I'm going to be honest: I really like being told that I look pretty. Every day since I was a little girl, my dad has made sure to tell me that I looked nice, even when I had no makeup and the only thing I had on was sweatpants. I have gone to two proms, a homecoming, and a handful of weddings—all of which I have loved getting ready for! I'm a girly girl, so I'm a sucker for any excuse to look my best. Even so, I'm always astounded by how quickly people condemn anyone who talks about a girl's beauty. After red carpet events, people always freak out when reporters ask actresses about their clothes. While it shouldn't be the only thing women talk about, there is nothing wrong with beauty, putting on a fancy dress, or doing your makeup. There is so much more to us than our beauty, but there is also so much more than our intelligence.

We can be selfless, kind, mature, charismatic, optimistic, creative, and a million other things that I feel like people never take notice of. Having your identity rest in Christ instead of yourself makes all the difference. It allows you to know that even though your shortcomings come with your positive attributes, they don't define you. For every angry outburst, there's a smile. For every selfish thought, there's a generous action. Don't sell yourself short when thinking about the things that define you. It's so easy to be hard on yourself and to focus on everything that you think is wrong with you. Don't! You're sassy, funny, and energetic (among other things). And we may be smart, but you can also call us pretty.