Twitter has been blowing up with another trending challenge. The #DontJudgeChallenge has people taking videos of themselves "before" with drawn-on unibrows and acne, yellow teeth, messy hair and then seconds later showing themselves "after" with a perfectly clean and pulled together look. The whole goal of the video is to not judge a book by its cover because there is something more beautiful underneath it all.
In theory, the challenge may have seemed like a good idea, but it is actually the dumbest thing on the Internet. It makes me me sick to think people are taking peoples insecurities and glorifying that getting rid of them will make you beautiful. Just because you have a unibrow, acne, or anything, it doesn't make you ugly. It makes you human and makes you, well, you. What makes it ugly is the fact that we, as a society, are taking these extremely sensitive insecurities and using them to shame people who can't control it. Is telling someone with chronic acne that having acne is embarrassing making you prettier in any way?
The ability to be confident in yourself and your flaws is what is truly beautiful. As someone who has struggled with acne for many years, I'm shocked people are using it as something to mock others who can't control it. My insecurities don't define me or affect my self-worth and it doesn't affect yours at all! By taking part in this challenge, you are joining millions who are shaming those who are being uniquely themselves. We always talk about how society's expectations are unreasonable and cruel, but we're controlling it.
Accepting your flaws is natural. Like The College Prepster's "My Real Self" post from a couple years ago; See it here which highlights the importance of seeing the beauty in your flaws.
Being loving and accepting of who we are is so important. So be proud of your flaws because they really aren't flaws. There are amazing characteristics that make up the unique, special, and great person that you are. Learn to celebrate your strengths and be proud of who you are, because that is what is truly beautiful, not some dumb Internet challenge started by someone who is clearly so insecure about themselves they needed to publicly shame others to make themselves feel better.
