When you are raised as a woman — men get this too, but the pressure is on women more — you are almost always told in some indirect way that you must strive for a slim figure, bodacious proportions, clear skin and be hairless pretty much everywhere but your head. Those are just a few things our mothers might have hinted at when we were still learning to love ourselves. The thing is, when you’re still a young and impressionable teenager, mothers never tell you that it’s OK not to look like advertised models on billboards. Here are five things on our bodies we may hate, but are actually OK to have because guess what — almost everyone has them!
1. Stretch marks
These inevitable lightning bolts on our skin are a testament to growth spurts. You may be the only one who notices that they exist but it’s definitely not something to beat yourself up about. Whether it looks like your clothes left permanent constriction marks on you or you’ve adopted reptilian features, don’t forget that everyone has them. The faster we know these things are natural, the less time we spend filled with anxiety when they are exposed for everyone to see.
Illustration courtesy of Kara Robson.
2. Love handles and tummy pouches
Yes, you have extra squishies. Some people only see them when they sit down. But extra fat isn’t something to hate and it isn’t a dealbreaker regarding your attractiveness. With a combination of different styles of clothes, you can still look great regardless of shape! All you need is a sprinkle of confidence and those darn squishies will pale to your radiant presence. Another thing a lot of us don’t know is that the bottom of our stomachs — tummy pouches, if you will — are impossible to get rid of. The tummy pouch holds your vital organs, and for women, it holds a few reproductive organs. So don’t feel pressured to have to exhaust yourself for a flat stomach. That is only achievable by Photoshop means.
Illustration courtesy of Kara Robson.
3. Double chins
Sometimes, extra neck fat is hard to love. It all comes down to your confidence level and when you finally decide to stop caring about which angle your neck coincides with your chin. Hold your head up high and let your smile be your focal point.
Illustration courtesy of Kara Robson.
4. Pimples, blemishes and scars
Acne is inevitable. You can use all the makeup in the world to conceal them, but how much time are you willing to devote to doing that daily? The faster you accept your pimples, the easier it will be to look at yourself in the mirror. Lucky for you, pimples and blemishes can be taken care of through face washing and acne products. Scars, on the other hand, take a few years to fade away. Once you find your peace with it, you might just see your blemishes and scars as nifty natural tattoos with a story. And if you don’t, well, tattooing on top of it a great option! If you don’t like what you see, make it something you’ll like!
Illustration courtesy of Kara Robson.
5. Body hair
This one is one of my biggest pet peeves. I never understood why it’s okay for my dad to have a godawful hairy chest and legs but it’s my duty as a woman to shave my legs and armpits (among other regions). Just because the people on TV and in advertisements have hairless bodies, doesn’t mean we have to. In the end, your significant other (if you choose to have one) will not care about the little hairs on your body, wherever they may be. And if they do, that’s an immature person’s problem. A real adult will look at your hairs, shrug, and move on. Because honestly, they probably have just as much hair in the same places.
Illustration courtesy of Kara Robson.
So remember, whether it’s your mother or your relatives or your very own TV telling you what you need to get rid of to “look attractive,” you are the only person whose opinion matters. It’s all up to you whether you love your body, and when you do, I guarantee that people around you will love it too.