Teila Williams’ beauty is as majestic as a phoenix rising from the ashes.
She is a curvy, voluptuous full-figured woman with a bubbly personality. As a child, she struggled with self-love. Society’s perception of beauty impacted her self-esteem.
She was so worried about what people thought of her that she was afraid to be herself and masqueraded as an introvert, retreating from social interactivity.
But Williams had a secret talent that allowed her to fully express her individuality.
Dance became more than an art, it was a portal to another reality.
On stage, dress size and weight became a fictitious phenomenality.
Words could no longer restrain the will of her heart’s desire, and like a flame Williams ignited the stage.
“I had always loved being on stage. Growing up I was shy but I came alive on stage. As much as I was shy it was something that I felt comfortable doing,” she said.
“It was kind of hard growing up in the industry as a full-figured girl wanting to dance, but my passion never stopped.”
The 31-year-old said society’s opinion of plus size women could play on their conscience.
“To be honest, I do not know if I have fully overcome what people think. Society thinks that because you are a certain way it disqualifies you from being talented. It is always a case where people say ‘Oh for a big girl you can do this well’. There is always some kind of shock or extra thing when people see you in your element,” she said.
“It should never be that I could move well for a big girl. It should be I move well, period. So insecurity is still something I deal with even though I have come this far in being comfortable in my skin.”
Williams uses her company – Ayo Creative Ventures – to send a powerful message to young girls.
“I tell them not to let anyone stop them from doing what they know is in their heart, especially the arts. Between parents and society people think that the arts is nothing, not an outlet. But you know it is where you lay everything out. It is where you could let your burdens out.”
“If this is something that you are passionate about put your best foot forward and always learn new things so you can improve yourself.”
The dancer spoke about her love for her ancestral crib.
“I love Afro-Caribbean dance. It comes natural and it is a part of me. I really want to travel to Africa someday. When I was growing up I enjoyed all types of dance, but the drums and rhythm stuck out to me. When I am on stage, everything ceases. The rhythm makes me feel really happy. People come up to me and say ‘Teila on stage you come alive, I never saw you like that’. I am excited to know people are feeling what I feel.”
The former parish ambassador of Christ Church said she learnt several things from competing in that show when she 17 years old.
“I learnt a lot. I learnt life skills. I met a lot of people and it opened my eyes to the world.
“During that time, I was also involved in an accident. A random fellow attacked me one evening with a cutlass. I was at rehearsal and he came in out of nowhere and started swinging his cutlass. My friend was more severely injured than me. Thanks to everyone around me at the time I found a way to move on from that experience.”
Williams did not allow the unfortunate turn of events to define her. She picked herself up and continued to shine.
She developed a love for acting and was excited to get into character.
“I used to be in Keeping Up With The Joneses. I played Lauren Taitt, the malicious new neighbour. It was a funny role. The most famous thing I was probably remembered for was not being able to cook.”
“I remembered a line where I said the coleslaw burning. That stuck with people because it was really funny. They wanted to know how I could burn coleslaw. It was a great experience working with them because that was my first time doing film.”
“Sometimes people see me doing all these things and judge me. They wonder how I could be shy and say I have insecurities, and yet do all these things. But whether I am dancing for soca artistes, or playing lead roles in film, I still have somewhat of a confidence issue. It does not affect me when I have to perform or inhibits me from doing my best, but it lingers at the back of my mind.”
The student of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus and resident of Brittons Hill, St Michael, wants big girls to take more pride in themselves.
“Beauty does not have a weight limit. I know at times it may be hard, but let society say what they want. At the end of the day, when you look at yourself in the mirror say to the person staring back at you ‘you’re big and beautiful, fat and fabulous, heavy and hot, plump and pretty, curvy and cute, a breath of fresh air with a sassy attitude.” (SB)
