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Home Your feelings Young women's thoughts on body image Real beauty comes from the heart (text-only version)

Real beauty comes from the heart (text-only version)

Opening the magazine page, I don't see a reflection of myself. I see portions of women with flat stomachs and PERFECT figures. After all my life wondering why I can't be a model, and becoming filled with self-hatred, anger, and DOUBT, it HAD to stop. When I look in the mirror, I don't see Tyra Banks or Niki Taylor. I see me, a beautiful, intelligent, wonderful young woman. My brilliance shines from the inside, from my heart. Although I don't see shiny magazine pages printed with thin MADE-UP COMPUTER-EDITED WOMEN, the reality of my face and body is more beautiful than that any day. I reflect a life full of experience, full of love and anger, and my beauty overpowers a room, not just the magazine page.

Content last updated May 18, 2010

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