Redefine Beauty

If you know me, you know that I'm all about empowering women (both young and old) and loving yourself regardless of who you are or what you've done. No matter where you're from or who you hang around, everyone knows that the "beautiful" girls have long, straight hair and skin without hair or freckles and the body of a Greek goddess and the voice of an angel and look like the white/brown/black/yellow/whatever color version of Barbie. I guess I was kind of lucky; I went to college the same small size I had been since I was in middle school, had foundation that would cover up my few freckles and a CHI flat iron that would tame my crazy mufasa hair. Hey, I get it from my momma. I don't remember ever disliking my body--myself--until my last year of college when I put on about 30 lbs in a matter of a few months. I cried for weeks about my jeans not fitting me, my stomach being flabby and my face breaking out due to all the stress. I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror without feeling disgusted by the way I looked. I nearly hated myself because I had this distorted, delusional view of what I thought I should look like. The ads in the magazines, on TV, plastered on billboards, displayed across Times Square all tell me that thin is beautiful, flawless is beautiful, PERFECT is beautiful.

We all know that quote in which Marilyn Monroe states that "imperfection is beauty." I see it all the time posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, used as a caption for some girl's picture. But you know what? She was right; imperfection is beauty.

I had always understood the meaning of that quote, but I had never truly grasped the power of those words until I was able to accept my own imperfections and love myself with them, for them because they are what make me different. I remember reading some quotes across a two page spread in a magazine, Marie Claire I think, from women across the world saying what they love about themselves and why. I don't read magazines much, but I will always remember that--the woman who loved her "big" nose because it was distinct and the woman who loved the gap in her teeth because it made her different. These "flaws" are what make us unique, they are what adds to each person's individual and incomparable beauty!

After watching this AMAZING video done by Dove (http://hellogiggles.com/watch-selfie-by-dove-and-see-how-we-can-redefine-beauty-together) I couldn't help but feel the need to share. This video isn't just about empowering our young girls and educating them on the true meaning of beauty; it's about changing our views and redefining what society has always told us is "beautiful." I encourage all of you to take your own selfies--by yourself, with a friend, your sister, your mother, a stranger--and post them using the hashtag at the end of the video, saying what beauty is to you.
TOGETHER, we can redefine beauty!