Fame seems to be all around me in the city of Los Angeles. I'll meet a girl at a party who is some actor's cousin or have a family friend who is best friends with that girl with the YouTube channel. While I feel connected to fame in my own geographical ways, fame is most strongly connected with social media. Social media is a powerful network that has been defining our society as of late. It allows individuals in the spotlight to make a statement. Many times however, those statements are mediocre at best. It's refreshing to find a celebrity that uses her voice to fight societies unrealistic standards and use her time to better our world. This is why Gina Rodriguez has become my "Woman Crush Everyday."
You might best know Gina Rodriquez as Jane on "Jane the Virgin", but I best know her as an advocate for women, health, education, and racial equality. Her one fight that hits close to home concentrates on body image. I fought with anorexia, and continue to fight the feeling of not "being enough" when compared to societies standards. Its a hard battle, and social media makes it even harder. Gina fervently discusses how beauty is not limited to societies unrealistic expectations. After making it onto the cover of Health magazine, she discussed the idea of beauty. She explained, "In a society where we are bombarded by limited images of what defines beauty and strength I am so grateful for those redefining and expanding those images." Her words are beautiful and exactly what I need to hear after seeing that "How to Lose Ten Pounds In One Month" advertisement on my Facebook homepage. Her words are not only confidence boosting, but reassuring. She has used her power in social media to invoke a new idea of beauty. And for that I am grateful.
Her fight doesn't end at body image, its only just beginning. Her entrepreneurial side takes form in the company known as Naja Lingerie, where she is co-founder alongside Catalina Girald, the CEO and Creative Director. This company produces lingerie, focusing on empowering women, in every body type, shape, and skin color. They use eco-friendly materials in order to create a line that strengthens women, and allows them to embrace all sides, clothing all shades of beautiful. They provide employment mainly to single mothers, and give them flexible hours in order to balance motherhood and work life. They also pay for the children's school expenses such as uniforms, books, supplies and lunches. Mothers in our society are often placed with too many expectations. If a father takes care of the children and works, he is ultimately praised. A woman in the same situation receives no praise, as society sees this as an expectation. It is this double standard in society that makes it harder for women to take on both roles. This is why Gina's movement is so important, and why I 100 percent look up to her as an individual. She has used her fame to jump start a campaign which works to empower women in a society plagued with sexism.
These are just a few of Gina's endeavors. She uses her fame and power in social media for the greater good. She empowers beauty and empowers women in general. This is the type of voice we need taking over our media pages. Thank you Gina Rodriguez, for your positivity, reassurance, and your help in my fight to feel enough. I hope your ideas of beauty take over, and the new standard of beauty throws standards out the window; I hope your ideas on equality and empowering women break down the barriers so that women may reach their full and true potential.
