LOVING MY BODY WHILE IT BUILDS LIFE

There are moments in life that crack you open, and others that stitch you back together stronger than before. For Tazah Richardson, pregnancy is not just a season of anticipation; it is a reclamation of her body, her faith, and her worth.

In 2019, Tazah experienced a trauma that would change her forever. What began as severe abdominal pain quickly became a life-or-death emergency. An ectopic pregnancy where the fetus became lodged in her fallopian tube, caused internal bleeding so severe that nearly half of her body’s blood pooled in her abdomen. Emergency surgery saved her life, but the loss of the pregnancy and a fallopian tube left emotional scars that ran deep.

“I remember thinking I would endure any amount of pain if it meant carrying that baby,” she shares. “When they told me there was no way to save it, I was shattered.”

For years after, Tazah quietly carried the weight of that loss, and the belief that her body had failed her.

Motherhood wasn’t always part of her plan. As an only child raised by a close-knit but small immediate family, the desire came later, shaped first by love, then by legacy. She wanted her bloodline to continue. She wanted proof that she had been here; not just through accomplishments, but through life itself.

As time passed and pregnancy remained elusive, doubt crept in. Tazah began questioning her worth as a woman. Modeling and pageantry became ways to prove to herself more than anyone else that she was enough. Talented enough. Beautiful enough. Chosen enough. But after a 13-year relationship ended, she internalized the pain, believing her inability to conceive played a role.

This pregnancy, unexpected, unplanned, and nothing short of miraculous, changed everything.

“This time, it wasn’t a casting director or a panel of judges that chose me,” she says. “God chose me. God deemed me worthy enough to be a mother.”

That belief reshaped her confidence in a way no crown ever could. Where she once questioned her body, she now trusts it completely. Where she once wondered if she was capable, she now knows she is.

At six months pregnant, Tazah speaks about her body with honesty and pride. She loves her baby bump, even the parts society tells women to hide. Her belly isn’t perfectly round. She has an apron belly. And she is unapologetic about all of it.

“What matters most is that the baby inside is strong and healthy,” she says. “And yes, I still look amazing. In and out of my clothes.”

Her maternity style reflects that confidence. Stretchy fabrics, flats, sporty-chic silhouettes, but also bodycon dresses, bodysuits, lingerie, and color. Lots of color. Tarah has never faded into the background, and pregnancy hasn’t changed that. If anything, it has amplified her presence.

“I’m proud of what my body is doing,” she says. “I want my belly to be part of the look.”

That visibility is intentional. By showing up boldly and authentically, Tazah is challenging outdated beauty standards around pregnancy; especially for plus-size women. Her message is simple but radical: beauty is not assigned by society. It is defined by self-identity, community, and love.

“As pregnant women, we are performing miracles with our bodies,” she says. “There is beauty in our very existence.”

Love has also taken on a deeper meaning in this chapter of her life. Meeting her partner unexpectedly through a dating app, Tazah found support during one of the most difficult years she’s ever faced; depression, displacement, loss of her home, loss of her job. Through it all, he showed up. Not perfectly. Not without his own battles. But consistently.

“Love doesn’t always come when you want it,” she reflects. “Sometimes it comes when you need it most.”

At 40+, love feels different. More intentional. More grounded. Less about grand gestures and more about being seen, heard, and supported emotionally, mentally, and physically. It’s about alignment.

Self-care, too, has become sacred. Naps are non-negotiable. Skincare is a ritual. Baths are healing. Nutrition is purposeful. Movement is a work in progress, but one she’s committed to, not just for herself, but for the life she’s bringing into the world.

Looking at Tazah now, it’s clear this pregnancy isn’t just about becoming a mother. It’s about healing old wounds, rewriting narratives, and finally loving her body, not despite what it’s been through, but because of it.

Her body did not fail her. It survived, endured, and now, it is creating life. That is what we call power.

QSM: You’ve been very open about the trauma your body has endured, and now, the miracle it’s creating. On the days when your body feels uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or just over it, what’s the internal conversation you have with yourself to stay grounded?

Tazah: Nothing worth having comes easy. Everything that I accomplished in my life that I truly wanted, I had to work my ass off for it, and I shouldn't think that this will be any different. Especially since I've wanted nothing more in my life than this baby and to be a great mother. I'm prepared for whatever changes my body is going to go through. I'm a woman, and we are built to endure.

QSM: Ain’t that the truth! Pregnancy has a way of humbling everyone, sometimes beautifully, sometimes hilariously. What has been your most “this is not cute, but it is funny” pregnancy moment so far?

Tazah: This baby has been kicking me in the ass literally lol. When I felt the baby's first movements, I was so excited, and I looked forward to it happening every night. Now it happens all times of the day, and sometimes when it is kicking me in the butt, I can't tell if it's the baby or if I'm about to poop on myself.

QSM: LOL! You’ve said that this pregnancy shifted your confidence in a way no crown or modeling gig ever could. If you could sit across from the version of yourself who once believed she was “defective,” what would you tell her now with zero sugarcoating?

