I am the first person to admit that I love selfies. I love taking them, seeing them, posting them, following people who post them. I love when my friends post them, when my sister posts them and when the random people I follow on Instagram post them. There is no shame in saying I can appreciate a good selfie.

What I don't understand is that the majority of people have a negative opinion on selfies and the people who take them. Why is it that when someone is feeling confident, or just got their hair done and want to show it off, it is seen as a bad thing? Taking a picture of yourself has become boastful, cocky and annoying to some.

What I would like to see is a positive community around selfies. We have been told since we were at a young age to be confident in who we are regardless of others remarks and opinions. I want to see encouragement, love and positivity for one another. Especially as a female, it is common to see competition and sarcasm take place rather than kind words to one another. It is very disheartening to hear "That girl takes too many pictures of herself. She's not even that pretty." Statements like these have swarmed high school hallways, college classrooms, social media platforms and almost any other place possible. Jealousy has taken place where encouragement and positivity should live. I would rather hear "That girl is so pretty, I love the way she does her hair". It doesn't need to be a competition between girls. I have never been shy to admit that I think a girl is pretty. Maybe there is a twinge of jealousy but I would never go out of my way to tear another girl down.

I think there needs to be a total intervention on how we view selfies and of one another. So please, next time you're feeling yourself, Beyonce style, take a selfie. Put a filter on, don't put a filter on and post it with a smile. Next time you see someone post a selfie, please, like it. Comment on it and tell them they look great but please don't do the "Omg gurl ur so pretty, can i be you?". There is jealousy and insecurity dripping in that comment. Give a full-hearted and meaningful compliment. We need to stop judging one another and tearing each other down. It is time to take a selfie, love it, post it, be confident in it. Like every selfie, favorite every picture and spread positivity. You never know who needs to hear it.

xo