Pretty Too

by Ariel Wile

When I was a little girl, I loved to dress up. I adorned myself with frilly skirts and funky tank tops like there was no tomorrow. I’m not sure when exactly it happened, but at some point, a switch flipped. Somewhere in middle school, I started to come to terms with the fact that my body was different than those belonging to the girls I went to school with. Life became a never-ending spiral of comparison from then on.

On top of that, living in an Asian country with a population of predominantly smaller women, my mother wouldn’t hesitate to point out when I was wearing clothing that showed off too much of my thick thighs. I don’t blame her though, she meant well- believe it or not. But my relationship with my mom and the complexities that come with understanding her is a story for another day…perhaps one that you’ll read soon.

“When I was a kid, my parents couldn’t afford ‘trendy’ clothes…I could never really choose what I wore growing up. It didn’t really impact me until middle school when I realized that having a personal style is a thing. I started thrifting around 8th grade and I found a lot of things that made me feel like I was part of something…it made me feel more confident in how I portrayed myself to others.”

Avah Reed

Middle through high school was hell. I could never stand to wear awkward-length or less-than-flattering clothing, it made me itch with the discomfort of how my body looked. So my school uniform was like a trap encompassing my body, wrapping around me and making me feel helplessly exposed. My anxiety ran laps in my head telling me how weird I looked compared to everyone else, the clothes squeezing my spongy, chubby frame while the other girls wore theirs with a loose, sleek, and slim comfort. I was never not jealous of them for being thin.

“One thing I’ve been working on is trying not to shy away from trying clothes that are out of my comfort zone. Crop tops and bodycon dresses were daunting, and sometimes still are, but remembering the happiness I get when I see other people that look like me wearing clothes that accentuate their bodies rather than hide them gives me the confidence to do the same.”

Rhianna Hunt

“Don’t be afraid to experiment and wear whatever you want, even if it isn’t marketed toward your ‘body type.’ I think that as much as I love validation, someone shouldn’t crave it or constantly need it.”

Devin Hill

It took me a long time to come to terms with my appearance (and I won't lie to you and say it isn't a constant journey.) In a world practically designed to teach women they aren’t beautiful, you’re all you’ve got to teach yourself otherwise. But the second I let myself release the expectations others created of my body and who I was, I realized the pretty girl I wanted to be was there all along. I felt free and I was finally able to dress the way I wanted, free to be me—for myself and nobody else.

“I try to take the time every day to make myself feel pretty for me. I find myself feeling prettiest when I express myself in a manner that’s true to myself.”

Rhianna Hunt

Ariel Wile

Clothing will always be something incredibly important to me. I want to live in a world where every young woman feels like she has a chance to be her truest, most authentic self and express that through her style. It’s simply important for a girl to know that she is pretty, and to know that for no one but herself.