🌸''ˢʰᵉ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰᵉˢ ⁱⁿ ᵈⁱʳᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵉˣʰᵃˡᵉˢ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ''🌸

🌸Name🌸

>Full Name<

Carmen Benecia Merlo

>Preferred Name<

Carmen

>Nickname(s)<

Bennie - Used only by her mother as a form of endearment she derived from her middle name. If any other person calls her that, they should expect a throat punch

>Meaning or Reasoning<

Carmen

Taken from her Spanish roots, Carmen means a garden, or an orchard to be more specific. In Latin, Carmen also means song, though this Carmen couldn't sing to save her life.

Benecia

Spanish origin, meaning "blessed one"

Merlo

Latin term for "blackbird", which is a symbol of naivety

🌸Age🌸

>Age<

20

>Birthday<

August 17th

>Zodiac<

Leo

>Blood Type<

B

>Place of Birth<

A small town in Paloma called Malinalco

🌸Gender🌸

>Gender<

Female

>Sexuality<

Bisexual

🌸Additional Persona🌸

>Race<

Hispanic

>Nationality<

Mexican

>Ethnicity<

Hispanic

>Region<

Mexico

🌸Status🌸

>Occupation<

A housekeeper for her family's business

>Province<

Paloma

>Caste<

Six

>Dream Job<

Florist

🌸Personality🌸

>Personality<

Carmen is a girl who practically exudes confidence, and is known around her town as a bright breath of fresh air for any who have the pleasure of conversing with her. She's not one to discriminate, be it looks or status, she'll talk to you. Sometimes so much that you want her to stop, but that's beside the point. She's quite opinionated, and won't hesitate to back her beliefs at a moments notice. This girl is by no means a pushover because Mama didn't raise no bi- anyhoo. Carmen has no filter when it comes to her way of speaking, and her impulsive habits tend to show themselves when she doesn't want them to. She'll randomly blurt something out and then regret and overthink the statement for 3 hours afterward. Whoops. Her sense of humor will come to her rescue though, as she can play whatever embarrassing stumble she made off with a witty quip or joke of some sort. Her family has always played a big part in her life, and shaped her into the sunny being she is today. Growing up the youngest out of 5 can be kinda rough, what with all the teasing that falls onto the family's baby, but her brothers and sisters kept their sister safe in some regards as well. They kept her away from the worst of the world, those who would manipulate Carmen's inherently sweet nature to do her wrong. This, however, backfired on them immensely. Carmen is quite naive in the cunning ways of some people, naive about how fake some could get just to try and tear you down. High school was one hell of a ride for this girl, lemme tell ya. Anyhoo, on a lighter note, Carmen is just an all-out expressive person. You can obviously tell when she's nervous, as her hands will begin their fidgeting. She has a ring that she twists around her finger whenever anxiety hits, or really any strong emotion for that matter. The ring was her Mama's, something she handed down to her youngest daughter so she'd always have a part of home with her. Carmen practically idolizes her Mama, as she embodies everything Carmen aspires to be. A strong confident woman, who doesn't give two damns about what others think of her. Oh, how grand life would be with a mindset like that. But Carmen will roll with the punches life throws at her anyway, because that's the kind of person she is. She's not one to visibly show much anger but can dish out a mean cold shoulder when she feels wronged. And believe me, if Carmen isn't talking, something is DEFINITELY wrong. She'll throw hands if she's put in a compromising situation though, because once again, Mama didn't raise no bit- ahem. She's quite the stubborn one, and like to be right 99% of the time, which caused some quite..colorful arguments with her siblings. She studied hard while in school, even if she had to work as soon as she got back home. She would've dropped out and worked full time, but her Mama ushered her to get the education she never got the chance to. So she did and graduated with Honors to make her Mama proud. Carmen isn't the most..polite person on this planet, but her general kindness tends to smooth over her blunders. That and her roaring laugh, because if you can't laugh at yourself, how can you truly take a joke? Her laugh is contagious, and once started is kinda hard to stop. She'll be snickering for the next hour or so for sure. In terms of love, Carmen still has her small school-girl crushes, but actual love is a different matter. If she can find someone to take her for her flaws and imperfections, she's more than willing to take them for theirs. Her love is all-encompassing, and will never end no matter what strife hits it.

