Positive Is Hard
Loving my body has been incredibly difficult for me over the years. I’ve suffered with eating disorders. I’ve been too fat and too thin. I’ve wanted to gain weight then I’ve wanted to lose it. I’ve wanted curves In “the right places.” I even considered cosmetic surgery.
By Emily Tarff8 years ago in Viva
L.O.V.E. Your Body, Love Yourself
FEBRUARY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO L.O.V.E. OUR BODIES??? In a culture full of whos and whats we should look and feel like around every corner, life can get pretty confusing, particularly about our health and our bodies. Eating disorders of all kinds are at an all-time high in our world right now, not only including the USA. We have to learn how to look at all the fake imagery sent our way out there and filter through what is realistic and what is truly beautiful. Growing up, I was always a bit bigger than my friends around me; not a big girl, just a bigger size, bigger bones, more of a muscular build. I always felt self conscious... now a mom and (let's not sugar coat it) struggling with truly being overweight, I wish I could go back to my teenage self and say, "STOP! Look at yourself! You are the most beautiful and thin and in shape you will ever be, so enjoy it and put on those damn short shorts and strut! So what if you are a size 7 and she is a size 2!" But looking back, I just always thought I could be skinnier, prettier, more blonde, more brunette, more this or that... How much time I wasted thinking such negative thoughts about myself. Well, no more. Yes I am struggling with weight and body image now as a new mom and as someone who has a thyroid condition and let's face it — as someone who just loves to sit her buns on the couch and watch Netflix with whatever free time I can get nowadays. But here is a new campaign I am starting myself on. I am calling it L.O.V.E. your body. I truly hope all you gorgeous people out there can join me in uplifting yourself to a new healthy standard of what true beauty is.
By Courtney Maurer8 years ago in Viva
One of the Guys
I think I speak for more than just myself when I say that I certainly get along better with guys my age as opposed to girls, and for some reason society sees that as a bad thing. I grew up in a neighborhood of all boys, so I had to put up or shut up, and that made me a little tougher. Because of that, I don't really have a filter and have an easier time talking to boys. However, if you see a girl surrounded by a group of guys, with one or two other girls, people tend to think "Oh, she's probably a slut." Even with guys being surrounded by girls, "Oh, he's probably gay, or is a man whore." Why is this okay? That's a trick question, because it's not okay. Making assumptions about people is what is creating the society we live in now.
By Nicole8 years ago in Viva
Laura's Boutique
For those of you who are not familiar with Laura's Boutique, it is a small clothing brand that currently has three locations open (to my knowledge) in Los Angeles, CA, which are all run by Laura Mellado. Laura's Boutique has recently been booming more than ever and this is probably due to the exposure she and her brand have gotten on social media. It's very clear that she cares about her fans and supporters as she is always doing giveaways and often interacts with customers through her comments answering any questions they have as well as providing them with promo codes to save them money. I say this so that it's clear I am in no way attacking her or her personality. In fact, I think she is one of the very few brands who has stayed connected with her supporters no matter how large her fan base has gotten. I am writing this SOLELY to address the lack of diversity when it comes to the body types she and her brand represent.
By G M8 years ago in Viva
10 Things You Can Relate to If You're a Woman in Your Early Twenties
1. Bragging to Your Friends About How You've Been to the Gym Four Days in a Row but Getting a McDonalds Breakfast the next Morning
By Dani Adams8 years ago in Viva
From Nothing to All I Ever Wanted
It all started when I left my family in Kent to live with a man I barely knew in Devon, all because I wanted to be loved, I wanted to be IN love. At first it was great and I was happy. Unfortunately, one day he left for work and I was catching up on sleep as I worked nights. However, his laptop was repeatedly pinging and so I went to mute it. The stupid boyfriend of mine left his Facebook page open and a conversation between him and another girl spread all over his screen. It seemed like he wanted me to find it!
By Deanna horton8 years ago in Viva
How My Body Shamers Got Me to Shame Myself
So where do I begin? Where do I even begin to start when I have endured over ten years of cruel and mean insults? Insulted, "joked" toward and beaten up emotionally about my body. How do I even begin to address these people? Well here goes nothing, let me tell you how I felt.
By Alexis Quintana8 years ago in Viva
Do We Truly Understand Feminism?
Recently, I have been watching documentaries on BBC iPlayer, by Stacey Dooley. I find in her own rights Stacey Dooley is an inspiration to women, throwing herself into treacherous situations just to educate us on what is happening around the world. She shows us how determination and grit can get a girl far, and I don’t believe she is truly credited enough for the vital role she plays in educating us on topics we wouldn’t, otherwise, have a clue about.
By Kira Lee8 years ago in Viva
Wronged Women. Top Story - March 2018.
In my time learning history from the Ancient Greeks to the Tudors, I have begun to notice in a pattern in how the history that we know is far from the actual truth. History is not a new subject, History and Classics were being taught in Oxford and Cambridge at the time of Henry VIII and before. The Renaissance, in short, came about as a rebirth of these classical ideas and philosophies which so fascinated the medieval world. However, only until recently did we finally have female voices in history. Women were not allowed admittance to universities, not to say that they were not educated but the average Tudor woman's grasp of Latin would be constrained to that of the church, it would be unlikely that she had an opinion on the rights and wrongs of Helen of Troy. This lack of female voice in history has all too often polluted the vision that we have of women from our past, often coloured with outdated misogynistic lenses. Taking the fiction away from the facts of the events can be hard, as so often historical figures are clouded with myths about them, as I will go on to discuss. As students, as people, we owe these women, who usually changed the world we live in through their existence, the comfort of having their stories told for what they were.
By Beth Haywood8 years ago in Viva
Toxic Love
Have you ever fallen so deeply in love with another human being, to the point you begin to not recognize the toxic behaviors, actions, and statements? Have you ever had such a deep connection with someone in which their touch, presence, and breathing is almost as if it is your heartbeat? There is this strange craving for your significant other, beyond more than just sexually, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I loved him more than I could possibly ever explain, let alone even share with you in that manner.
By Hailey T8 years ago in Viva
Pain Part I
Pain. Pain is something that lets you know you're alive. At least that's what I used to tell myself. My story is long and painful. If anyone has even read the book The Child Called It, then you partially know my story.
By Angie Kemter8 years ago in Viva
When I Was Raped
I am writing this because I need to tell my story. I have been hiding this for so long and I don't want to be embarrassed anymore and feel like a victim. I don't want to have to pretend to be someone I'm not or fake a smile.
By B J8 years ago in Viva