Body double

Girls' Life, June, 2001

Your summer BEF is sportin' a new hod. Can you measure up?

TWIN PEAKS She's your BFF from camp--has been for three summers running. You haven't seen her since last summer, and whoa! Did aliens put pod-people in her hod, or are those real boobs? You've e-mailed and chatted, so how come she didn't mention she's suddenly a 34C? You're still dodging corny comments about pancakes and boards (ha-ha). How dare she race ahead in this puberty thing and dust you! Well, slow down, sister. The race isn't over, and you can still be buds despite her new, er...buds.

TEEN QUEEN Now, you're feeling a tad insecure. You're worried you look more like her little sis than her BFF. You bet she's packing nonsense in her designer luggage--like bikinis, razors, fancy moisturizers and those weird eyelash thingies. Not only is her body unrecognizable, but she's like a total teenager! When Kelly, 11, ran into her BFF at camp last summer, she hardly recognized Amy: "She was thinner, had hips and even boobs.

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The guys were ga-ga for her. I was skeptical that her new figure would make her behave differently, too. I was wrong." Don't be intimidated by her new curves, and try not to make her feel uncomfortable--the changes probably haven't been that easy on her either. So, forget the waterproof mascara. She's still your BFF--no matter what Mother Nature did to her.

THE FOUR SEASONS Hey! You're still BFF material--even if you are a couple months behind blooming season. Stacy, 12, agrees, "We're still best friends, and changing bodies won't ever get in the way of that!" Reminisce about last year's talent show, your massive mosquito bites and that unfortunate canoe incident. Talk about the wacky stuff she's going through. Maybe she even has some tips--like what's up with underwires. Puberty's totally normal and natural. If it hasn't hit you yet, it will. So, bikini waxes aside, keep that friendship going--you'll be glad you did.