As the summer approaches, teenagers put on their brave face, take a deep breath and step on the scale. No matter what number appears on the screen, insecurities bubble up and break loose; all of this because of the expectation to have the “perfect summer body.”

High School is filled with different personalities, body types, and fashion but being a vulnerable teen makes you susceptible to wanting what you see on everyone else. With that being said, it’s important to have a little confidence to reassure you through the judgmental zoo that is high school.

One of the biggest desires is to look like those around us and many judge themselves until they can finally squeeze into those double zero jeans from 5th grade. And honestly it’s hard not to feel that way.

Every time you flip through a magazine there’s a perfectly tan model wearing that shirt you’ve always wanted and everytime you scroll through your feed on instagram there’s that perfect celebrity flashing everything you wish you could be. Well, news flash hun it’s fake.

Those magazine models are airbrushed to look curvy and flawless, and Kim Kardashian has had $33,000 worth of work done to make her envious to the public.

You’re told to be yourself and love who you are but then we turn around and we’re constantly confronted with skinny models, fancy clothes and perfect skin. When we’re repeatedly faced with double standards it’s hard to truly accept yourself and somehow the media has yet to understand that.

Thankfully there’s a bright light tunneling through the contradictory feelings and self doubt. There has been an uproar of stars, positive body bloggers and lovable strangers rising above the nonsense of body shaming.  

World renowned actress, Kate Winslet, spoke out about body shaming by delivering an empowering speech on how she finally found her self worth.

Another huge body confidence activist, Demi Lovato, has been one of the most active celebrities to talk about her childhood trauma and insecurities. When talking with People magazine Lovato states, “I am more than a number and a jean size.”

Among Lovato and Winslet, Ashley Graham has been an extremely influential body activists and plus size model speaking out against body shaming. But many don’t realize the multitude of big shots who feel the same way you do like, Viola Davis, Chrissy Metz, Simone Biles and yes, even Dwyane Wade and Chris Pratt. YOU’RE NOT ALONE!

The time comes for many where the feeling of complete helplessness washes over them and many resort to the downward spiral that is forced starvation. Eating disorders have engulfed the teenagers of our generations and warped their mental state. Eating disorders go way to back the 1960s when the modeling industry became the skinniest of the skinny. This was due to the fashion industries culture and obsession with overly slender bodies. During the 1970’s bulimia and anorexia reached its peak and continues to do so 50 years later.

Over 30 million people in the U.S alone suffer from disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and every hour an innocent person falls victim to their deadly symptoms. Demi Lovato suffered greatly from these diseases as a kid but something struck inside her and she has reached the ultimate epiphany,“Sometimes when I’m having bad body image days, I remind myself that I’d rather live in freedom from my eating disorder than worry about what people think about my body.”

When you’re having a bad body image day it’s not your body it’s your feelings/emotions. You could look in the mirror and love the way you look then turn around after an argument or a big meal and think you gained 10 pounds.

One of the hardest things to do as a young adult is to learn to feel confident in who you are and when your body doesn’t represent how you feel it can be a tremendously dreadful feeling. Kate Winslet states,“You have to be indestructible to do what you love, and believe that you are worth it. And sometimes that’s the hardest part.”

It’s not only important to understand your beauty but to surround yourself with people who understand it as well.

No matter how bad the days get You Are Beautiful.