I’m writing this in hopes that there are others out there, like me, who need some type of reassurance that they are not alone. I am not writing this because I think I am better than anyone else, and I am not trying to put others down. I just want to reach out and say — what now?

I have never really struggled with my appearance. I have always been comfortable with my looks. That’s not to say that I don’t have bad hair days or that sometimes I wished I was more tan, or thin, or that I’ve never had a zit. That’s not true at all. But, overall, I’ve always liked how I look, and I’ve never experienced that low self-esteem that many of those I know suffer(ed) from.

And over the years I’ve started to feel ashamed of that. Ashamed that I like me. I like my face! I like my body! I like my hair and my eyes and even my silly little nose! But the media tells us we need to constantly be fixing ourselves. And I wondered why I didn’t always feel that way. Was it wrong that I wanted to stay how I was? Was I conceited because I thought I was beautiful?

The answer is assuredly NO! 

I have never understood how the world today puts such an emphasis on physical beauty, and offers a million and one fixes, but the instant we think we are “fixed” society then shames us by telling us we are being conceited, cocky, full of ourselves, boastful.

We need to stop it. 

There is no reason to feel ashamed that we like our looks and our bodies. Women are beautiful. We are creations, daughters of God, and we deserve to feel beautiful.

No matter what size, what skin type, what coloring, what height, we are all beautiful. And it’s ok — and good even! — to feel that way. So next time you look in the mirror, don’t feel bad that you like what you see. Be grateful, embrace it, live with that confidence, and don’t let anyone tell you that that your self-confidence is misplaced. It’s not.