"My thighs are too big. My boobs are really tiny. My teeth stick out. My tummy isn’t flat. My ears stick out a bit. My ribs stick out too much. I can’t get rid of these stretch marks and the cellulite under my butt cheeks.’ How many times have you stood naked in front of the mirror just before you got in the shower, and listed down the things you hated about your body? How many times have you flicked through the latest issue of a magazine or through your Instagram feed and asked yourself, why couldn’t you have a natural, flawless look with which you are happy? This is the most normal thing which all women and young girls go through from time to time. We have days where we feel like we can just rule the world and others where we just want to hide under the bed covers and down a jar of ben and jerry’s ice cream (as if that will make anything better).
The images fed to us by the media are ending up disheartening young girls from feeling confident to achieve their dreams. At the tender age of 13, 53% of girls are already unhappy with their body image, according to The Representation Project, and as the age increases, so does the percentage — it is estimated that at the age of 17, 78% are unhappy with their body image!
One must keep in mind that most of these body “issues” are not issues in the first place, and they are just who we are; they are completely normal. The more open you are about your body, the more you will realise that you are not alone when it comes to having insecurities and ultimately, you will grasp that there is nothing to be insecure about to begin with!
1. Fat
How many times have you told yourself that you’re "feeling fat’? This is a universal experience for women and it is also growing with men. First of all, one must remember that fatness is not a feeling, as a body image activist from Buzzfeed, Caroline Rothstein had pointed out in a video, “when I "feel fat’, I know that it means that I’m feeling something else and it’s not worth figuring out what it is.” Nonetheless, society encourages us to associate being fat as being a kind of failure.
It is very important to highlight that there is nothing wrong with being fat in the first place. Fat is a natural and necessary feature of the human body, and it is very normal for women to carry an extra layer of fat when compared to men. Many doctors have come to the conclusion that an ideal body weight of an individual is something personal.
2. Cellulite
Everyone is very much aware that there are a numerous amount of products in the market which promote the capability to reduce or eradicate cellulite. What one fails to mention or ever know is that cellulite is the result of how some women’s bodies store fat.
Artists like Nikolay Lam are trying to eradicate this concept that cellulite is a flaw by representing it like a normal body feature — which it is. How is he doing this? By the creation of the anatomically proportioned doll called "Lammily’. Yes, this doll is actually out there. Google it.
3. Acne
8 in 10 teens get acne. Why? It’s caused by hormonal changes which are a part of puberty. This will normally clear up eventually but sometimes, some people are left with a little bit of scaring. Can you get rid of this scaring? Yes! Just go to a dermatologist and he will give you a prescription for your acne. Don’t try over the counter products. It would be much better if you get it checked out properly and to be prescribed for your particular case of acne. This is just a fun (ironic) part of growing up.
4. Uneven Breasts
Almost all women have this conception that there is something known to be as "the perfect breasts’ as let’s face it, boobs are everywhere, and this is why breast augmentation was ranked as the top cosmetic surgery procedure performed in the year 2014.
The truth: breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Big. Small. Perky. Droopy. You name it, it’s there. AND there is also a very common thing called "uneven breasts’. Yes, where one boob is slightly different than the other. This is a very normal thing, which very often happens due to hormonal changes such as being menstrual cycle related or simple as genetics. Want to see now normal this is? Celebrities have spoken out about this issue, including Jennifer Lawrence, who has joked about her uneven breasts and Keira Knightly, who recently posed topless for magazine in order to fight against the stigma. So what? You don’t have what is considered as "perfect boobage’ – it’s fine!
There are numerous of other body issues out there, I just listed a few that came to mind here. These little imperfections are what make you, you. These so-called "issues’ should not be obstacles keeping you from doing your own thing. Keep your head held high and move forward!