/ / Nicole, 16, New Jersey / /
”Three years ago, the idea of loving myself seemed pra ctically impossible. I couldn’t eve n imagine ever being oka y with who I was. This changed completely in the summe r of 2013. I began watching videos of YouTubers who, to me, seemed like these confident and joyous people. When I me t some of them, I learned that the y were just normal people who posted videos and were acc epted by others– flaws incl uded. I began posting videos of my own (which I’d done in the past, but had taken the videos down due to self-consciou sness), and even though no one really watched them, ma king the videos slowly began to make me feel better abo ut my appearance and personalit y.”
/ / Estebaliz, 15, Illinois / /
is my independence. “One thing I love about myself on myself physically but Being able to not only depend I, myself can only choose also mentally and making sure not having to depend on how and what i’m feeling and sort of emotion. The any or ss others for my happine dent was to step back journey I took to become indepen can make me happy. After and really thinking hard on who I came to the realization processing all this in my head, feeling.” I’m how that ONLY I can choose
/ / Montana, 15, Los Angeles / / / / Shree, 14, Detroit / /
“I learned to love myself by realizing that accepting my flaws is what makes me the most beautiful. My favorite thing about myself would have to be my eyes, I love the shape and I think it’s rare that they are so big. I love them!”
“I’ve had a lot of issues in the past where I was not comfortable in the body I’m in. I would feel uncomfortable wearing anything because I didn’t feel beautiful. But this year I’ve started to realize that this is my body and no one else’s and I should be proud of it. I weigh over 150 and I’m beautiful and I don’t care what other people say. I love my body and that’s all that matters. I’m happy. My body is happy. And my mind is happy. Now that to me is more important than what society thinks of me and my body. It’s been a long journey but I’ve finally learned to love myself and I couldn’t be happier.”
local wolves magazine // 17