I recognised her even though I didn't know her. She is unoriginal in her attempt to be inspirational.

Every photo is posed, taken from her "good side" and every "candid" shot re-touched. Every time she talks about some "real-life" struggle it is written such that the primary purpose seems to be to emphasise her strength and resilience, to "motivate and inspire" others.  This is a not-so-thinly failed attempt to seek validation from an online public.

Maybe this is not a conscious effort on her part, but does it matter? Whatever happened to discussion of issues for discussion's sake? What happened to reflecting on an issue intelligently, providing your opinion but then letting the reader take what he will away from it?

You know what disturbs me? It's not fat people who are upset or depressed about their weight. It's when a girl of healthy weight with a toned body tells everybody how she has learnt to accept  her flabby thighs and embrace herself for who she is. How do you think people who really have weight problems feel?

You know what disturbs me even more THAT? It's the way the online community embraces her, calls her an inspiration. The way everyone reassures her that she is beautiful inside and out. Do they really not see through the superciality of the whole situation? Or maybe I am the ignorant one who doesn't realise that this is what everyone says on the Internet even if they don't really believe it.

This is a message to everyone: If I or any other girl says that she is not beautiful or fat don't reassure that she is beautiful the way she is. That is what we want to hear but not what we need to hear. 

Please tell me that whether I am pretty or not is irrelevant. Please tell me that I should stop wasting so much effort on worrying about trying to look beautiful and instead  I should focus my energy on developing myself as a person.

I'm not telling you to tell us that appearances don't matter, because that would be a lie. I'm asking that you remind us to be real and to remember that carrying yourself with self-respect and confidence is often what really matters. Please remind us to be real and to stop wasting our time worrying about being  beautiful "inside and out" because it makes absolutely no sense to do so.

PAST • FUTURE