THE TRUE FACE OF TEENAGE BEAUTY
stop holding teenagers to an impossible standard.
VIEWER SUBMISSIONS
These are user-submitted photos and messages from teens who wanted to contribute to the cause. You can get featured too—go to my contact page for more information.
Most of the photos on this page are not mine, and are posted courtesy of the person who submitted them (the name next to each photo).
Katrina, 17
I'd say I'm your typical awkward, sarcastic teenager, and I love to read, write, and sing. Self-esteem has never been high for me, but I don't imagine it being very high at all for any teenager. As much as movies and television try to sell us the idea that there are physically perfect kids who deride those that are "uglier" than them, that notion isn't very true. Really, beauty is something we teens preach that others have, but never ourselves. Or, at worst, we just make fun of how ugly we all are. Which makes it weird when adults go on to (inaccurately) portray teenagers, making it seem like there are kids who are as clear-faced and clean-looking as those much older than them and that the "perfect" ones ruthlessly dig into anyone less attractive than them.
When I was younger, I had always thought that I'd get to high school and be the odd one out because I'm not physically flawless. But everyone is in the same boat. Same imperfections, same insecurities, same ideas of what they think they need to look like. Everyone in high school is scared, too conscious of the way they look while trying to pull off the "I don't care" vibe in sweatpants and oversized hoodies.
But at least there are people like Miranda who help us to realize that we can be whatever we want to be, pull off whatever look we desire, and feel good about ourselves—flaws and all. I used to really hate when someone would take a close-up shot of my face because of my acne. But now, seeing a picture of myself next to others my age, it doesn't feel too uncomfortable anymore.
Lorenzo, 17
I am a passionate, humble, and supportive friend to all. I love getting to know others but my appearance may give the wrong idea. I've been told I have resting sad face but I don't care! Nothing will stop me at achieving my goals and making friends with those around me. I love expressing myself and helping others. In my free time I learn about the intricacies of game design and try to create my own games.
When it comes to teenage beauty and self esteem I feel our generation is afraid to stand out and be independent. If we don't all look the same, like the same things, and take the same classes, we’re afraid we’ll never be able to fit in. This mindset, impostor syndrome, and self-doubt is what hinders students across the country from success and discovering true happiness. Teens need to be more self confident and realize perfection is not a concept that exists or is needed. If you are going to succeed it's not because of your appearance, but rather what's in your heart, and if we don't embrace our individual passions and interest now we'll never get the same opportunities to in the future. Your teen years are the time to build upon and branch out your interest, they shouldn't be wasted on choosing filters for your photos or buying the same types of clothes your friends have. Do what makes YOU happy and take your time in high school to develop what happiness really means to you.
When it comes to being self-conscious I feel the same way, I look at my friends who wear certain brands and participate in certain social gatherings and it keeps me awake at night. For a while I used to envy them, I spent every day trying to understand them and become them in hopes it would make my life as happy as theirs. At the start of my junior year however I decided to just embrace myself and immerse my self in things I specifically like. I'm proud to say my mental state is in a significantly better place than it was at the beginning of the year and that is because I was finally getting to know myself as opposed to trying to change myself. BE CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF, AND EMBRACE ALL YOUR TRAITS. People don't like you for your appearance, they just like you for you.
Quite frankly I believe my picture makes me look stupid looking but I don't care. I want people to know that is what I look like on the regular, there are no filters on me, no make up, no special lighting. I'm just me, and I'm going to achieve great things just the way I am and I hope other teens will share a similar mindset.
Aiden, 16
I'm an empathetic, adventurous, and easy to know guy. I love going to and exploring new things, no matter the risk. I always go by the motto of "Everyone's a friend until proven not to be." I also love to skate and express myself through it. I'm completely accepting of my body, and I love myself even with any of my little imperfections. I don't pay much mind towards the subject of teen culture in movies, but I do find it to be belittling at times. Teens have many distinct attributes, but are always put into the same group. I don't necessarily have any self conscious feelings that immediately come to mind.
Valeria, 16
I'm quiet, friendly, independent, and always zoned out. I love music, arts, and sciences related to the brain. Being a teenager is a very key moment in everyone's life, and it should be more accurately represented because the way teenagers see themselves reflects on them for the rest of their lives. Adults playing teens definitely has an effect on me. It makes me feel like I should look more mature and "developed," and like I should, in general, look a certain way. I'm self-conscious about my hair, because it is annoying, big, and sometimes ugly. My family always asks me why I don't straighten it. Movies, when doing a makeover on teenagers, they always change their hair from all big and frizzy to straight and glossy.
