This blog entry should have been out long ago, and is probably one that I spent the most time on. I hesitated for so many months, spoke to a few friends in the industry, and had many debates with myself before deciding to finally publish this post. Actually, what really spurred me on was a late night chat with this girlfriend who has written a similar post some months ago. For one, she has my respect for her not-out-to-please-the-world attitude, and she is ever encouraging of me leading my own life and doing things that makes me really happy. People are going to talk anyway; those who matter won't mind, and those who mind won't matter.

For the longest time ever, I have been as low profile as I can be when it comes to my private life. I am certainly not the most sociable person because I cannot handle crowds, and I am not the most talkative person except to family and friends whom I am comfortable with. Not that I am treating everyone else with disdain, but I would just feel shy and overwhelmed when the "limelight" is on me.

Funny enough, this has led to people thinking I am aloof, arrogant and everything but what I want to be. The kind of things I hear people say about me are unimaginable, and very much insulting and hurtful to say the least. I try to rise above them and not spare any effort in clearing my name. Because, why would anyone believe me if they already have so many conclusions reached about me - even before knowing me and interacting with me?

People say the most awful things - that I am materialistic, that I make use of my boyfriend's fame to carve a status for myself, that I do not deserve the so-called popularity, that my photos are showy and controversial (what?!)... every other day, I have people criticizing me - some on Instagram, mostly behind my back that somehow reaches my ears. Bloggers would say that I try too hard to be part of their scene, that I did nothing to earn the recognition and all these only happened because I am "ladyironchef's girlfriend". Mostly, people would say that I am ugly, that I am not comparable to Blogger X/Y/Z, that I am nothing but a materialistic girl who got together with Brad because I want to leech on his fame to be a blogger.

Can someone tell me what is this whole "Melody tries so hard to be a blogger" shit? To be most honest, yes, I really love the fact that I have sponsors and how I have girls who truly look up to me and use me as a role model. But more than this, I am comforted by the fact that my little efforts to update this space every other day helps girls grow their confidence and positivity in life. And above these all, I am really happier and contented remaining behind the scenes, earning money and seeking fulfilment through my efforts put in for B's and my business.

As for the part about how I "only hang out with famous blogger-friends", isn't it silly to only judge based on those Instagram feed? What you know of me is what I choose to show. While I am blessed to have met nice souls in the industry, and while I am more than grateful to be accepted and loved by these people, I am still very much attached to my close friends of many years who prefer to remain low profile. Many times when I hang out with them, they would tell me to not tag them so as to protect their privacies. I love them and I respect them, which probably explains why I only tag "famous people" on Instagram. And by the way, some of those "famous people" that I hang out with are friends of many years - way before I became "ladyironchef's girlfriend/ wannabe blogger".

There is this saying that I resonate with, "You can be the ripest and juiciest peach in the world, and there is still going to be somebody who hates peach."

I can't stop the rumors from starting, nor can I change the minds of people who choose to believe those hearsay. I wish people would manifest their emotions better, capitalize their time on wiser deeds, and appreciate all the good things they have in life instead. Our days will be better when we give people a bit of our heart, rather than a piece of our mind.

Since revamping this blog from a personal space to a space where I document my outfits and styles, I have also made so many friends and learned so much. On days when I get hate mails, B would remind me - as long as my efforts change one person's life and inspires her to dress up, all the haters really do not matter at all. And it is true. Every time I read an email or a comment about how someone attempts my style/ adopts my suggestions/ buys an item I endorse, the sense of satisfaction is beyond priceless and extremely humbling to say the least.

And with all my sincerity, this is more than enough, more than I can ever wish for. I may not be the prettiest person around, and I may not produce the best style entries, but I truly love dressing up - whether I am sponsored or not - and B loves photographing my everyday styles all the same.

That said, I am truly grateful for all the sweet emails/ Instagram and Twitter comments that I get from the sweetest followers every now and then. Thank you! Thank you sooo much! You don't know how much a simple email to wish me well makes me so happy, and I promise to always reply every single (friendly) email/ request. And the support from every single sponsor of mine - you don't know how I appreciative I am to be among the chosen ones to endorse your products.

The support and love from one person far surpasses the hatred of a hundred. :)