Dear body shamer's,

Rewind to the 1950's. Marilyn Monroe was the epitome of beauty. Glorious thighs and a wonderful hourglass figure. Curves were praised and idolized. But as the years went on, the smaller you were, the more you fit into the ideal figure. No matter the body size or shape, everyone should be confident and be considered beautiful. Nobody should be put down because their body doesn't measure up to such high and ridiculous standards.

Too bad nothing is that easy.

We're living in an era where thigh gaps and wrapping dollar bills around our wrists are ways of knowing you fit in with the media's perception of beauty. We're in the era of silicone, plastic and injections. We watch celebrities endorse waist trainers that morph torso's and ultimately morph everything in it's way. Little girls look up to billboards and open magazines to find airbrushed models and photo-shopped perfection.

Why is it so hard to accept bodies the way they are?

The thing with the internet is that body shamming is so much easier. If you see a video or a picture of someone who is completely happy and confident in themselves, go read the comments. If your first instinct is to post something along the lines of "Don't encourage such unhealthy behaviour!", you need to take a long and hard look in the mirror. What's unhealthy about it? The happiness, the acceptance, the positivity or the beauty?

Trick question. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with loving your body. However, there IS something wrong with putting someone down because of their appearance.

There is nothing to be ashamed of in accepting the way a body is and loving who you are. However, even when someone meets those "idealistic" body requirements, it still isn't good enough. Too skinny. Too fat. Too tall. Too short. There is no perfect body type and there is no perfect person. Men and women face the social pressures to conform and be unhappy within their skin. Why must we always find the flaws? Flaws are what make us human. If someone is happy with who they are and how they look, why does it effect you so much? Why is it so important to lose weight, gain weight, gain muscles, wear make-up or have someone fit your perceptions of what you find is beautiful?

Fun fact: It's not important at all.

However, what is important is letting someone love and feel confident in their own skin. Don't pretend like you know someone. The way someone lives their life is their own choice and if they're happy being in the skin they're in, you shouldn't worry or concern yourself.

Our bodies are made the way they're suppose to be. Every stretch-mark, every strand of hair and every blemish. A body is more than a number on a scale or a size on the back of a shirt. A body is purely human and humans need to be kind to one another. Let confidence and acceptance override all over prejudices you may have. Look at more than just the outer appearance and learn to find the inner beauty.

As Demi Lovato says, there's nothing wrong with being confident.

Sincerely,

Proud to be confident