Beauty, today, is so amazingly misconstrued. It blows my mind to think that the majority of American women do not see themselves as beautiful because they aren’t a size zero or five-foot-ten. Beauty is now based on the hottest selfie or the most bone-bearing bikini pic on Instagram. Beauty is all about sex appeal nowadays, and it is actually really sad when you take a step back at look at how it changes women.
I used to have all the confidence in the world when I was growing up. It wasn’t until high school that I started second guessing myself and comparing myself to the perfect girls around me. During my freshman year, I gained about ten pounds. I was not the “skinny girl” so many people used to refer to me as in my years before, and to be honest, that really bothered me. I went through three or four years of constantly beating myself up because I didn’t fit into the tiny clothes I used to wear proudly every day. My self-confidence was so low, but I didn’t let my family or friends see that weakness inside me. Instead I put on a mask of happiness and superficial confidence, and I wore this mask for the rest of my high school career.
It wasn’t until this year—my first year in college—that my mindset changed. No, I still don’t have a thigh gap, and I can still feel a little jiggle here and there, but I am not overweight by any means. I can still rock my signature style, just not in a size zero anymore, and I have learned to accept that. People today aren’t thankful enough for what they do have. I have been given an uncomparable education here at OSU, a great amount of trustworthy friends, and a loving family that supports me in whatever crazy decisions I make. The size of my body, in the big picture, really doesn’t matter. This is such a cliché, but it is so true. Many people aren’t able to believe that size doesn’t matter until they begin to accept themselves just the way they are.
There is no use in hating yourself because you can’t fit into that extra small dress anymore. A dress doesn’t define you; The way you live life and treat others defines you. Keep your head up, and try repeating to yourself in the mirror every day this phrase, “I am beautiful, I am loved, and I accept myself for who I am right now.” I promise you that a month into saying this to yourself you will begin to believe it. Your outlook on life will completely change and you will become a much happier and fulfilled person.
You can do it. You are so beautiful.