Dear Sarah,
For a long time I really didn’t think I was pretty. In fact, I thought I was really ugly, and I had really low self-esteem. For a while I didn’t really think about it all that much, but now it keeps replaying in my head. I feel as if none of the boys are interested in me, and none of them find me attractive. I’m going to be a freshman in high school next year and I really would like to meet a great guy and have a boyfriend, but where do I start??? And what can I do to feel better about my appearance?
Dear Reader,
I’m so glad you asked this question. So many of the girls I know have felt exactly like this. There’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way and if you don’t, you might feel unattractive. The truth is, and I know this sounds cheesy (but it’s true!), beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
The first step to feeling good about how you look is finding, and playing up, what makes you beautiful. My friend (and favorite makeup artist, Carmindy) calls this “feature focus.” Take a step back from the mirror. Think about your favorite feature. Maybe it’s your big eyes or your soft hands or the fact that you don’t have to flat-iron your hair when you want to wear it straight. Now, what can you do to emphasize this favorite part? Maybe some simple mascara or a manicure will make it pop. I’m not into a lot of makeup (and most guys aren’t either!) but sometimes a little something can give you that extra oomph you need and help boost your confidence. And remember that beauty comes from within, too. The fact that you can play Beethoven’s entire 5th Symphony on the piano or can do Beyonce’s “put a ring on it” dance, makes you beautiful.
Now, about the guys. Self-confidence is contagious. People want to be around those who make them feel good about themselves. And part of having self-confidence around other people is to not think so much about how you look. You won’t hear a really funny joke if you’re focused on whether or not your lipgloss is the right color. Try to enjoy the moment. You’ll have more fun and the guys you meet will, too!
xxx
Sarah
And when you need a little reminder of what beauty really is, re-watch this Dove video on the distorted view of beauty in magazines:
