Let's read...

Today, if you search the word "beauty," you'll end up with a sea of fair-skinned, thin, young women, as if good looks don't come in any other form. And so, when we have those ideas in the back of our mind, we really start to think that we're ugly. We look at the beautiful people, and we think, man, they have it all. They're rich, they're in love, they're happy, they're successful. And I could have that too if I just had ..., if I just changed ... We start to think that we're not enough of something, that we are lacking in some areas. That causes us to stifle opportunities for ourselves because we feel as though we don't belong and we don't deserve. And even worse, we extend that, that low confidence, that lack of confidence, and low self-esteem. We extend that onto our sisters, our friends, our cousins. Because if I'm not enough, she's definitely not enough, right?

Let's follow Melissa...

Today, / if you search the word "beauty," / you'll end up with a sea / of fair-skinned, / thin, / young women, / as if good looks don't come in any other form. // And so, / when we have those ideas in the back of our mind, / we really start to think that we're ugly. // We look at the beautiful people, / and we think, / man, / they have it all. // They're rich, / they're in love, / they're happy, / they're successful. // And I could have that too / if I just had ..., // if I just changed ... // We start to think that we're not enough of something, / that we are lacking in some areas. / That causes us to stifle opportunities for ourselves / because we feel as though we don't belong / and we don't deserve. // And even worse, / we extend that, / that low confidence, / and that lack of confidence, / and low self-esteem. // We extend that / onto our sisters, / our friends, / our cousins. // Because if I'm not enough, / she's definitely not enough, / right? //

Let's read...

For years, women were taught that our value was directly linked with our looks, our ability to get married, our ability to have children. And even today, now that women are starting businesses, taking office - taking over the world, essentially - we're still relegated to this idea that beauty and our looks are most important. We see this in every industry, from Serena dominating on the tennis court to Hillary running for president, all the way down to Louisiana, where a little girl wasn't permitted to go to school because of her braided hairstyle. Now, braids have always been a long-standing part of African and African-American beauty culture. And just because you don't practice it doesn't mean that you can't accept or respect it. And I don't know about you, but the last time I checked, my hairstyle didn't prevent me from learning. The tutu that I wear on the tennis court doesn't prevent me from winning a Grand Slam. And the colored suit that I wear, it certainly doesn't make me ill-equipped to run a country.

Let's follow Melissa...

For years, / women were taught that our value / was directly linked with our looks, / our ability to get married, / our ability to have children. // And even today, / now that women are starting businesses, / taking office - taking over the world, / essentially - // we're still relegated to this idea / that beauty / and our looks are most important. // We see this in every industry, / from Serena dominating on the tennis court / to Hillary running for president, / all the way down to Louisiana, / where a little girl wasn't permitted to go to school / because of her braided hairstyle. // Now, braids have always been / a long-standing part of African and African-American beauty culture. // And just because you don't practice it / doesn't mean that you can't accept / or respect it. // And I don't know about you, / but the last time I checked, / my hairstyle didn't prevent me from learning. // The tutu that I wear on the tennis court / doesn't prevent me from winning a Grand Slam. // And the colored suit that I wear, / it certainly doesn't make me ill-equipped to run a country. //