Ten (well actually, 11) questions with…Katrina ‘Springflower’ Lottimore

Even on the gloomiest of days, Katrina ‘Springflower’ Lottimore can brighten a room. Tall in stature and grand in personality, this 44-year-old hails from Bermuda and is rarely seen without a smile on her face. The mother of three (Kavin 27, Keely 25, and Ka-Leel 21) spent a few moments with SheHub, sharing with us how she grew to love herself and why she’s not afraid to live outside of the box.

SheHub: Where did your nickname come from?

KL: I created Springflower in the early 2000s. As a performing artist of spoken word poetry, I needed a stage name, and I knew that it had to be a true personification of me. Spring represents the season that I was born in  and flower represents my very colourful happy personality.

So there you have it Springflower (all one word). I introduced my name on the Flow Sunday Open Mic Stage. Before there was A Chewstick , There was a Flow Sunday.

SheHub: Were you always so self-confident or did you evolve as an adult?

KL: My self-confidence arrived at an early age and I grew into it more and more as I got older. I remember in my early teen years always being ready and willing to just do me. I used to dress how I wanted in mismatch prints, colours and styles at time when Bermuda was still pretty conservative.  I would stand out, but I didn’t care.

I was never afraid to express my opinions even if they were different from how everyone else was thinking. During high school, everyone would be talking about college and university and carrying on their education to get the degree, and I was like nope not me! I hate school and I can’t wait to get out!

SheHub: What do you do for a living?

KL: I am a jack of all trades, master of all (she laughs aloud!)!  I live a very free lifestyle and I hustle for a living meaning I would do almost anything that is legit to make my money for the day! I do messenger work, I also sell vintage and thrifted items, I make tutus and I also make  jewellery and sell books. I am not rich in money, but I am rich in freedom, which is way more valuable to me.

SheHub: In what year did you decide to leave corporate world behind? What was your biggest fear before actually doing it?

KL: I left the corporate world behind in 2015. My biggest fear before actually doing it was, worrying about what other people would say and think, especially close family members, and how they would look at me for leaving what they would call a “good Job” and a steady pay cheque. I usually don’t care about such things, but this time around I did care about that for a bit. But I had my reasons and I knew exactly what I wanted for my life, so I quickly got over that.
I had to remind myself that, this is my life and it really doesn’t matter what others think.

SheHub: At what age did you realise that were perfect in the skin you are in?

KL: My totally embracing my whole natural self started happening in my late teens, I mean really loving me naturally! My skin colour, my kinky hair, my height…everything! I grew up with some great women in my family that really built me up to love my whole self! And for this I am so grateful because I was able to pass it on to my own children.

This realisation and embracing did not reach its completion until my middle 30’s especially when it came to my weight, While I’ll probably always do things to keep myself as healthy as possible and probably even still try to lose some if I can, it is not my main focus anymore! And this thought pattern evolves more and more as I get older too.

SheHub: Do you think that young women embrace their natural beauty enough?

KL: I feel 50/50 on this, because acceptance of natural beauty has truly come such a long way, but on the other hand we still have so many people out here, that are trying to change everything about themselves, because they are really trying to look like someone else!

All of the skin bleaching, botox, plastic surgery, and all the other crazy stuff! And it has everything to do with the media and trying to keep up with the Kardashians, in my opinion.

SheHub: What was your biggest insecurity as a teenage girl and how do you feel about that insecurity today as you look back on it?

KL: Honestly, being a teenage mom and trying to raise another human being when I wasn’t even fully ready for such a big responsibility, because I still had so much growing to do myself! But now that I am fully grown, I look at how my Kavin turned out! He is awesome and I’m not just saying that because he’s mine either! If I didn’t know him I would totally want to be his friend because he’s super cool! I am grateful for my village that surrounded us with love help and encouragement to not give up because things happen!

I was not the first and I certainly would not be the last teenage mom. While it was really hard sometimes I am really happy that I didn’t throw in the towel on my life! Now I am not advocating teenage parenting, but what I am saying that if it does happen life is not over!

SheHub: You have made it public that you have struggled with weight. What is your ideal weight? Do you think that you’ll ever reach it?

KL: My ideal weight in a numbers is 175 pounds. That puts me in size 12 clothing. I don’t think I’ll ever reach it because, I’d have to put in a lot of work that I am so not willing to do. So now I concentrate on making sure all my other numbers are right, like my blood pressure, my cholesterol, my sugar levels etc. Also I concentrate on not getting any bigger than the size I am right now, when I see the scale doing to0 much, I get right on it because I can lose five to ten pounds quickly!

SheHub: What is the greatest lesson your 40s have taught you at this point?

KL: That life truly is short because it feels like just yesterday I was a 20-year-old and now look I am 44!  Like wow!! Where has the time really gone?! I must live my best life right now!! No time to be waiting around for retirement!!

SheHub: The best thing about technology is…

KL: I love technology because it is ever so convenient! Everything is a swipe and push button away! But I proceed with caution because I do also understand that technology, like everything else,  has a dark side that you can reach with a quickness, so I have to be a responsible user!

SheHub: You had a non-traditional wedding dress. Why did you choose it?

KL: Yesssss My wedding dress…. sigh loved it!! ? At first I was going to do a traditional white wedding dress, then I was like no way that’s not me. And I chose my colourful dress, because I decided that if I am going to give myself to this man, he had to get me totally, which meant I was going to walk down that aisle in every single colour because that is who I am! I am starburst! I am Skittles! I am a flower garden! I am the rainbow!

SheHub: What advice would you give to 21-year-old Katrina today?

I would say sis, roll with life one day at a time. Plan for your future, but don’t stress it too much, because things change at the drop of a hat! Have a close relationship with your Creator and take nothing or no one for granted. It’s going to be tough sometimes, but trust me you will pull through! You are young and you are gifted! You GOT This!! Now go!! Stand up and take your position!!

If you know a fearless female who you’d like for us to feature, email shehubtv@gmail.com.