by Kristina Billmyer

Created on: August 31, 2008

Girls, Especially during their teenage years, go through some of the most awkward, embarrassing and uncomfortable moments they will ever experience in their life. The experiences, feelings and emotion during these years are what they mold themselves out of. One of the things girls want to change about themselves the most is their appearance. This is a serious issue and if it's not being taken seriously it should; the obsession and wanting to change their appearance can end up shattering their self esteem.

On television today woman are portrayed as sex objects. Women in the media are reflected as being beautiful and perfect; every mans desire. Teenage girls look up to singers, actresses, and even models, hoping to one day be as beautiful as them. A big trend in Hollywood right now is being skinny. You watch a red carpet ceremony and tell me how many celebrities you see who are big or curvaceous; it's a rarity. Parents need to remind their children that they are beautiful and that being beautiful isn't always about ones looks, but what' on the inside. One thing a parent should do for their daughter is show them that the "beautiful people" are not always as beautiful as they are portrayed. For instance go pick up a tabloid magazine. I've seen a lot of articles/pictures in them of celebrities with no makeup on and in very casual clothes. They actually look like me and you in these pictures. Showing a teenage girl something like this might just teach them something. Putting them under less pressure to be perfect.

I am not what I would call stunning. If I am anything I am average; I wouldn't call myself ugly. Although I was one who was teased in school a lot for not wearing brand named clothing, the occasional pimple, for being somewhat fat and a variety of other things. This was tough for me and only got worse when I entered high school. I wasn't teased as much in high school but I certainly wasn't treated like some of the other girls. This caused me to be shy and I had little confidence in my people skills. I tried all through high school to change my appearance, but was never able to. I wanted to be the girl that all the guys wanted to ask to dance. I wanted to get asked out on dates, I wanted attention! I strived so hard and wasn't successful in changing my appearance until I went to college; where I slimmed down a bit.

Those are some negative reasons why girls want to change their looks, but sometimes girls do this for positive reasons, Such as self expression. Normally this sort of positive change comes from those that want to be different. They don't want to look like every other girl in school; they want to stand out. In some cases they wear things or dress up a certain way to represent something they believe in. It's good to let a girl dress and portray themselves as they wish. It gives them the feeling that they are special; an individual like no other.

Also,a Rise in self esteem may cause a girl to change her appearance. There might be a stage in a girl's life where they don't care how they look or how they are portrayed. But people change. They may start becoming interested and boys and come to the realization that boys like pretty, most of them like skinny. You're not going to get a date when you have knots in your hair and you look like you just woke up.

Whether they are changing their appearance on good or bad term, parents have one job: Let your daughter know they are beautiful. Make them realize that beauty is not everything; brains and character play a part in our lives too. Let them know that sometimes deep down beautiful people can be ugly on the inside, stuck up and conceited. A girls self esteem is the foundation to having a happy and successful life.

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