My heart hurts for them. It hurts for the girls who, all around me, constantly lament how "fat" they are and eat nothing but salad, girls who pile on makeup starting at the age of nine, girls who are overcritical about their appearance. If beauty is defined as tall, slim, perfect hair and porcelain-smooth skin, it only drives girls into despair, lost in the throes of self-consciousness. The truth is, there is no definition of beauty. I've seen stunningly gorgeous women of every skin color, shape, and size. Why should a certain group of people behind the media dictate what beauty is? The models on the covers of magazines are digitally enhanced anyway, airbrushed and contorted until they're just pretty pieces of plastic.
I know it's hard. God knows I've struggled with feeling worthless and ugly many times. I've looked at my body and seen nothing but a shapeless form, I've seen myself in the mirror and been disgusted at the figure looking back at me. But I've come to be thankful that I have a body at all. And I've been learning and growing and discovered it's okay to be different from models. And yes, I know that "the only beauty that really matters is on the inside", but as women, we crave to feel beautiful on the outside too. So keep your head up, beautiful. Don't despair. God has made you fearfully and wonderful and you're beautiful just the way you are.
Yes!! I agree with every word you just said. Today's society brainwashes girls and even some boys to want to look a certain way. But it's positive posts like these that really shine light on the reality of beauty :) Great post!
ReplyDeletewhat a great post. we all feel sorry for what america has done to self-image…i'll be praying for all the girls of america who struggle with self image.
ReplyDelete-kelsey
http://simplybeautifulthoughts.blogspot.com
I loved this, Carlotta! This is so true. I struggle myself.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. You may, however, wish to catch that little typo in the last paragraph - you said you'd discovered that it's okay "not to be different from models", which I am sure is not what you mean at all ;)
ReplyDelete-Christie
I believe it's something we all go through. It's nice to know the people that matter look at the heart.
ReplyDeleteposts like this make me so proud of you.
ReplyDeletexx
@christie: fixed, thank you!
ReplyDeletethank you for this post, carlotta!!! i struggle with this too!!!
ReplyDeleteamen. amen. amen. i found this quote on tumblr:
ReplyDelete"unfortunately, our society sends a huge message: unless you are good looking, you don't matter much." this broke my heart. i cried for a few minutes.
i've done a few posts like yours on my blog. it just makes me wonder how people live with their faces constantly hidden behind these walls. how can they stand it? i pray for each and every one of them, even if i don't know what they look like, or sound like, or anything. because they are beautiful. i try to tell everyone they are. they don't have to listen, but still.
amazing, amazing post. also, how did you do the text on that photo?
-jocee <3
thank you so much for this. i was feeling down today, and needed this reminder ;)
ReplyDeleteamen. i long ago accepted the fact that my body is my body and i can't change it...why would I?! i'm made in the image of God :)
ReplyDeletelovely post :)
ReplyDeletexo dana
thewonderforest.com
I think a lot of girls struggle with that, as you said. God made us special in His eyes, perfect. "
ReplyDeleteFavour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." ♦ Proverbs 31: 30
This post is magical, I love it. Gave me a boost today (:
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this, Carlotta. I've needed it for quite some time :)
ReplyDelete-Autumn
this is a beautiful post! Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteGreat words, Carlotta! Thanks for the encouragement!!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a project on Facebook, namely The Palm Project (http://www.facebook.com/thepalmproject), which I found out about a few weeks ago. I posted about it on my blog afterwards: http://jessicaruthimaging.blogspot.com/2011/11/palm-project.html.
Every girl needs to be reminded that she's beautiful because God created us in his image.
-Jess
oh, carlotta. i love every word in this post.
ReplyDeletexo
amen. to every single word. i'm so happy to have an amazing & encouraging friend such as yourself.
ReplyDeletexo
I need this Carlotta. This so horribly true for me... Thanks for writing it!
ReplyDeleteellie<3
Oh carlotta, I so needed to hear this, thank you!! I completely agree with each and every word. <3
ReplyDeleteincredible post!
ReplyDeletewww.radiant-joy.blogspot.com
There is nothing more beautiful than a young woman who is graced with confidence in the person God has made her to be. Wonderful post, Carlotta. :)
ReplyDeletewonderful post, dear carlotta. Personally, I've never worried and fretted over my weight or appearance, especially since I don't go to public school. However, over the last couple years, I've been under more pressure to conform to the world, and try to look like a super model, and so this post is really encouraging to me. Thank you for this inspiration!