Tazah: WHEW! I would tell her that even if she wasn't able to conceive and carry a baby to term, she is still worthy and a complete woman with substance and purpose. To reduce yourself to that one ability does you a disservice. Everyone's life has a divine purpose, and your life is not defined by your ability to bear children. Look at all the people who love you, support you, and pour into you. You have made an impact on this earth without motherhood.

QSM: I like that! You were raised by a single teenage mother and surrounded by strong women. What are the lessons from your upbringing that are showing up unexpectedly as you prepare to become a mother yourself?

Tazah: Mistakes will be made, but your mistakes don't define you. It's how you show up after those mistakes, how you take accountability for those actions that dictate and measure your heart and character. Also, to give yourself grace because the world won't and you will need to draw strength from yourself to be strong for the child. The most valuable lessons are typically best learned from observing a strong example, and I intend on teaching my child to draw strength from themself.

QSM: Let’s talk fashion, because obviously pregnancy didn’t quiet your style, it amplified it. What’s one maternity “rule” you’ve completely ignored, and why was breaking it so important for you?

Tazah: That you should wear big, oversized clothing. Hide your body. Why would I hide the most miraculous thing to ever happened to my body? As an adult, I was always proud of my body. Now that I'm pregnant, I'm even more proud of what it looks like and what it can do.

QSM: You’ve lived through a year that would’ve probably broken a lot of people, and yet you still talk about love with softness and faith. How has going through all of that reshaped what you now believe love actually is?

Tazah: Love is effortless and rigorous at the same time. Love is easy when things are going great and life is going as you want it to, but love is difficult when life is hitting you hard from every angle. That's when you know if it's worth the effort. That's when you know if that person is worthy of your love.

QSM: Speaking of love, tell us about the handsome man pictured with you. How did you and BAE meet?

Tazah: Bae's name is Rodrick Oliver, and this is his model debut lol. His actual profession is a Transit Bus Operator. He's a big family man, an avid gamer, a die-hard Jets fan, and originally from New York. Believe it or not, we met on Facebook Dating App. Most unlikely place. It was super random and completely unexpected. I wasn't necessarily looking for anything serious, just kinda looking for a distraction, and boom, I met him at a time in my life when I needed him the most. Didn't know it then, but I would soon find out.

QSM: He looks excited. Let me guess, he is team boy?

Tazah: He is excited! That brings me a lot of comfort because I know that I'm not in this alone. He is absolutely team boy, but unfortunately for him, girls run in his family lol.

QSM: Well whatever gender it is, they are going to be loved by so many. Is this his first child as well?

Tazah: This is not his first child. He does have a beautiful 5 year old daughter. She looks so much like him. I know that whatever gender God blesses us with, it will be a gorgeous little girl or a handsome little boy.

QSM: Do I hear wedding bells in your future or is that my ears ringing? Lol

Tazah: Lol, we are absolutely in a loving and committed relationship. We are absolutely going to be loving and dedicated parents. Just like I had to wait for time to reveal when I would become a mother, I will have to wait for time to reveal if and when the wedding bells will ring.

QSM: I know that’s right! But I hear them! Let’s get back to this pregnancy. What is one thing about pregnancy that nobody warned you about, but you wish someone had told you sooner?

Tazah: The biggest one is that you're actually pregnant for 10 months. All you hear is 9 months this, 9 months that. Then you go to your first doctor's appointment and hear them tell you 10 months, and all of a sudden that extra month feels like a lifetime of pregnancy lol. I also didn't know that heartburn was a thing. Like, why are people not talking about this? Dreaming every night in 4k, peeing every 20 minutes. This is not an enjoyable experience. A miracle, but not enjoyable. To women who have more than 1 child, they are the true MVPs.

QSM: LOL! Mom of two here! I didn’t suffer heartburn, thank goodness. But I can tell you some embarrassing stories about the bladder situation. LOL. When your child one day reads this story and sees these images, what do you hope they understand? Not just about your pregnancy, but about the way you chose to love your body and yourself through it?

Tazah: I hope they understand that despite the odds, their mother was resilient, unapologetic, wise, loving, and fierce. That their mother followed her passions fearlessly, and I wanted them more than anything in the world.

QSM: Ok, now the questions everyone wants to know….. when can we expect our niece or nephew? And do you know the sex of the baby? If not, why did you want it to be a surprise?

Tazah: The baby is due on April 26, 2026. I do not know the sex yet lol. I actually only plan to have this experience once, so I wanted to do it big and have a baby shower and gender reveal. Also, I'm a girl's girl, so naturally, I have always wanted a little me. But with the surprise, I get to be excited about whatever I am blessed with.

QSM: I am so excited for you, and I look forward to meeting my little niece and/or nephew.

Photos in light blue by Derek Blanks

Designer: Jon Marc

Photos in denim and in black by Zakiyah Caldwell

Hair, Make-up, Creative Director for all images Tazah Richardson

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