Body Image
By Michelle, age 20, Pennsylvania
A lot of people blame the media. It's true - pictures of skinny models with white teeth, blemish free skin, and silky smooth hair are plastered on billboards, in magazines, and on TV. Is that image actually attainable though?
The answer for most of us is NO. Plain and simple. For example, I have hips. Child-bearing, proof-that-I'm-female hips, and I'm darn proud of them. They help me dance like a fool and give people something to hold onto when they put their arms around me. If I were to try and look like a runway model, I would look emaciated and sick as opposed to beautiful and svelte. My body just isn't built for that look, and chances are neither is yours.
But there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, your differences are what make you beautiful. Whether you're a size 0 or 22, no one else in the world has exactly what you have, and I know you've heard it a million times, but that makes you special.
We all at times are so busy worrying about how we measure up that we lose out on being ourselves, and we aren't able to enjoy who we were made to be. So my advice? Stop comparing yourself to every model, celebrity, or even the girl walking by, and start thinking about the things you love about yourself. Chances are, if you notice it, someone else does too.
