Digital media's influence on woman's body image: Yes, It's my turn to talk.

I'm the first one to tell you that looks don't mean anything.. Then two minutes later you'll most likely find me perched in front of the mirror fixing my make up and straightening my hair. Hypocrite I know.

In my opinion I believe that beauty isn’t what the digital media tells me it is.. (skinny celebrities not eating and getting photo shopped) but woman who embrace their natural beauty. Take my friends for example, they stress over their looks and weight all the time, always wanting to look their best and be “the ideal weight” when in all honestly they are beautiful the way they are and I wouldn't change any one of them in the slightest. People come in all shapes and sizes and if digital media wasn't so against normal sized women then I don't think we would have half the problems we do with eating disorders in women.. and men!

Earlier this year Russell Brand put a photo up of my girl crush Katy Perry with no make up on his Twitter. Although it was taken offline later that day seeing her natural was great as it shows they don’t look perfect 24/7. I know we don't look as amazing as we could with a full face of make up on but I admire her for letting her real beauty show. We all look different with no make up on or our hair not done. Therefore I'm posting this photo that I took myself for her and for all the other woman who don't feel like they can be naturally beautiful. Not saying Im beautiful because Im FAR from that but I want to show myself that I do have that inner confidence and beauty to stand up against the digital media and show them that they are wrong. That natural beauty is the future.

I posted this picture of myself with no make up on to prove a point. Yes, these two photo's below are a contrast of me with make up on and with no make up on. Although I hesitated to put this picture up on my blog at first I think doing so has encouraged me to feel more confident in my own skin. I mean if I'm not prepared to do something so little as put a picture of myself with no make up online then I can’t criticize what the digital media is doing. Standing up against the stereotype of what is perceived as ‘beautiful’ may encourage other women to feel more confident within their own skin and embrace their inner beauty.