The Pressure to be Pretty

Image by kevindooley via Flickr

"I've got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don't want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I'd rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before 'thin'."

"There are too many stupid girls in the media. Hermione's not scared to be clever. I think sometimes really smart girls dumb themselves down a bit, and that's bad. When I was nine or ten, I would get really upset when they tried to make me look geeky, but now I absolutely love it. I find it's so much pressure to be beautiful. Hermione doesn’t care what she looks like. She's a complete tomboy"

The above is a quote from my favorite author J K Rowling (The author of Harry Potter). I am a big fan of the series and of Hermione too. But this is not a post about that.

I read a very horrible story today.  A pretty 13-year-old British girl committed suicide after being dubbed "ugly" by her classmates. She had been told to join a modeling agency for "Ugly People" (read it here)

According to a 2007 survey conducted by the Dove Self-Esteem Fund and Seventeen magazine, more than 4 in 10 girls and young women only see their flaws when they look in the mirror.

Now I know that I write about being pretty and make-up on a daily basis. It may sound weird coming from me,  but looking good is not the end-all & be-all of being a woman. 

You don't owe it to the world or anyone else to be pretty or perfect  just because you are woman. It is not the price you pay for being a female in this world. It is an indulgence meant to make you feel good about yourself and because you enjoy it. 

There are things more important than being Pretty, like being Confident, Healthy, Happy, Independent, Nice, Kind. 

I would hate for the world to lose another smart, young girl just because the adults around her failed to inclucate a sense of pride in her for just being herself.  

And if you are suffering from low self esteem due to the way you look, I can only say this to you, 

People may forget how how pretty you are, and how wonderfully you dress, but they will always remember how you made them feel. 

"You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down"

- Beautiful by Christina Aguilera