🌸Likes🌸

Carmen, if it wasn't obvious enough, adores flowers. Well, nature in general, but flowers are her favorite. She can spend hours of her time just tending to her plants, nurturing the small saps into beautiful works fragrant art. She sells these flowers as a side job to support her family but always keeps a few to herself if she becomes particularly attached to a group. A walk through a garden, or just being outside makes her so..happy. She enjoys spending as much time with her family as she can, as their cleaning jobs keep them mightily busy. Just a day off every few weeks to just unwind with all of them is Carmen's paradise. Carmen has also always had an ear for soft, airy classical music. Sure, she can bop to a peppy song any day of the week, but the cool melodies of violin and piano melding together just sound so..tranquil to her. She'll even hum a little tune to go along with it, though it's usually quite awful so she stops immediately. Carmen is also very keen on spicy foods, her Mama's shrimp paella being one of them. Really, Carmen really can't see how anyone could dislike the rice dish, it's literally perfection. Oh, and fruit smoothies too. Carmen has planted a few berry bushes around her families home, so whenever she feels thirsty (and has time to spare), she'll make herself a mixed berry smoothie and chill outside. Speaking of outside, Carmen's favorite season would have to be spring. With all the flowers opening up their buds, and all the new life bursting forth, there's really nothing more beautiful to her. It's almost..dreamlike, y'know? Anywho, on a different subject, Carmen also loves cats. Animals are fun to be around, sure, but she just can't get over how monumentally superior the cat is. I mean, look at the little bean toes!! And though her fur allergy holds her back from having the more..furry breed of cat, that sure as hell didn't stop her. Shiver is her love and her life, and she wouldn't give him up for the world. Oh, Carmen also really likes bike riding, as its really her only mode of transportation to get from one job to the next. Hey, if you gotta work, why not enjoy the ride, huh? Plus, she also ends up selling a few flowers out of the basket she totes around on her bike, so it's kinda a win-win. Clothing wise, every scrap she has is either handed down or bought from a thrift shop, which she doesn't mind in the slightest. The faded colors and older prints are actually more Carmen's speed anyway, and any new clothes would just get holes quickly anyway, so there's really no use in using hard earned money to buy 'em. Yeah, luxurious isn't exactly the word you'd use to describe Carmen's fashion sense, but she could care less. As long as she feels good in it and good about herself, she's a-okay. Her body positive vibes, though hard-fought and earned, keep her strong and cheerful, no matter the circumstance. She doesn't let many words shake her anymore, so say what you will. People she enjoys being around the most would have to be those who are easy to talk to and won't mind her mindless chattering. Someone she can joke with, and who just makes her feel..comfortable and wanted. That's what she wants, be it in a friend or lover. Heck, a friend who becomes a lover is even better!

🌸Dislikes🌸

Though Carmen herself doesn't like to admit it, she's a bit afraid of swimming. It's just..she had a bit of an accident as a child while swimming, and it nearly cost her life, so being submerged in a pool isn't exactly her idea of 'fun'. She secretly hates the fact that her family gets so little time together, though she'd never pipe up these thoughts unless seriously pressured to. And lordy, does she hate being pressured into things. She had enough of that in high school, thank you very much. Speaking of high school..dredges up some of Carmen's most regretful decisions that she's ever made. She can't help but hate who'd she had become during those 4 years, a weak sapling who tried to please the crowds. She even went as far as to..abnormally lose weight to become her warped version of 'ideal'. Yeah, she doesn't like to talk much about her high school years, it's quite the touchy subject. Anywho, on a much lighter note, Carmen despises sour foods. The tang of a lemon or lime just doesn't appeal to her, and it makes her tongue hurt too, so no thanks. Also, coffee. Coffee is just disgusting to Carmen, she can't understand how people live on the bitter drink. She'd much rather have tea if that's alright. She dislikes the fact she has a fur allergy, as she's always wanted a large assortment of cats to herself if she ever got her own place. But if you sneeze every time you cuddle your kitten, it's not too much fun anymore, is it? She also bears a grudge towards her ADHD, disliking the fact her concentration could be broken by the smallest thing. There was even this one time with a leaf..anyway. Carmen would never wear clothing she couldn't bend down in, so skirts aren't much worn unless she's going to church. If she can't risk getting a few holes in the fabric, she doesn't quite like it. I mean, how is she supposed to weed her bushes in a dress? Sudden noises scare Carmen half to death, and she has kept her childhood fear of thunder and lightning into adulthood. Whenever there is a bad storm, she covers her plants and cowers under her blankets, shivering like a leaf. Yeah, storms aren't her thing. And does she cry sometimes? Yeah, but she'd never admitted it to anyone, because how pitiful is that? She understands that the fear is irrational, but she just can't get over it. People she can't stand are those who think themselves to be better than everyone around them, because we're all just humans in the end, right? Overly judgmental people make her blood boil, and people who refuse to speak to her just because she's 'that poor little maid'. Like really? It's gonna be like that? Okay, fine, didn't wanna talk to you anyway.

🌸Fears or Nightmares🌸

Thanatophobia (n) - the fear of losing someone you love

Atelophobia (n) - the fear of not being good enough

Monophobia (n) - the fear of being alone

Astrophobia (n) - fear of thunder and lightning

🌸Disorders🌸

>Mental Disorders<

ADHD

Carmen cannot sit still for a second, much to her own chagrin. She's always had a hard time focusing, and her impulsive decisions will be the end of her one day. She was diagnosed with ADHD at around the age of 6, by a quack doctor living in her town.

