As a 20 year old woman, in a world full of Kardashians and social media, the other day that I was starting to think less of myself because I didn't feel like societies definition of beautiful.
I felt inadequate because:
I don't always shave my legs
What's the point? You step out of the shower, get goosebumps, and then it's all for nothing! Even though it is 117 degrees outside, I think full length yoga leggings are still acceptable
I don't always have my eyebrows done
Hey! Listen, they have to grow back in order for me to get them redone! So what if I have to look like Chewbacca's sister? My eyebrow lady is a very busy woman!
I don't do the makeup trends, because well, I don't like them
I don't highlight my cheekbones to the gods. I find that it makes me look greasy. I also don't wear liquid lipstick because it makes my lips super chapped. (I also don't like lip stains on everything!) Lastly, I don't wear winged eyeliner! I actually like being to rub my eyes without looking like a raccoon. And I don't have four hours to sit and perfect those wings!
I'm not a size 00
For some reason, it has become less and less acceptable to be any larger than a size 2 or 4. Which is absolutely insane considering the average size for American women is a size 12 or 14.
Marilyn Monroe, herself, was a size 16. At one point in time, she was considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world.
Now a days, this is our definition of beautiful. While yes they both look beautiful, but for the average American woman, it is wildly unrealistic.
I don't get 100,000 likes on my latest Instagram selfie
I know, I'm super uncool because I only have about 200 followers on Instagram! I'm not a celebrity or social media famous, I am a normal, ordinary girl. I feel as though society shouldn't make me feel less about myself just because I don't have 1.9 million likes on my latest selfie. Since, we are being honest here, society has molded me into believing that if:
my eyebrows aren't freshly waxed
my cheeks perfectly contoured
make up professionally done
lighting that is flawless
and the infamous pout
that my selfie isn't worth seeing, nonetheless even worth taking.
Society has taught me that I am not enough. I will take some responsibility here, I have allowed something so superficial to define how I feel about my appearance. I'm sick and tired of second guessing whether or not to settle on wearing pants when I go out, just so people don't stare at me or give me weird looks. That is not how I want to live my life.
I want to wear what I want, where I want, and how I want without fear of judgement.
I want to be confident in the skin I'm in, without make up.
I just want to be unapologetically myself.