If you’ve been on twitter recently, perhaps you’ve seen a sponsored tweet from Dove with the hashtag #MyBeautyMySay.

The campaign was launched this year with this video, featuring six women including female boxer Heather Hardy, fashion blogger Jessica Torres, and lawyer Marcia Vieira. These women shared their story of how society has skewed the modern definition of beauty and how each of these women were able to stand up for their beauty even when others tried to use their looks against them.

But this empowering campaign did not stop there.

Recently, female athletes have joined the campaign and taken to social media sharing tweets with quotes from the press, including negative quotes from NBC sports, Daily Mail, Fox News, and more. These athletes are demanding that they be recognized for their performance rather than their appearance. Dove’s data shows that we’ve been exposed to media comments about a female athlete’s performance 217.3 Million times since 4/1/16.

Earlier this month, Tamara Holder, the host of Sports Court, hosted a debate about Olympic athletes wearing makeup.Former detective for the New York City Police Bo Dietl and Mark Simone, NYC radio host joined Tamara for what can only be described as a sexist, chauvinistic dialogue towards female and male Olympic athletes alike. Dietl explained, "I like to see a person that wins that gold medal go up there and look beautiful." He went on to suggest that Michael Phelps should wear makeup when he accepts his gold medals so not to look like “a white rat.”

I’m not sure what exactly qualified these two men or Tamara to speak on this subject, but it is quite disheartening. It is disheartening as it is that this is a topic of debate in 2016, when women have been participating in the Olympics since the early 1900’s.

As uncomfortable as I am with the media’s conversations on the topic, the response that I have seen from athletes on social media and from companies, like Dove, is encouraging. The comments about athlete’s appearance that Dove has pulled from the media for this campaign are certainly discouraging, but I also believe that this campaign shows progress. It gives female athletes a voice, and boldly calls for fans and news reporters alike to take a look at the scoreboard instead of at their hair and nails.

American gymnast and gold medalist Shawn Johnson East tweeted:

It’s frustrating to work so hard and then be judged by your leotard. Let’s change the story. #MyBeautyMySay

The tweet has 1.9k favorites. Johnson has also been recognized for her charity work, and her recent “I am second” interview, in which she opens up about how the many trials that she has faced have led her to true freedom.

WNBA athlete Candace Parker also tweeted the following:

Proud to partner w/ @Dove to encourage positive portrayals of female athletes http://bit.ly/2aLeQFP #MyBeautyMySay

Olympic Gold medalist swimmer Rebecca Soni spoke up on twitter as well:

There's more to a female athlete than her appearance. Let's focus on her strength! #MyBeautyMySay @dove #DovePartner

I can only hope that by the time the 2020 Olympics are here, this conversation is irrelevant and that the media will to focus on the strength and accomplishments of athletes, not what they are or are not wearing. Male and Female athletes alike should be recognized for their character, talent, and courage, not for how they dress or look. I am encouraged to see what Dove is doing and to see so many talented athletes get behind this movement.

So did Shawn Johnson wear lipstick during the 2008 Olympics? I don’t remember. But I do remember her gold medal. And that’s what should be remembered.

If you, too would like to share your voice and join the conversation on twitter, visit http://www.dovehaveyoursay.com/?gclid=CO7andPAv84C...