What got me to do my project on this topic was a very influential woman that I met last academic school year, in May. Many young women applied to attend this conference but due to a small reception and overflow of applicants, only a select few got a spot for the conference event. I was one of the lucky ones who got chosen. I got the chance to meet with many UCI alumni and their stories of failures and successes, their struggles and their achievements, and how they got to where they are today.
Before the evening event, I was changing to professional attire in the restroom at the Student Center. A young Asian woman approached me and asked me for help as she was trying to tie the strings from what seemed a cupcake dress costume. I remember asking her if she was going to perform somewhere and she replied with a laugh while shaking her head, no. I felt a little embarrassed as she told me she was one of the speakers at the Women's Empowerment Conference which was the conference I was attending. I felt extremely horrible afterwards! I thought to myself, this conference was made for women to feel comfortable and there is no need to feel ashamed. I came in with that attitude and best believe I had a great time with other women and guest speakers. I remember her saying that she wanted to go into the professional modeling industry and since her close friend was a photographer, he helped her get into it. Very soon, she became interested in doing professional modeling but soon enough she found out that it was not the path to go. She was shut opportunities for "being too short" and for having "small eyes". She was only 5'5 and models were "required" to be taller. The fact that they told her this completely disgusted me! It crushed her dream of being able to be someone who could influence young girls that beauty is diverse and open to everyone. After this rejection, she felt the need to do something that would take her mind off of the negative situation so she became a nutritionist to promote the health and well being of girls and young women. I am happy that this experience did not depress her or make her stay away from being her true self. I know that sometimes after you have been rejected, humiliated, one can go into an accepting phase where you do not like yourself because of the physical traits you possess. You want to "become more like them" instead of yourself. You wish you had been born differently, but the reality is, you can't. You can try to change that by getting plastic surgery that costs thousands of dollars. These surgeries can be risky as they can affect your health in the future. I want to say that you are beautiful just the way you are. You do not need to change because someone else does not think you fit in with the rest. Be happy that you are unique, nobody can take away from you what you possess. Every woman is beautiful. <3
Before the evening event, I was changing to professional attire in the restroom at the Student Center. A young Asian woman approached me and asked me for help as she was trying to tie the strings from what seemed a cupcake dress costume. I remember asking her if she was going to perform somewhere and she replied with a laugh while shaking her head, no. I felt a little embarrassed as she told me she was one of the speakers at the Women's Empowerment Conference which was the conference I was attending. I felt extremely horrible afterwards! I thought to myself, this conference was made for women to feel comfortable and there is no need to feel ashamed. I came in with that attitude and best believe I had a great time with other women and guest speakers. I remember her saying that she wanted to go into the professional modeling industry and since her close friend was a photographer, he helped her get into it. Very soon, she became interested in doing professional modeling but soon enough she found out that it was not the path to go. She was shut opportunities for "being too short" and for having "small eyes". She was only 5'5 and models were "required" to be taller. The fact that they told her this completely disgusted me! It crushed her dream of being able to be someone who could influence young girls that beauty is diverse and open to everyone. After this rejection, she felt the need to do something that would take her mind off of the negative situation so she became a nutritionist to promote the health and well being of girls and young women. I am happy that this experience did not depress her or make her stay away from being her true self. I know that sometimes after you have been rejected, humiliated, one can go into an accepting phase where you do not like yourself because of the physical traits you possess. You want to "become more like them" instead of yourself. You wish you had been born differently, but the reality is, you can't. You can try to change that by getting plastic surgery that costs thousands of dollars. These surgeries can be risky as they can affect your health in the future. I want to say that you are beautiful just the way you are. You do not need to change because someone else does not think you fit in with the rest. Be happy that you are unique, nobody can take away from you what you possess. Every woman is beautiful. <3