>Medical Disorders<

Allergies

Carmen has a bit of a fur allergy, meaning if a fluffy creature is around, her eyes will puff up and her nose will run. Which is a FUN thing to have when you clean other people's houses for a living.

>Other Disorders<

Bulimia

Though she no longer struggles with body image, her teenage years were rough to her mind and body alike. She would eat food to satisfy her hunger, then purge to maintain a "normal" weight of 180. This took a lot out of her body, and she's still suffering from the repercussions to this day. She's prone to dizziness and still has the scars on her knuckles from the acid her vomit produced.

🌸Languages🌸

Her first language is Spanish, but she is also fluent in English.

🌸Education🌸

>Years Completed<

Graduated High School with Honors

>Average GPA<

3.7

🌸Appearance🌸

|Hair|

>Style<

Her hair is mostly the same length, save the hair near her face from the numerous times she's had bangs

>Length<

It hits her upper mid-back

>Color<

Warm Mocha Brown

>Normal Wear<

Her hair is either down or...down. She doesn't really know what the heck to do with it all. Maybe like slick it back into a bun or a ponytail. She's honestly not sure.

|Eyes|

>Shape<

Upturned

>Color<

Dark Brown

>Skin Tone<

Fairly pale, with warmer undertones

>Height<

5'8

>Weight<

240 lbs

>Voice<

Carmen's voice tends to be on the deeper end of the spectrum, with a sort of raspy undertone to it. She wouldn't describe it as the most melodious sound, but it's what she has to work with.

>Written Description<

Carmen is by no means anywhere near the "ideal" body type, and she's perfectly okay with that. Her curves are prominent, with wide hips and a decently rounded bust.
Being plus-sized has actually boosted her confidence immensely after she got over her initial body hatred. She actually calls the stretch marks along her stomach, hips, thighs, and breasts "tiger stripes", which are just a method of proclaiming her fierceness. She's comfortable in her own skin, which she always wanted to be. The knuckles on her right hand are scarred, for reasons she's not too proud to disclose. Her oval shaped face is usually framed by her lustrous dark locks, which can be annoying at times when Carmen is bent over to tend her plants. Her eyes are about the same shade of dark brown as her hair, and perpetually hold a sparkle of merriment within their depths. Her lips are a natural rosy pink, and the only adornment they've ever seen is apple flavored Lip Smackers chapstick, as she hasn't seen the need to ever do any more than that. Plus, her lips get chapped quick, and nobody likes that. She always seems to smell of some different flower every day, as if the essence of the flowers she tends to seeps into her skin daily. Her light skin holds a tan well, as she's outside most of her free time. Her freckles are also a consequence of staying outside all day long at times, but she kinda likes them. She has a tattoo of crossing flowers below her breasts, a very simple design that hurt to high heaven. She's quite proud of it though, as it symbolizes when she began her journey to a positive self-image. Nobody really knows she has it though, due to its location. It's a seeeeecret.

>Face Claim<

Barbie Ferreira

>Clothing Style<

A Walk in The Garden

>Tattoo<

>Ring<

*she wears it on the pinky of her right hand, and twisting it is a nervous habit of hers. it was a gift from her mother, so she holds it near and dear to her.*

🌸Family🌸

Ricardo Merlo (Father; 58)

Isabella Merlo (Mother; 55)

Ricardo Jr. Merlo (Oldest Brother; 29)

Elena Santiago Merlo (Sister-In-Law; 28)

Natalie Merlo (Niece; 5)

Alejandra Merlo (Oldest Sister; 27)

Ximena Merlo (Older Sister; 25)

Matías Merlo (Older Brother; 25)

🌸Biography🌸

>Childhood<

Carmen's childhood was one of relative happiness, as she was always surrounded by loving family every minute they could spare for her. Ricardo Jr. and Alejandra governed their rowdy siblings while their parents were away, and as a result, all the siblings grew quite close to one another. The twins, Ximena and Matías, were usually the ones to stir trouble, while Carmen followed along happily. She always loved being around nature, and would often come inside covered in dirt with the biggest smile on her face. Her Mama, though she reprimanded the child sternly on what she could and couldn't do (ie. come into the house dirty), loved her youngest girl dearly, as she did all her children. Her older siblings would always tell her stories of how Mama and Papa met, and how they had been raised until then. She loved the fact that her parents had been childhood sweethearts, and how strong their bond was. It was almost..magical to her innocent mind. Of course, she went through phases of wanting better things for herself, like better dress-up clothes and the like, but grew to learn that money had to be earned, and if you wanted something you had to work for it. So, she turned to flowers, something she had always especially loved. Saving up her meager amounts of change, she bought herself a little box to grow flowers in, and an arrangement of flower seeds. She cared for these flowers diligently, to her family's surprise, as they thought it was just another one of her 'phases'. Once the flowers blossomed, she sold them for a dime a flower, and gave all the money to her Mama to help her out. Even if her Mama refused the money, Carmen would find some sort of way to sneak it into the family funds, and pull her own load (slightly). She learned her sense of duty in these years of growth, gained a love for gardening, and realized the worth of hard work. The ray of sunshine she cast into her small town garnered her quite the sweet reputation, which stayed with her as she grew into a teen.

