it's time to begin, isn't it?

Happy day, beautiful.

And believe me, you are beautiful.

I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking a lot about beauty, and our perception of it. How people see others and more importantly, how they see themselves. I don’t think 99% of girls realise how truly beautiful they are. 

I’m not talking external, small-waist-long-legs-blonde-hair-and-blue-eyes beauty. I’m talking about being yourself, and that being truly beautiful, inside and out.

So there’s something I want you to do, go to the mirror, right now - with make-up, without make-up - and look at yourself. I mean really look at yourself. Drink it in, because this is YOU.

Stop worrying about your hair, it fits you just right. The scars on your body are precious, symbols of your journey, where you may have fallen, but are now standing here in front of me.  When you smile, there’s this wonderful sparkle in your eye. Your hands are perfect and unique. You have a good heart and you conquer every day no matter what it throws it at you. 

I don’t care if you’re over-weight or under-weight, or average, whether you have large or small breasts, whether you are tall or short, or the colour of your skin, or if you have acne or crooked teeth, or one eye is smaller than the other. I don’t care that you have a little pooch on your tummy, or that you have wrinkles under your eyes, I don’t care if you have large hips, or big feet, and you shouldn’t care either, because as long as these body parts are a part of you, they are beautiful.

There are three very important words that every girl should learn and MEAN: I. love. myself.

While you’re there, for what may be the first time, properly looking at yourself in the mirror - who you are; who you have become; and who you continue to grow to be - say these words to yourself. Repeat them if you have to until they sink in. No matter what anyone says, no matter what society deems ‘pretty’ – you are more than that. No girl should ever be confined to a 5 letter word. 

You will be: ‘pretty’ intelligent, ‘pretty’ amazing, ‘pretty’ funny, ‘pretty’ incredible, but you will never be merely ‘pretty’. You are BEAUTIFUL.

As someone who knows exactly how it feels to think you’re not ‘pretty’, to feel like you’re not what the magazines say you should be, to feel like you’re not quite good enough, I think sometimes we all need to read words like these. 

Someone loves you just as you are, at this very moment. So love yourself. Know what you are.  

Know what I see when I look at you.

ex oh ex oh,

Amant de la mode