I want to tell you something: you are beautiful.
Please put down the magazine, I know she’s gorgeous, because I said the same thing when I saw it, but do you want to know a secret? It’s not authentic, and it isn’t what the original photo looked like. Her teeth are not naturally that white, her skin is not as flawless as it looks, and her body isn’t as thin as they made it seem, I promise you.
We are so used to the idea that we can only be beautiful if we look like the models we see on the covers of magazines in the grocery store or the women we see on TV. Society has been telling us for so long that, if we don’t look like the women we see in those places, we’re not beautiful, and that we always have something to improve on.
From a young age, we are taught to be ashamed of our bodies, to cover up the imperfections, and to shield those parts of us. According to Daily News, about 80 percent of 10-year-olds are concerned about their weight and have dieted at least once. Ten-year-olds. When I was ten years old, I was concerned about spelling tests, and missing an episode of "Hannah Montana," not so much about what the number said on the scale.
Girls have been getting the message early on that all that matters is your appearance, and that our intelligence and personalities aren’t worth anything if we don’t have the pretty face to show for it. The Barbie doll is a great example of something that gives us an unrealistic idea of body type and beauty as well. At such a young ages, girls are seeing a disproportional body and dolled up face on Barbie, which gives girls the idea in their heads they have to look their best one hundred percent of the time.
Approximately 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape, according to popular site dosomething.org. When we step in front of a mirror we don’t see the beautiful person we are, but instead we are finding flaws and wishing to fix them. This is upsetting because everybody is different and every body shape is unique.
We don’t all have to be a size two, that’s not how this works. Don’t ever feel like you’re not good enough because of the girls in the magazines, the celebrities on TV, and the girls on social media. Don’t let someone else’s opinion change the way you feel about yourself, either. You’re stunning, and, as hard as it may be, never compare yourself to others; a majority of the time that photo has been altered to look a certain way, or they had work done to enhance themselves. By comparing yourself to models or actresses, you are trying to be something that isn’t even authentic. Doing this does nothing but hurt yourself, especially when you’re comparing yourself to someone that has been falsely advertised. I promise you it’s not worth it.
As women, we need to start seeing ourselves in a more positive light. Learn to accept yourselves and others, and compliment rather than criticize.
