Real Beauty?

    Alright, how many times have you heard in school, magazines, home, church the phrase, "Everybody is Beautiful." ? Countless times, everybody wants to support that fact. And I really do believe in it, I just can't help but wonder how many other people believe in it. Recently I read the book, 'Reviving Ophelia' it's a book about a therapist and her work with girls that struggle with how the media portrays beauty. After reading it I wanted to somehow implant it into to everybody's head so we can stop all the prejudice and willingness to be something you're not. I especially wanted the boys to see this struggle too, so they can be aware of it. Because I look around at the women who are glorified and all I see is fake.
       Don't get me wrong, models and celebrities are gorgeous and stunning and beautiful, everything that every girl seems to care about. And I admit, I'm guilty as charged. I lay in bed and imagine what I wish I could look like. I work out every little detail until I've turned myself into a Barbie Doll inside my head. And that's what I will fall asleep wishing I could look like, and beating myself up for not being pretty enough or skinny enough. I curse at my curves as I stand by my size 0 friend, while I feel bloated at size 7. Some days I fall apart and just cry and cry, because I never seem to be enough...
       But today my perspective has changed about myself (at least for a couple hours). It's a hot, muggy August day so I spent my time on the internet and reading random things, and stalking boy bands. And somehow in that journey I came across some videos about America's obsession with beauty, (I think the whole world is obsessed with beauty but this one was focused specifically on America's young women of today). Part of the video a couple of girls interviewed boys and girls about what they look for in a 'partner.' I found it odd that EVERY single one of these boys said something along the lines of, "She has to have a tight body, and had to be really good looking or else I don't think I'd even care to approach her." I was shocked, and I'll admit that I was infuriated because all of the girls said, "Boys don't care about what I'm like inside... But I care about who they are. It doesn't make sense to me."
      It was a little mind blowing. And aggravating, and it made me want to climb inside the video and yell at those boys. Nevertheless, there are really great and genuine boys out there, I don't want to discredit their sex, some boys are incredible, and sweet, and funny. But it seems that a lot of boys are the reasons girls fall into the trap of photo shopped, cookie cutter women on bill boards. And I just want to say, that I really think everyone is their own kind of beautiful. Some girls may not be so pretty on the face, or skinny around the waste, but I really believe that if you are true to yourself that beauty will come outwards, and make a difference. (:
         That's not to say, that you can't have makeup on and do you hair, and that kind of stuff, just don't let yourself believe that's the only way that you can be happy.