Meet Almost Amazing Grace
Lucy Fernandez, 16 April 2020
Welcome blogger Almost Amazing Grace, Grace Latter to the Tatty Devine Blog’s Women We Watch.
If you don’t know who Grace Latter is, she is an incredibly inspiring woman for SO many reasons it’s difficult to know where to start. Grace has been through a lot in her life, from graduating with a BA in Drama and Creative Writing, to being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2014 and then undergoing two bowel surgeries in 2017.
Fast forward to 2020 and Grace hasn’t let any of these unfortunate events hold her back and is going on to inspire others with her unfathomable positivity and good vibes! We are SO into Grace’s shaved head which she originally did for charity but has totally embraced the power it’s given her.
Photo by: Hattie Darling
“Do I regret any of it? No. Because it not only changed my perspective on life for the better, it also brought me the most immense love for and confidence within my body; I’m big into the Body Positivity movement, and have somehow become an underwear model and influencer because of that positivity I have... and my very distinct ‘look’.”
We sat down with a virtual cuppa and spoke to Grace to get her low-down on everything from podcasts to tattoos. Tune in below...
HEY, GRACE! FROM PODCASTS TO PLAYLISTS, WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO FOR INSPIRATION?
Hey, Devine queens! I love my podcasts; I think I’d actually rather listen to an episode of one of my subscriptions on my way to work/around my flat than I would stream an album!? I will try to narrow down some of my faves… ‘How to Fail’ with Elizabeth Day gives me endless inspiration, ‘Made of Human’ with Sofie Hagen is brilliantly eye-opening while also comforting, ‘Dear Hank and John’ (by the Vlogbrothers) always cheers me up, ‘F**ks Given’ (by the Come Curious ladies) is incredibly sex-positive, and of course, the legendary ‘Desert Island Discs’ will never get old.
Music-wise, I find Lizzo has the sass and self love I need daily; Too Many Zooz will always get me up and dancing, King Princess is unspeakably gorgeous and weird, and Madame Gandhi has some seriously badass energy.
OKAY – WHO SHOULD WE BE FOLLOWING ON INSTAGRAM RIGHT NOW?
SO MANY!? But the boss queens that immediately pop into my head are: Frances Cannon (@frances_cannon), Lydia Reeves (@lydiareeves_artist), Kaz Foncette (@kazfoncette), Sophie Mayanne (@sophiemayanne / @behindthescars_), Megan Crabbe (@bodyposipanda), Michelle Elman (@scarrednotscared), Kitty Underhill (@kittyunderhillx), Nyome (@curvynyome), Penny Fordham (@apenny_for_them), Em Clarkson (@em_clarkson), The Eggtooth Project (@eggtoothproject), Harri Golightly (@harri_golightly), and Mouth Wide Shut (@mouthwideshut_). Arghh, I follow so many amazing humans. I urge anyone who reads this to just scroll through my ‘following’ list, I guarantee you’ll find some new heroes.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THE INK-SPIRATION BEHIND YOUR TATTOOS? WE'RE *A LITTLE* IN LOVE WITH YOUR FLORAL ARTWORK…
Thanks, angels! I get tattoos as a way of ‘reclaiming’ my skin – taking control and decorating it in my own way – after everything my body has been through that’s been out of my control. I follow a few artists on Instagram, and have been lucky enough to find a couple who I trust completely with my ideas; I can literally email them giving just the key details (for instance: ‘I need an enormous, happy sunflower’), then leave them to work their magic, and on the day I go to the studio, they have their designs ready and I ALWAYS love them. The amazing ladies @ellabelltattoo and @vickyjeffreetattoo are the ones who have inked me the most! They’re both incredible at botanical designs. I never thought I’d have this many floral pieces, but I can never resist their artwork! They all mean something to me, of course. Like the lavender and marigold on one arm (by Ella) is a representation of creativity. The eucalyptus sprig on my leg (by Vicky) is the perfect representation of my Australian home. I also got the lovely Ciara (@la__tigresse__) to ink my brain on the back of one of my arms, with crystals beneath it and lavender growing out of it, to show that lovely things can come out of my mind when I treat it well.
SPEAKING OF FLORALS, WHICH PIECES FROM OUR SS20: BLOOM BOOM COLLECTION ARE ON YOUR WISH LIST?
Oh my goodness, I LOVE the Hydrangea Display Statement Necklace. I feel like you could wear the most plain outfits with that, and you’d still look truly fabulous. I also love the Sweet Geranium Drop Earrings – the cutest pop of colour! – and of course the lovely Lenten Rose Drop Earrings that I was lucky enough to be sent by you beauties. Wearing them is really cheering me up in these lonely and uncertain times.
RESILIENCE IS SOMETHING WE ALL NEED MORE OF RIGHT NOW: YOUR POSITIVITY AND DETERMINATION RADIATES THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, CAN YOU SHARE ANY TIPS WITH US?
Right now, it is more important than ever that we pull together (very hard to do, of course, when we’re all confined to our living spaces with no ‘real life’ social interactions for weeks upon weeks…!) and not be afraid to reach out for help, if we need it. I personally find it so important to be open about my feelings and never bottle anything up; I share a lot on social media and my blog because it helps my mental health no end… and right now I am warding off the isolation loneliness and getting the happiest vibes from jiggling my butt to some tunes every morning on my Instagram live!
OKAY: WHAT'RE YOUR BIG HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE REST OF 2020…
Right now, I’m hoping I can make it through the next 12 weeks or so alone in my teeny flat…! But I also want to do more writing (and hopefully get paid for some of it!), do more exciting things in my lovely part time jobs, go on a particularly luxurious holiday, and have a massive birthday party on my local beach with my nearest and dearest this summer.
Read Grace Latter’s blog Almost Amazing Grace here, follow her on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and look out for her Instagram live sessions!
