I am smart.  I am beautiful.  I am unique.  I love who I am, and I pledge each day to write down at least one thing about myself that makes me special.
~ from the "O Beautiful Girl" contract by Oprah

Defining Beauty Affects
Girls Self-Esteem

It seems that when it comes to beauty we are obsessed with putting people into categories. 

Categories such as:

• Ugly Girl

• Pretty Girl

• Beautiful Girl

• Homely Girl

are just a few of the categories out there used to determine one's level of beauty.

What's shocking is how many beautiful people would put themselves into the ugly people category.

What's even more shocking is how many people are NOT ugly at all but still place themselves into the ugly people category.

The Image of Perfection

This belief in ugliness comes from the tendency to focus more on flaws and the things we think are ugly about ourselves.  This is also a major cause of low self-esteem.

This belief in ugliness comes from trying to measure up to an image of perfection of what beauty is and what makes a person beautiful.   

It's also interesting to note that so called "pretty people" tend to pick on their flaws (because we all have flaws) and to categorize themselves as ugly, therefore depleting their self-esteem.

Meanwhile, so-called "ugly people" are also developing a low self-esteem and, in worst case scenarios, self-hatred. 

A Travesty that so Few are Happy with their Looks

Therefore, I say this:

"Enough is enough.  Beauty is beauty, and it comes in many forms.  So let's celebrate our unique, amazing and one-of-a-kind-beautiful-ness!"

Ugly people, pretty people, bad people, good people.  Come on folks, it's time to just BE and to recognize that each of us is truly beautiful exactly as we are!

I declare, and hope you will too, that beauty is NOT about perfection, rather it is about loving, without condition or comparison, your uniqueness.

To your improved self-esteem...