I am strong. I am beautiful. I am a woman of color. I am proud.

“Wow, you’re really pretty for a black girl," "Who's that black girl you were with last night?" when talking to my friends, these are the comments that are usually made in reference to me. And these are supposed to be taken as compliments. When really, I can’t help but take them as an insult. Why can’t I just be a pretty girl? Why do I have to be the “pretty black girl?” Even though I’m only half black, I still take full offense to the comment. Just because I'm black, I can't be beautiful? See that's the problem. That is why girls of color sometimes lack confidence and see themselves as less, no matter what their race is.

I remember being the only mixed girl in my elementary school. Even though I'm half white, I still felt like I didn't fit in. I thought I was ugly because I didn't have pretty long hair or mesmerizing eyes. I had rough course hair and eyes the darkest shade of brown possible. Scars all over my body from playing too rough. All the boys I had crushes on had crushes on the prettiest girls in my class... Having a beautiful white mom made things worse. I wish I could've just looked like her. All around I just didn't love myself. At such a young age I lacked confidence because I didn't think I was beautiful because of the color of my skin.

I know that's so stupid looking back now, being the strong young woman I am today, but it is still a shame that as a little kid I felt like that. Now that I'm older and see the world from this whole new perspective it is actually pretty disgusting, shaming girls like that. Now life is completely different. Mixed girls are "trending" and white girls try their best to be black. The boys who once would not give me the time of day, I now do not give the time of day. And with the help of puberty, and some extensions, I have built self confidence, and I love myself. I love who I am on the inside and outside

Loving yourself is the most important thing a person can do, because if you don't, it will literally destroy you. Loving yourself is something we need to teach little girls and boys so they don't grow up wondering what it would be like to be someone other than themselves. No matter what religion, race, or color, you are always remember you are someone great. So do not define me as "the pretty black girl" because I am so much more than that.