This is a response to the article "Take A Note From Christina Yang---Encourage Girls To Focus On Their Brain Instead Of Their Beauty."

I agree with the author's article girls need to focus on their brain more than their looks. Especially in today's society where everyone is on social media and many girls on there would see models with unrealistic beauty standards. As society gets more progressive, I do notice we are focusing more what girls can offer in this world through talent, skills, and knowledge and not focus on beauty. For example, while I was watching the Hunger Games, the main character Katniss Everdeen is very skilled in archery and will do anything to protect her loves one. I admire her for her bravery and not giving up, even when it all seems lost. Katniss is one of my several strong female characters that I strive to be.

If I were to be honest, when I was in middle school, I was focus more on beauty than what I can offer or do. I remembered I had a huge crush on this one guy in 7th grade and tried to change how I look to make myself more presentable around him. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me and he went out with someone else, which made me insecure of myself. In my mind, I was like, "What does she have that I don't?" Back then, I thought it was because of how I looked. I used to have braces and short hair. Plus, I had to wear glasses sometimes to see since I was near-sighted. I wasn't confident with how I looked back then.

Fast forward as an almost 26 year old, I know more worth and know more than just my looks. My appearance has changed. I now have long hair, clear skin, no braces, and have a more muscular body due to lifting weights. My looks changed overtime and they will continue to change. But my talents, skills, and personality will shine through and make an impact on people than my looks would.

Even though I participate in pageantry, and the fact that people today still thinks it's just about looks, I wanted to use it as a vehicle to showcase my authentic self as a Gen Z Filipina American and support causes that I care for while also being a role model for people everywhere. Plus, I do have love for the stage in pageantry and dressing up. And I'll give credit to pageantry for helping make me feel more prepared when I'm doing interviews and when I'm presenting presentations for work. Lastly, I made friends and connections through it. Pageantry is becoming more progressive and I see more girls with different body types and backgrounds participate. Beauty comes in different backgrounds, shapes, and sizes, which I love to see. In the end, what matters the most to me is making an impact in your community with your work, how you carry yourself as a person, your talent, skills, and intelligence. All those aspects together are what makes a strong, powerful girl.

As we still have work to do when it comes to valuing intelligence more than looks for girls, we do have to encourage them they are more than their looks. They can go into any career field they desire. They can be a scientist, writer, actress, lawyer, CEO, etc. Let's set examples of that on social media more since a lot of them are on there. And we should show them that beauty comes in different backgrounds, shapes, and sizes and they should embrace themselves for who they are. Looks fade and change but the impact you make as an individual matters the most.