Girls, it’s time to take off that cover-up and flaunt what yo' mama gave you!! 

With numerous magazine headlines like “How to Get A Perfect Bikini Bod,” featuring a skinny model on the cover, the media has warped our perception of what “perfect” is. Instead of focusing on the positive parts of our bodies and liking what we see in the mirror, we feel badly about our appearance because we don’t measure up to someone else’s misconstrued idea of perfection.

The first step to looking good in your bikini is feeling good in your bikini. I know that’s easier said than done when you’re 80 percent naked in public, but just follow the old saying, “fake it until you make it.” Even if you’re feeling bloated or not in your prime, channel your inner Beyoncé by rolling your shoulders back and keeping your chin up, because your body is way too bootylicious for a cover-up. Actress Sophia Loren once said, “sex appeal is 50 percent what you’ve got, and 50 percent what people think you’ve got,” which means that if you’re workin’ what you’ve got and acting confident in your bathing suit, you’ll look even better than a girl who may have a better body, but is acting insecure. Confidence is sexy. Why do you think so many girls like cocky assholes?             

One thing that will help you feel more body confident is a great fitting bathing suit with strategic colors and patterns. For example, if you want to flaunt the top half of your body because you’re insecure about the lower half, wear a bright colored bikini top with patterns and pair it with plain bikini bottoms. The bright color and patterns will draw attention to the area you would rather have people look at.              

Next, you need to quiet the voices in your head telling you that you’re fat, or that you don’t look good in a bathing suit. I can almost guarantee you that no one else is noticing even three-fourths of what you’re hating on your own body for. Have a few stretch marks, cellulite, or an ingrown hair? They don’t matter. Even if someone does notice them, he or she is probably going to forget about your so-called flaw eight seconds later. Another thing to keep in mind -- everyone gets rolls when they sit down. Even the skinniest of girls do; that’s just how skin is.          

It is next to impossible not to have at least one self-deprecating thought every once in a while. Each time you have a negative thought about yourself, stop it in its tracks and replace it with a compliment. “Wow, my thighs look huge,” should  turn into, “my boobs look awesome in this bikini top,” or “I didn’t flip off that guy who cut me off this morning, so I must be a really good person.”           

Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself from when you were younger (like, before the freshman 15) and thought, “Dang, I used to look so good!" When you used to look so good, you were probably having the same negative thoughts toward your body as you do now. Don’t you regret not being more self-confident and happy about your body during that time? If the answer is yes, don’t let it happen again.

We’re nearing the age of our physical prime. We didn’t tough out years of acne, braces, and other pubescent awkwardness for nothing! We also don’t have wrinkles, yet, so hooray for that! Don’t waste another minute feeling insecure about your body because of what other people think about your appearance. As cheesy as it sounds, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters.