Yes! you can love your looks

Girls' Life, Oct-Nov, 2002 by Jodi Lynn Bryson

Ever think life would be perfect if only you could change one little thing about your appearance? Well, think about this--maybe ifs all about attitude. Six real girls tell you why you should stop worrying about your "flaws" and accept that you are gorgeous just the way you are.

What do you see in the mirror? According to a recent study on girls and self--esteem, nearly nine out of 10 of you hate what you see in the mirror. But guess what--you're not ugly. Or fat. You don't have yucky hair or weird boobs or a screwed-up nose either.

The truth? Feeling beautiful is, first and foremost, all about getting it right in your head. Yes, most of us look better with a great haircut, flattering clothes and maybe a swipe of lip gloss. And it doesn't hurt to be active and healthy. But all the lip gloss in the world won't help if you re not at peace with the skin you're in. Clothes and makeup are the icing. You're the cake!

So how can you learn to love your sweet self just as you are? Looking for role models who love their looks is a good start. Instead of wishing you could look like a supermodel, focus on real girls with positive self-images.

To get you started, meet these six girls who've done self-esteem 180s. Each girl had a "flaw" she used to obsess over. But then, she learned to dig herself as is, "flaw" and all. Don't believe us? Here are their very personal stories of how they learned to love their looks--boobs, hair, freckies, height, whatever. When you're done reading this, look in the mirror. Unless you're as stubborn as glue, you'll realize that the babe looking back at you is perfectly lovely just the way she is.

A athletic build

amanda garhart, 16

"I felt like everyone was looking at me and thinking I was so fat."

I have always been bigger than most of my friends. Growing up, I always thought, "How come I'm not the same size as they are?" But the real blow came in seventh grade during gym class. This boy made a really mean comment about how big my butt was and how my legs jiggled when I ran. I didn't say anything because I was shocked and embarrassed. Then later that day, I found myself thinking, "Is it true?" I rushed home from school to look in the mirror, examining my body for what seemed like hours. I checked out my legs first and then looked at myself all over. I convinced myself that boy was right--I was big and fat.

From that day on, I became really self-conscious about my looks. That guy's mean remark made me self-critical and totally without confidence. I hated my body so much. During my freshman year of high school, I started working out. I also went out for sports teams. And I discovered that being taller and bigger can be a good thing, especially in the sports I play--basketball, field hockey and soccer. Working out made me feel good about my body and, for the first time, I realized I could use my size as an advantage. In basketball, when a skinnier girl takes a shot, I can block it. In field hockey and soccer, I can be like a solid wall when the attackers on the other team are coming at me.

Once I started to use what I was given, I learned to love my body. But here's what I wish someone would have told me from the start: Don't compare yourself to anyone. There is no perfect body type or weight. When I stopped comparing myself to celebrities or my skinny friends, I stopped hating my body--and I stopped thinking I was fat. I'm not fat. I have a solid, strong body, and I love it.

B big chest

courtney white, 17

"I was not cool with being known as the Big Boob Girl."

It seems no girl is ever happy with her boobs. Well, I was definitely one of those girls! I developed early and was the only girl in fifth grade who needed a bra. I cried and cried because I didn't want to be different from anyone. By middle school, I was already wearing a full C cup--and I was only 5-feet tall. At first, my mom was protective of me and encouraged me to wear baggy shirts.

In high school, I transferred from an all-girls Catholic school to a public school. I was nervous enough being the new girl, but it didn't help to hear a friend say, "That guy over there is checking out your boobs." I didn't--and I still don't--like that kind of attention. I just wanted to be normal. Some girls were like, "I wish I had your body." But they didn't understand the baggage that comes with having big boobs. Bra shopping was horrible! My sophomore year, I went to buy a new bra and discovered that my breasts had grown again--I was 5-foot-2 and a 34D. I became known as Big Boob Girl.

I've bought dresses I just had to have, and spent the evening in pain, practically suffocating because my boobs were so squished in the top. Occasionally, my back hurts. And they get in the way a lot. But this is me.

After being so uncomfortable with my body for so long, I realized I wanted to be known for something worthwhile. I made it my goal to not let my self-consciousness get in the way. I'm in every club you can think of at school, and I ran for student body president.

If you don't like your boobs for whatever reason, stop and think about something important. Big or small, this shape or that, we all have boobs. Come to terms with your body.