>Teen years<

Carmen's teen years started out like any normal human's. Raging hormones, irrational anger, and crying?? for no reason. Yeah, puberty hit her like a bus. She had been a scrawny little scrap as a child, but as she developed, she started to look..chunkier to herself. Well, she shrugged it off in her early teens, because her parents assured her it was just 'part of her growing up'. It wasn't until high school hat she realized her appearance and weight could define her, that people could back stab you when you least expect it. She can remember it quite clearly, in fact. Her best friend, Annaleise, whom she'd known since childhood, badmouthing her blatantly. Fat-shaming her really, calling her a pig, and a dirty waste of oxygen. It crushed her, as she'd grown up thinking all people were inherently good, and couldn't possibly be capable of such..evil. Guess that's a price she paid for growing up naive, huh? Soon after the loss of her best friend, and the scalding words that broke off their relationship, Carmen's mental and physical health began a downward slope. She refused to talk to anyone, be it family or friend, and would lock herself in her small bedroom for hours at a time. She left her flowers to wither, and the poor saps died off quickly in consequence. This proved to her family that something was definitely wrong, but whenever they got near her she shrugged them off, or just ignored them. They began to notice her sudden drop in weight, the dark circles under her eyes, the cuts on the knuckle of her right hand. They began to realize that she hadn't been feeding herself properly, that she would eat in front of them to keep them happy, but purge it up when their back was turned. They began to understand why she isolated herself, what made her snap at the so coldly, how she could even think she was anything less than beautiful. It was because she took other's words as true, and began to think she was a waste of oxygen herself. She began to think, that is maybe she looked 'normal', they wouldn't hate her so much. That if she tried to fit in, she'd be 'happy'. But all she was going was self-destructing, and it wasn't until her senior year she realized this fact. She had fainted during one of her purging spells, and almost died choking on the vomit she forced herself to produce. The only reason she survived the episode was because of her Mama, who had happened to pass by the family bathroom when Carmen was choking. Carmen would never forget how frightened her family had been, the tears that had been shed over her as she lay down in a hospital bed with an IV stuck in her arm. It was that day, she vowed to get better, that she would stop all this pain she was causing for herself and others. Because, in that moment, she truly realized she wanted to live, and she sure as hell wasn't doing so. So, slowly, she began her difficult journey for body positivity, and a healthier being. She followed after her Mama's footsteps, who guided her gently to the path of self-love and worth. She finally understood that, in the end, it was her opinion that mattered, and if she was happy with herself, she had the damn right to feel that way. She was her own person, and she wouldn't dare let anyone's thoughts on her govern her ever again.

>Adult hood<

After the strain her health took during her high school life, Carmen set to work bettering herself, and bringing herself back into health steadily. She broke off all relationships that seemed toxic or were toxic for her mentally, and lightened the burden of criticism she always felt egged her. She began to tend to her happy little plants again, which became a key point in her healing journey. If her plants flourished, then Carmen herself was flourishing, and growing with her flowers into a better human being. Her sunshine, though dampened throughout the wear and tear of time, shone as a beacon to all those who sought advice, or any comfort whatsoever. Carmen began to gain friends from the many jobs she took on as a maid in her family's business, and help them through their problems as her family had helped her. She gained a reputation as a healer of sorts, someone who could make light out of any situation and brighten someone's day in a flash. Who would listen to anyone's problems, and still get work done. A girl who made flowers out of shriveling weeds, and taught others that it was damn well okay to be one's self. Her spunk grew along with her health, and her chattering resumed in full force. Her family was elated; they finally got their sunny little Carmen back. Plus a whole lot of attitude, but they would take what they could get. She blossomed into a confidant woman as time wore on, and would stay that way forevermore. Sure, negative thoughts may plague her, and she might regress at times, but now she knows how to pick herself up and keep living. Because that's what you're supposed to do, y'know? We're only here for a short while, and the ride might get bumpy, but Carmen was sure as hell gonna enjoy the ride as much as she could.

🌸Other Info🌸

Carmen has already found the love of her life....in the form of a cat. Although her allergy holds her back from the more...fluffy animals, she knew for certain she wanted a cat, even if it was hairless. She loves her ol' sourpuss Shiver with her whole being.