Female-Powered Fridays- Body Confidence
by Alexandra Pepe, LiveGirl High School Fellow

It is okay to be different. Now that you’ve read that once, read it again.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, body shaming is the action or practice of humiliating someone by making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or size. If you have ever been body shamed, felt unhappy about your own body image, or just want to learn more; please continue reading.

As a current senior in high school, body shaming has been prevalent for me and those around me for almost a decade now. It is hard feeling confident in your own skin when you are constantly getting bogged down by those around you and told you are supposed to conform to other people’s opinions. Companies promote an image of the “ideal” look, making those who don’t fit the bill feel insecure. Have you ever looked at an image and immediately compared yourself in a negative manner? If you are anything like me, you have.

Body shaming is so engraved into our society through articles, television, and multi-media influencers, that it may feel impossible to be okay with your body. We tell ourselves that if we change, we will finally feel satisfied. That if we change what we look like, all of our problems will be solved. However, we should not, and cannot live like this. At the end of the day, if you want to feel better, change needs to be sparked internally, not externally. While this may almost seem harder than changing your physical appearance, there are many things that can help you get there. Here is a list of things I try to do in my life:

Know that you are unique.
There are 7 billion and growing people on this Earth, and there is only one you. I know, I know, how could I get more cliché? Even if it is cliche, I find it crucial on the path to self-love. There is only one you and you should own it. Take your ‘flaws’ and rock them for everyone else to see. Embrace you for you, because your uniqueness is what makes you beautiful. As long as you stay true to yourself and compassionate with everyone you meet, you will do great. You know what, you will thrive.
Surround Yourself with Supportive People.
This is essential. Believe me that it is nearly impossible to try to feel confident when the people you are with make you feel the opposite. Something the program director of LiveGirl, Alison Waller, told me which I think is very important to know is that you are allowed to choose your friends. If you have a friend that makes you feel bad for being who you are and what you look like... drop them! You don’t need them, you have yourself and that is enough. Surround yourself with people who make your heart dance and support your personal growth
Block Out the Haters!
Similar to the previous note, block em’ out! You do not need people who are not rooting for you. Whether this means people you call your friends, or social media influencers who make you feel self-conscious, block em’ out! Choose who you want in your life and who you simply do not. Some accounts that help me feel confident in my own skin are: @OnHerTurf, @TheBodyisnotanApology, and of course, @GoLiveGirl!
Know that it Takes Time.
Have you heard the expression “Rome was not built in a day”? Well, the same thing goes for body confidence. Know that the road to being okay with who you are takes time, and that it is okay if you feel down from time to time. What matters is that you are making an effort to improve how you view yourself. It is the numerous little steps that will help you to eventually be confident in your own skin.

P.S. I hope you find these tips helpful, and I wish you the best of luck on your path to body confidence! ☺

Sincerely,
Alexandra Pepe
New Canaan High School, Class of 2020
New Canaan, Connecticut