In a 21st century world bombarded with airbrushed images, picturesque photoshoots and serene backgrounds for modeling and advertisements, Aerie’s #aerieREAL campaign is a gasping breath of fresh air.

When the campaign was launched in 2014, its main purpose was to challenge the media industry to stop retouching their models. Now, in 2016, because of the influx of feedback from Aerie’s customers and supporters, the campaign also focuses on body positivity and self love.

What is so great about this campaign is that it promotes embracing your “imperfections” as the individual aspects of you that make you unique. In today’s world where social norms are infringing on originality and personality, #aerieREAL reminds people of all sizes, shapes, ethnicities and backgrounds the real you is beautiful.

Their catchy phrases printed on shirts, tanks and bags like “Always Be Your Selfie” and “Strong. Beautiful. Me” are cute but also hold an incredibly important meaning. They remind everyone to establish individuality and self purpose and to love life as it happens.

I love supporting Aerie because it is a generous organization that not only donates and advocates for life-changing charities - such as NEDA, National Eating Disorder Association; and Bright Pink, an organization to help women know and assess their risks of breast and ovarian cancers - but provides women with realistic role models to follow. Their models are of various races, shapes and sizes and are all unedited, natural models.

Aerie has also taken complete advantage of social media, and spreads body positive and self-love messages through their pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. By using the hashtag #aerieREAL, people will be instantly connected to thousands of other supporters all promoting confidence and unique beauty while telling their personal stories, all things which Aerie encourages through their pages with features of individual’s personal stories and statements.

So I extend a thank you to Aerie for being a role model of a company. The #aerieREAL campaign shows me and thousands of other women that I don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Confidence is beauty. Strength is beauty. I embrace what other people may see as imperfections, and I, as well as countless other people, now tell my story by not being retouched. I am strong, beautiful, me. I am #aerieREAL.