It's officially bikini season.
Those words tend to scare a lot of people that I know, and why? Because society doesn't seem to think that you should be on the beach unless you are an in-shape size 0.
There are some people who just can't help i. It is in their genes to look like they are the gods' gift to earth, but most people aren't so lucky. Society tells us that we are supposed to learn to love everything about ourselves, but then they expect us to meet the standards that they set. What I picture when I think of what society expects us to look like, is a Victoria's Secret model. They are thin enough to be in lingerie or swimsuits all the time and have spotlights on them without having a care in the world, but that is only after they go on their crazy diets that allow them to do so. They are paid to look a certain way, they are paid to eat a certain way and they have special trainers who help mold them to look that certain way.
Unless us "normal" people have a hidden fortune, there is no way we will be able to look like that and, even if we did, is it even healthy to stay that thin? I highly doubt it. There is a huge difference between fit and thin. In my opinion, as long as you have no health risks and you like the way you look, then what is wrong with not being super skinny?
Society also tells us that we can't like the way we look until we meet these extremely unrealistic expectations. People will never be happy with the way they look because there will always be an expectation that they can't meet. Recently, Miss Indiana was praised for her "normal" looking body in the Miss USA pageant. I think it's great that there are people look up to her and know that a size 4 is something that they can achieve and they feel good about their body, just like she does. Although no one can change the outlook that society has on body image, I think people should really start to be proud of their bodies even if they aren't the so-called perfect size 0 that some people strive for.
Go to the beach and own all of your curves. Confidence is the only thing you should strive for because that is attainable.
