Feature Story
Five women give their #BeautyAdvice to the next generation of girls
There’s no shortcut to growing up, every woman must face her own challenges and learn her own lessons; although embracing the knowledge and experiences of the women before us can bring a great sense of guidance. We asked five women to share their advice on beauty, confidence and growing up for the next generation of girls—here is what they said.
- Beauty is more than your physical appearance.
It can be difficult to view beauty as anything other than looks but believe me, it is so much more. True beauty is found within, it's the pieces of you that can not be seen at first glance. The media puts so much pressure on women to look a certain way, but how boring would the world be if we all looked the same? If we continue to base beauty on what the media expects, no one will truly feel beautiful. Instead, if we look at our passions, our talents, our humour and our personality, we find that everyone possesses a unique beauty that goes beyond these set expectations. So love your quirks, because that’s what makes you beautiful.
- Practice self-love.
Loving yourself is not easy at times, but learning to treat yourself with care and respect is a skill that will benefit you throughout your entire life. Self-love can be practiced in many ways, whether it’s giving yourself a spa night or leaving a toxic relationship, it is ultimately the act of putting yourself first. Something that I’ve learned from self-love is that it can be difficult. Putting yourself first can mean leaving others behind, it can mean standing up for yourself, it can mean changing for the better, all of which can be very strenuous. But, if you can recognize what you need, and make that change for yourself, you are practicing self-love.
- Remove judgment from your life.
A life-changing lesson that I have learned is to practice understanding before judgment. It’s a simple switch that gives you new perspectives in every situation. We judge each other all the time and often based on things that can’t be changed. Why do we do this? Judging others brings no benefits, in fact, it’s often a reflection of our own insecurities. So, what can we do? Try complimenting someone, try thinking before making a quick judgment and try putting yourself in their shoes. The outcome is a more accepting, forgiving and loving version of yourself, which is beautiful beyond compare.
- Walk away from people who treat you badly.
At this point in my life, I am surrounded by people who accept and love me for who I am—but it wasn’t always that way. I’ve realized that someone who treats you badly is not a friend, someone who manipulates you is not a friend and someone who uses you is not a friend. Learning to walk away from toxicity can boost your confidence, tighten your circle of friends and provide you the support and love you need. It’s not easy to walk away, it takes courage and self respect, but the outcome brings you closer to those that matter most.
- Accept the changes that come with aging.
There is this societal pressure to stay young forever, which one, is impossible, and two, makes aging come across as inevitably disastrous. Aging doesn’t mean you’re losing anything, it means you are gaining knowledge, experiences and relationships along this wonderful journey we call life. So who cares if you get a few wrinkles along the way, they represent everything you’ve gained over the years.
To the next generation of girls, we are here for you every step of the way. Growing up has its challenges, but hopefully these five tips provided some helpful insight. Dove would like to thank each of these beautiful, strong and impactful women for sharing their stories. We want to hear yours too, share your story with the hashtag #BeautyAdvice to join the conversation and give your piece of guidance to the next generation of girls.
This was written on behalf of Dove for educational purposes only. Dove was not consulted, did not input nor approve any of the content that appears in this written piece. All facts, names, dates and other details were fabricated for educational purposes. None of this content represents the views of Dove.
