Three years ago , I was working in Columbia , and on my break I went to have dinner with a few friends at their home . We were sitting on the porch , enjoying a beautiful fall day , when up walked one of the most handsome men I had ever seen . His name was Andrew and he was their neighbor . Apparently , his mail sometimes got mixed up with theirs and he was coming to check and see if they had anything of his . We talked for a bit and I had to leave to go back to work . Later that evening , my friend textedme : “ Andrew wants your number . Can I give it to him ?” Shocked and flattered , I said “ YES !”
We went on our first date and I found out that the whole “ mail mixup ” was actually a setup ! My friends wanted Andrew and I to meet and they had devised a brilliant plan . Well , fast forward to now . Andrew and I got engaged last November and are now gearing up for our fairytale winter wedding . Honestly , not a lot of people know of mine and Andrew ’ s true connection , but here is our story .
I never thought I ’ d find “ the one .” I was Miss South Carolina 2011 , I ’ d lost over 100 lbs , and honestly had never found a true connection with anyone before Andrew . I never felt like anyone “ got ” me . Only those who have struggled with weight know the horrifying mind games you play with yourself . Especially after being Miss South
Carolina and having my name plastered on magazines and being featured on numerous talk shows . I constantly felt like “ the girl who used to be fat and now is a beauty queen ” I never just felt like Bree . I absolutely hated hearing the word “ fat ” in association with my name . I never truly felt good enough .
Being in the world of pageantry , coming straight from just being an ordinary girl who struggled with her weight , the pressure was HIGH . I kept looking at my body and thinking “ a few more pounds to lose ,” when in reality , I was looking too thin , eating way less than I should have , and working out way too many hours in a day . I was letting my weight and the opinions of others start to control my mind . I had been so successful in my journey to find me , that I actually was losing myself .
After Miss America I started to take back control of my life . I gained some weight and felt better , but every time I looked in the mirror , I felt like I weighed my original 234 pounds . Clearly , I was struggling with body dysmorphia . With help and encouragement from friends and family , I started to realize I was perfect the way I was . I ate healthy , worked out daily , and understood my body more than ever . However , I was lacking in the love department . It was hard for me to open up to others about all I had been through . I thought I was damaged goods . I was obese , then healthy , then anorexic , then healthy again . How do you explain that to a guy you ’ re trying to impress ? CONTINUED >> marsh bree + andrew
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