Recently, I've experienced some things that are really starting to bother me, and I need to call attention to it - not for myself, but for others who may still be struggling with finding who they really are.

A few weeks ago, I got a nose piercing. You'd think that wouldn't be a big deal, but apparently it was and it really upset a lot of people. I posted a selfie on Snapchat, and immediately some guy who hardly knows me texted me saying "Babe, do yourself a favor and take that ring out of your nose". Um, first of all, don't call me "babe," and second, when did people start believing they have any say in what others do? This is just one example out of many, but I keep seeing and experiencing similar things, and I can't help but ask myself why people care so much about what someone else is doing.

Throughout my life, I've struggled with self-confidence and finding my true self - and being happy with who I really am. The older I get, the more I realize that what other people think or say doesn't matter as long as what I'm doing makes me feel happy and beautiful. Even though I do believe my happiness comes first, I'd be lying to you if I said it didn't make me feel bad or insecure when people tell me I look better as a blonde, or that I wear too much makeup, or that whatever I'm currently doing is wrong in some way. But the things I do to my physical appearance don't change who I am on the inside. Anything I change or add to my outward appearance doesn't mean anything except that I'm making myself feel beautiful and confident, why would anyone feel the need to ruin that for another person?

I see this constantly on social media. People will literally post pictures of other people and critique their style, makeup, hair, things they like/dislike, and I'll never understand why others feel the need to just be flat out mean for no reason. Why can't we celebrate the things that make us different? If everyone was the same, the world would be so boring, I think we can all agree on that.

Every single person on this planet was created in a unique way for a reason. No one has the same body or mind, but why do we see that as something bad instead of good? Even now, I am still hesitant to be my 100% true self due to the fact that I'm afraid of the criticism I'll get, and it's disappointing that that's even something I and many others have to worry about.

So I want to challenge society - I want us to start appreciating what makes others happy instead of insulting it. Be happy for the girl who likes to wear a lot of makeup, learn to see beauty in different skin colors and body shapes, be open to thoughts and ideas other than your own, and learn to understand that anything someone else does is none of your business unless they are physically harming you. No one has a right to tell someone that being their true, authentic self is wrong. Would you want someone to do to that to you? No, of course not. And anyone that makes you feel bad for making yourself happy shouldn't be in your life anyway.

If you start to feel the need to criticize someone else, you need to ask yourself why what they're doing is bothering you so much, and then change it. A life that's full of bitterness towards other people's happiness sounds miserable, and I don't know anyone who would consciously choose that for themselves.

The only way to be truly beautiful is to love yourself and don't change for anyone. Self-love is the most beautiful thing anyone could ever have, and it's important to know that you are not capable of loving anyone else until you love yourself first. Everyone deserves love and to be loved no matter what, so don't make anyone feel like they're less deserving of happiness for being themselves.