Recently, in my communications class, we have been talking about body image. This is always a topic that has interested me and opened my eyes to the experiences and struggles people go through on the daily. The scariest part is that eating disorders are silent. It is hard for an individual to admit that they have a problem to themselves, let alone another individual.
Our society puts so much stress on the body, idolizing the Victoria's Secret models that have the perfect body. I have seen girls on Twitter during the fashion show complaining how badly they wish they looked like them. Understand that it is their job to look like that. They get paid to work out and eat healthy, and that is not realistic for everyone.
Some people aren't born with the idolized body type, and that's okay. It's okay to not look like the models in the magazines and it's okay to be yourself. Because YOU are beautiful. Not your body, not your hair, not your skin, but you.
The fact that society has such a big role on individual's self-esteem is so scary. Don't get me wrong, I have fallen into the trap of society, looking through magazines and wishing I looked like that model, or had her beautiful hair, we all have done that. But now is the time to stop. All of those photographs have been photoshopped and morphed to the point where sometimes it doesn't even resemble the model.
As a college student, I consistently hear girls talk about their imperfections, well now's the time to forget about the imperfections (everyone has them) and start focusing on your perfections. Focus on the beautiful color of your eyes that no one else has, or your warm personality that attracts everyone. Everyone has something special about themselves so embrace it.
You were born as the person you are. It's time for people to start embracing the amazing qualities they have been given and forget about what society tells you. Society holds unrealistic expectations of individuals. That's not okay in my book. Society should not have the power to tell someone they are not beautiful, because everyone deserves to be called beautiful and everyone is beautiful.
I don't want anyone to ever feel like they are not good enough, you are. You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are perfect.
So start telling yourself that, and most importantly, start believing that, because it's true. Don't let anyone tell you that it's not.
