It's no secret that the media projects certain beauty standards again and again. Even though companies are starting to make strides (shout-out to Barbie), there is still a well-known norm in the industry. We see the same beautiful actors and actresses in movies and TV shows. There are girls with porcelain skin and flowing, bouncy hair. The boys have gorgeous eyes and washboard abs. It's a tried and true way to bring in viewers and buyers; everyone wants to be pretty.
But who is to say what "pretty" is? Who can pinpoint what exactly is "gorgeous" or "beautiful?" The media has taken it upon themselves to try to give these words an image, and because of that, they have given people unnecessary standards. A study found that 81 percent of surveyed 10-year-olds were afraid of becoming fat.
Being fat or curvy or plus-size or whatever you want to label it should not be something to be afraid of. Girls and boys should be allowed to grow without the worry that they won't be accepted because of the way they look. They should never have to fear that they will look a certain way, that they will look the "wrong" way. We need to teach young kids and remind ourselves that our bodies do not have to be constant works-in-progress.
Your body has done amazing things and will do many more fantastic things. The best thing you can do for yourself is to love yourself and the body that only wants to keep you alive. Your stretch marks and love handles are the products of growing and midnight ice cream runs with your best friend. Your freckles are a magnificent constellation. Your scars tell stories of tougher or simply clumsier times.
You are not the sum of your battered parts, because you are not broken. You are whole, and you are complete. You aren't missing any thing.
It took me 18 years to decide that I was worth loving. I am not a work-in-progress. I am not trying to turn myself into something I'm not. No matter how beautiful the girls on the covers of magazines are, I can not and will not ever look like them.
And that's OK.
Loving yourself isn't easy. We get caught up in the world of make-believe where everyone seems perfect. Your body and your health are worth more than conforming to society's standards. You owe yourself more than trying to look "perfect" for a boy or girl.
Wear crop tops, short shorts and high heels. Take a million selfies and post however many you want on every social platform you're on. Dye your hair crazy colors and show off your tattoos and piercings. Look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you are something to be proud of; keep looking until you believe it.
Eat healthy because you like the taste of watermelon on a hot August afternoon. Play soccer with your best friend because you used to do this stuff for fun, and you still can. Eat an extra slice of pizza because you had a long day, and you're starving.
Most of all, remember that you are no less worthy of a person because of the way you look. Whether you're a size 00 or a size 28, you are beautiful. No matter your scars or freckles or stretch marks, your body has carried you through battles and will keep seeing you through.
Love yourself. You're worth it.