Ariel, 17
This cause is important to me because I don’t feel beautiful because of the way I look, my body size and shape, or the size of my breasts, or the fact that my face is not clear. It is a popular opinion that girls have to show off their body to be attractive, or send "nudes" because of their attractive bodies; but what about their attractive souls? Does the inside of girls only mean what’s inside their body? or their soul or spirit? A lot of TV shows also feature teenage stars, but they have to look a certain way or get with a certain guy. Also being on TV shows, adults often portray a different version of a teenager and the "teenage struggle" that we deal with, but do they actually see reality? I mean, is it supposed to be a reality TV show, or a "fake reality" based off of attraction and personal biases?
Taylor, 17
I am very fun-loving and outgoing, and I like to make other people happy. I like hanging with friends, going to the beach, and learning. I think that beauty standards are placing a lot of pressure on teenagers because we are so misrepresented which deteriorates our self-esteem. Adults playing teens in media does have an effect because it makes girls want all these false things and makes boys want to be bigger and causes everyone to feel not good enough. I'm very self-conscious about silly things like body hair and pimples, and watching and seeing photoshopped people has made me more self-conscious because it makes my insecurities look worse.
Kayla, 16
I don't really like myself, but people tend to describe me as a great person and really pretty, even though I don't understand why. My self-esteem is so low, I feel like it should be talked about more because I know I can't be the only person who feels this way. Adults playing teens doesn't really have an effect on me. I feel like they are young enough. But I am self-conscious about my body and my face, because I feel like I could have a much better body and not be so skinny. I hate my face because of social media—it makes me so insecure because I wish I looked like the girls I see on instagram.
Nicole, 17
I'd describe myself as dedicated and professional, and I have a heart of gold but I'll take you down. I don't really have time to make hobbies but I do really like robotics and technology classes in school. It's hard to look beautiful and have high self-esteem; there are so many factors that are always in the way of taking time for self-care. Adults playing teens in movies has definitely had an effect on me. When I was younger, I thought being a teenager would be just as amazing and drama filled like what I watched on TV, but as a teen and almost an adult, my life is not like that. I do have drama, but not like TV, and actually I'm happy with that. In terms of insecurities, I'm afraid to fail because school doesn't teach failure as okay and normal. That, and every type of social media tells me something different about who I should be.
Colleen, 15
I'm funny, fun, and kind, but a lot of times I'm sad. I love monkeys, art, drawing, giving to the homeless, comedy, and I LOVE the show Psych. I would say that eventually I can become pretty but that I have very little to no self-esteem or confidence in my appearance. I envy teenagers who have beauty. I feel like adults playing teens has a negative effect on me, because when i'm an adult I will never be that young looking, and I don't understand how anyone can. I'm self-conscious of my facial features, my voice, and my "singing ability," and I feel very self-conscious when I hear my name in conversation followed by laughing. The only thing i'm not self-conscious about is my physical strength. i feel this way because mentally i'm a very weak person and get hurt really easily. I don't think any outside influence has changed how I feel, because really if we're all being honest, I've been self-conscious my entire life.
Surisa, 13
I dance, do girl scouts, and play multiple instruments. I'm average, I'm not beautiful or perfect but I am proud of who I am. I think that the portrayal of teenage beauty greatly effects self-esteem and causes people to feel worthless or like nothing. Misrepresentation causes teens to compare themselves to fully mature adults, and then copy what the actor does and to act mature or reckless.
Caitlin, 14
I think I'm kind and pretty, but I'm also crazy, unique, and and hyper. I love learning about other cultures, especially through music like japanese music and kpop. My self-esteem has always been low since I was introduced to makeup. I began to feel depressed, however I have learned to love myself over time. Adults playng teens has such a huge effect on me. I see how beautiful they are and I want to look like them. I think outside influence has made me more self-conscious, especially when I see all these girls hanging with guys and I wish I was like that.
Dakota, 13
I'm kind and friendly, and I love drawing, music, and colorguard. Beauty is overrated, and self-esteem is good to have. Adults playing teenagers has an effect on me because most adults are prettier than teens, and I'm more self-conscious because of all the pretty people on social media and TV.