ReplyDeletexoxo
simi
thanks! that just makes me feel a whole lot better! i agree, it's what's inside that matters! ;)
ReplyDeleteI think we all needed to hear this post. It was very encouraging and your blog is truly a blessing. Thank you for this, I have been struggling lately but kind of keeping it to myself.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post.
So good, I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're beautiful Carlotta :) I think it's good to have an idea of outer beauty -- but not the idea that the media portrays! Every woman should strive to be beautiful in their own way. Maybe that's their bright blue eyes. Maybe it's their clear skin, or red natural blush. Maybe it's their big smile.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
~Liz B
agreed. completely.
ReplyDeleteagreed. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post Carlotta. I wish that every girl on the planet who is struggling with those feelings could read this.
ReplyDeletehmm--as someone who as always been "the skinny girl," I SO know what you're saying. this is truth. ♥♥
ReplyDeletealso, have I ever mentioned before that you're beautiful?
oh.
well.
you're beautiful.
this post is so beautiful and encouraging, carlotta!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for inspiring us all. girls definitely need to read this kinds of posts a lot more nowadays!
~Holly
p.s. and yes, you are beautiful. inside and out. i haven't even met you, but i can just tell from your wonderful blog : )
Loved this, Carlotta. :) You go girl. Thanks for the encouragement~~it really means a lot. I try to get this message out on my own blog a lot, too--though I struggle with the same thing daily.
ReplyDeleteBless you, babe!
~Lucia @ Umbrella Girl
{www.one-beloved.blogspot.com}
p.s. (umm..you're beautiful!!)
I am much older than you, and I still struggle with this. Thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, so much Carlotta. I love how honest you are. :)
ReplyDeleteLove,
~bree
yes.
ReplyDelete{and please never try to look 'better' for a guy. because it will end in tears, smudged mascara, and a broken heart.}
"you gotta keep your head up, oh. you gotta keep your head up, ayyyy"
ReplyDeletethat's the only part i know of that song, but it has a good message!
:)
beautiful post. and i can't get over that first picture -- so simple & gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteps. you're beautiful :)
What a wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is beautiful. I am seriously obsessed with it.
ReplyDeleteOh Carlotta I love you so so much. Can we be best friends?
ReplyDeleteThis post has such a simple message, yet so much meaning. I have struggled immensely with body image/confidence/self-love issues. I used to look at myself and just cry, I used to starve myself, I used to be so brutal to myself in my thoughts to myself and it's only been in the last few weeks that I've started being nice to myself and loving myself again.
I want to do a photo project or something about this. What I really want to do is take pictures of lots and lots of young women looking beautiful without being that "model skinny". The only problem is is I'd have to ask people I probably didn't know if I could take their picture and I'm too uncomfortable with that!
This is a very powerful message that needs to be shouted out loud and clear!! Everyone is beautiful in their own special way!! :) Thank you for posting this!
ReplyDeletei wrote an essay about that :)
ReplyDeletelove this.
ReplyDeletethank you.
Godbless you Carlotta!
ReplyDeleteBeauty is Skin Deep......
Why would some one so prettyand beautiful and talented as you think that? i mean i myself am ugly and shapless ....but you are very pretty and look great in everything
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting is how everyone thinks girls who are tall, slim, and have perfect hair and skin must never struggle with body image.
ReplyDeleteNews flash: we do.
I don't have perfect skin, but I'm very tall (5/8 inch away from six feet), skinny, and have nice hair. At least, I like my hair.
I've struggled with being tall, believe it or not, since I was eight or nine. Being taller than everyone around you can be a real relational iceberg. People feel, and frequently say, that they feel short around me - like my being tall is bad? I couldn't help it, jerk!
Many, many have been the times that I've wished I were shorter - so people wouldn't stare, so I wouldn't search the web for hours to find jeans long enough, so every adult in existence wouldn't rudely comment on my height, so I could feel more comfortable around guys, so I wouldn't have restless leg syndrome or hit my head on the ceiling when I jump off the stairs.
I mean, life as a tall person isn't hopeless. It sure gets irritating sometimes, but I've learned how to deal with it. Ice cold stare, anyone? And the times I've made friends and bonded with people over height have been, like, the best times. Ever. So yay for tall people! Yes, we have issues, but we have our own advantages. For example, there is a college scholarship for girls over 5'10...just because. :D
Oh. And never comment on a tall person's height. We consider as rude and insensitive as saying to a short person, "You're really short."
Great post!
Thank you for this! /You're/ beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSOLI DEO GLORIA!
-Kyrie<><
I needed to read this. Thanks :)
ReplyDelete