Dear Low Self-Esteem Girl,

Let me start by saying you are beautiful. Whether others tell you or not -- you’re beautiful. You. Are. Beautiful. Beauty has nothing to do with how long your hair is. It can be as long as a 24 inch weave or as short as Amber Rose’s. Beauty has nothing to do with how long your nails are or if you have the latest lipstick colour. Beauty isn’t having the latest fashions. It isn’t being a size six, or 10, or two. None of that makes you beautiful. Sure, all of those things enhance physical features but beauty runs deeper than what meets the eye.

Do you have a good heart? Do you help others get up when they fall? Or do you simply look at them or kick them when they’re down? Are you caring and kind to strangers and friends alike? Do you keep your judgment to yourself or blast it on social media? Do you talk behind others backs or do you stand up for them? Are you honest and loyal? Do you think before you act and make good decisions? Do you consider others or aim to please yourself? My sweet beautiful girl, all of those things matter more than any physical feature could ever matter.

Those “things” are called character. Your character will stay with you far longer than your hair, nails, clothes and makeup. Your character determines the person you are, the person you’ll become and the person you’ll be remembered as when you’re long gone. How you treat yourself and others is what true beauty is. Beauty is loving yourself, flaws and all. It’s accepting who are, changing what you can but being happy through the process. Beauty is being the friend one can depend on. It’s being the daughter that parents can trust and be proud of. Beauty is being the girl with integrity in every situation. Beauty is being a genuine, honest and hardworking person.

You may look in the mirror every day and pray for a new face or a new body or a better nose. You may even pray to lose or gain weight. Know this, none of that makes you beautiful. It may make someone else think you’re beautiful but eventually those looks fade and your character matters so much more.

A boy holds no bearing on your life or worth. You’re beautiful with or without one. Don’t look for your beauty in a boy, or anybody. Beauty starts within and illuminates throughout. No one should be able to determine your beauty or value but you.

Dear Low Self-Esteem Girl, you are valued. You are loved. You are beautiful.