Why My Friends And I Are #AerieReal | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Why My Friends And I Are #AerieReal

It's time to embrace our imperfections.

26
Why My Friends And I Are #AerieReal
Katie Bertrand

It’s hard growing up as a young girl. It feels like a constant battle between who we are and who we should be. In today’s age of social media, it’s easy to feel compelled to look a certain way. Fitness celebrities on Instagram make it seem impossible to reach their so-called “fitness goals.” American Eagle’s loungewear brand Aerie decided to take a stance against these cookie-cutter images a young girl constantly sees. The brand decided to stop retouching their models and started the #aeriereal campaign.

I commend Aerie for taking such a stance. It’s hard enough to grow up feeling comfortable in your own skin. Images of Victoria’s Secret models only add to this difficulty. I don’t think anyone can recreate those overly sexy beach poses. If only their bikinis came with the ability to go to the beach, pose like that, and leave without a trace of sand in the wrong places.

I think the important thing to note is that women’s bodies are not cookie-cutter. We’re all unique and we should be celebrating those differences, not repressing them. Aerie uses models of all body types. Some of these models even have scars or beauty marks that aren’t photo shopped. There’s something empowering about looking at their advertisements and seeing pieces of yourself in their models.

The reality is that there is no “perfect body.” We should be encouraging girls to be healthy and comfortable with their bodies. Scars, stretch marks, and freckles are all physical characteristics that make us beautiful. It’s taken me time to see this with my own body. Spending hours in the gym obsessing over having the “perfect body” isn’t a great mindset to have.

My friends are all beautiful in their own way and shouldn't be defined by their body types. Two of my friends and I went to the beach in our new Aerie bikinis and reminded ourselves that it was okay we didn't have perfectly tanned "beach bodies." We encouraged each other to be confident and embrace our natural imperfections.

I’ve made the change to start thinking about what will make my body and I remain healthy. I now focus on working out as a way of stress relief and something that will make me happy. I think it is time we start teaching girls that their bodies are beautiful. Our imperfections make us human and give us a reason to embrace our differences.

Thank you, Aerie, for reminding us that our bodies are not only real, but that they are beautiful.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2812
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1679
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200945
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21366
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments