Being a girl is difficult, to
say the least.
Which is why an organization like Proud and Pretty in Pink
is such an incredible resource for young women of all demographics, to help
navigate the impossible standards society has rooted into our subconscious.
As I oversaw the most recent Proud and Pretty in Pink
event—a photo shoot to kick off their “Powerful in Pink” campaign, in which
several local teenaged girls in the Bay Area participated in—it was amazing to
speak with them about what this organization has taught them about
self-empowerment as young women.
Adorned with flowing pink capes and ornate facemasks, the
girls were transformed into bold, tenacious young women conveying a message
that will resonate with them long after the rooftop photo shoot ends.
“I like the Proud and Pretty in Pink message because in our
area, not a lot of this is addressed. It really bothers me, because I feel most
comfortable without makeup,” Samantha, a participant, says wholeheartedly.
High school senior Ally states that “it made me realize that
it’s ok to be you and not conform to other people. I learned not to judge
people so easily…you know, everyone has their story.”
The girls all agreed that the “choice to be feminine and
soft” while maintaining “the ability to be powerful and strong,” is also a
wonderful aspect of embracing their womanhood, as well as a crucial perspective
to remember when pressure from pop culture distorts reality.
“Girls can be who they want to be, and not be as judged as
guys,” Santa Clara student Celina says.
Through the Proud and Pretty in Pink workshops, the girls
learned about the positive ways they can embrace and appreciate their
femininity, through education about sexual health and body image. By learning
how to make informed, healthy decisions and to love themselves for who they
are, the girls involved in the program are empowered to become strong,
confident young women who are comfortable in their own skin.
“I’d rather be a boy,” Carissa laughs, noting, “ But I like
that girls are the underdog…it’s motivation.”
Lauryn loves “the range of identity in expression” that comes
with being a girl. She says that Proud and Pretty in Pink has taught her that
the most important thing you can do for your self-esteem is to “figure out what
YOU think is beautiful, what is right for you.”
Understanding the importance of individual beauty is crucial
for the self-esteem of women of all ages, and Proud and Pretty in Pink delivers
that message to young girls with the assurance that those touched by the
program will continue to live out what they’ve learned.
It turns the lives of girls upward and mobile, as they
realize the beauty in their individuality and that the ability to make
informed, intelligent decisions about their lives is in their hands, and their
hands only.
Meghan, who did her senior project on the organization, sums
the message up beautifully: “Be you, because how you see yourself is the most
important thing. Be comfortable with yourself, because sometimes it’s as simple
as always remembering you are pretty, no matter what.”
Bottom line: Ladies, you are
beautiful. Embrace it. Love it. Fight for it.
Written by freelance writer Meredith Callan
Photography by Jessica Turner
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