Ronda Rousey is an American mixed martial artist and actress, who is one of the highest paid UFC fighters and women’s bantamweight champion. She was undefeated until recently, and ranked number one of the 50 most dominant athletes alive. Not only is she an incredible athlete, she is an advocate for women who face insecurities every day.
“When I was in school, martial arts made you a dork, and I became self-conscious that I was too masculine. I was a 16-year-old girl with ringworm and cauliflower ears. People made fun of my arms and called me ‘Miss Man.’ It wasn’t until I got older that I realized: these people are idiots. I’m fabulous.”
As a woman in society we are exposed daily, we are taught to expose ourselves sexually, and expected to conform to the ideal image of true beauty. Rousey teaches women to not shy away from insecurities but to embrace them. As Ronda says, we should not be scared of people disliking us – we should be women, whether we are big, tall, fat, skinny or masculine. Every bone and muscle of our bodies has a purpose because we aren’t, as Ronda calls them, a “DNB” – a Do Nothing B***h. If you are trying to become a strong independent woman, you shouldn’t be a DNB, “the kinda chick that tries to be pretty and taken care of by somebody else.” We should realize that as women we “have to be willing to do the hard work,” and “overcome the challenges and sacrifices” that men in society impose on us.
Ronda Rousey stands up for female empowerment by tearing down barriers. She is the first female to ever fight inside of the octagon – a place where women are forbidden to fight. Rousey isn’t just fighting for herself. She fights for all women, in hope that young girls “understand that they can truly do anything If they put their minds and hearts into it.” She takes control by tearing down the stereotypes.
Ronda Rousey is a force to be reckoned with. She is all the things men fear, and all things women should stand for. For the young ladies who are feeling insecure and down, you are beautiful. No human can make you feel as good as you yourself can. Because once we give someone power over us, that power will begin to define our beauty. That power we give away allows someone to tell us that we are “unworthy, and once you start caring about people’s opinions of you, you give up control.”