vanity

My First Resolution: Be More VAIN

There's nothing wrong with a bit of vanity, y'all.
Marianne in
Beauty, vanity, self-esteem, ladies aren't here to look pretty for you, it's okay if people want to look pretty, vain

Dec 20, 2012 at 3:00pm | 396 comments

style

I Just Realized I Spend Over $4,000 Every Year To Look Pretty

I spend a TON of time (and a healthy chunk of cash, I've realized) maintaining the face I’ve chosen to present to the world.
Alison Freer in
Beauty, style, hair, nails, self-esteem, money

Feb 26, 2013 at 9:00am | 286 comments

body image

The Case For "Meh:" On Being OK With Non-Hotness

I offer the following proposal: maybe we should just stop trying to be hot.
Kate Conway in
Healthy, body image, IDGAF, thinspiration, self-esteem

Apr 17, 2013 at 9:00am | 234 comments

performing

How I Stopped Sitting Around Seething With Jealousy Of My More Successful Peers And Decided To Become A Player

Know what I used to do for a lot of the day? Google people I was jealous of and hate myself. And then: repeat.
Mandy in
Relationships, performing, work, confidence, self-esteem, life

Mar 8, 2013 at 1:00pm | 196 comments

body image

ALL HAIL THE LADYSTACHE: The Case for Female Facial Hair

Unlike men, women aren’t socially allowed to choose facial hair as an aesthetic choice and as part of their personal expression.
s.e. smith in
Issues, body image, self-esteem, facial hair, bearded ladies

Nov 28, 2012 at 4:00pm | 164 comments

awkwardness

THE COMPETITION IS KILLING US: When Social Media Makes You Feel Like Crap

PLAN B: I'm going to invent a cocktail and call it "ASPIRATIONAL DESPAIR" and get reeeeaaallly drunk on it.
Lesley in
Relationships, awkwardness, Instagram, pinterest, self-esteem, social politics

Jul 17, 2012 at 9:00am | 134 comments

mantras

"BECAUSE I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON" And Other Things I Need To Stop Saying ALL THE TIME

Am I giving myself permission to be terrible, just by virtue of the fact that I'm admitting it?
Louise Hung in
Relationships, mantras, annoying, self-esteem

Apr 17, 2013 at 11:00am | 111 comments

blah blah feelings blah

My Lady-Date Is Hotter Than Me And I'm Trying To Be An Adult About It

I know, I know, I shouldn't depend on the validation of others to determine my self-worth. But sometimes I want to be the prettiest, damn it!
Kate Conway in
Relationships, blah blah feelings blah, dating, dating is hard, dating woes, self-esteem

Feb 19, 2013 at 11:00am | 108 comments

self-esteem

Shopping Makes Me Want to Die Inside

Something about dragging my feet around malls for hours while other people look at clothes makes me want to try to swallow a metal hanger. I can't be the only one who feels like this!
Kate Conway in
Fashion, self-esteem, shopping, style, things i am bad at

Sep 24, 2012 at 2:00pm | 102 comments

selfies

How Jane Pratt Forced Me To Post Pictures of Myself on the Internet and What I Learned

Being forced to take pictures of myself constantly started to breed more self-confidence, and looking at those pictures, I stopped seeing the things I used to see that I hated.
s.e. smith in
Issues, selfies, photographs, vanity, mirror self-portraits, self-esteem

Jan 25, 2013 at 2:00pm | 99 comments

say something nice on the internet day

Today I've Decided To Say Something Nice About … Myself

On this inaugural "Say Something Nice On The Internet Day," I feel like it's most important to treat myself right.
Hannah in
Fun, say something nice on the internet day, self-esteem

Feb 29, 2012 at 9:00am | 94 comments

arm workouts

MAC's Female Bodybuilder Ad Is Inspiring Me To Buff Up My Arms

I've always felt a little self-conscious about my naturally muscular arms and shoulders. Instead of waiting for them to atrophy, I've decided to make 'em look awesome.
Kate Conway in
Healthy, arm workouts, fitness, self-esteem, the gun show

Jan 22, 2013 at 12:00pm | 65 comments

body politics

FAT: Using The Other F Word

I use the word “fat” to describe myself, and not in a humorous way, or a self-deprecating way. I use it because it’s true.
Lesley in
Issues, body politics, fat, language, radical anti-diet extremism, self-esteem

Sep 30, 2011 at 2:00pm | 0 comments

body politics

Fat People Have Sex! Here's a Whole Book About It!

An interview with author Hanne Blank, and a totally biased review of Big Big Love.
Lesley in
Sex, Sex, Sex ... and Love, body politics, entertainment, fat, self-esteem, snappy comebacks, unicorns

Oct 5, 2011 at 3:00pm | 0 comments

acceptance

How I Learned to Love My Freckles

Even Dorothy Parker hated on freckles, saying "Four be the things I'd have been better without: love, curiosity, freckles and doubt." Dorothy Parker was wrong.
Jenny in
Relationships, acceptance, affirmations, beauty standards, freckles, pippi longstocking is awesome, self-esteem, skin

Oct 25, 2011 at 2:00pm | 0 comments

body image

ASK LESLEY: How Do I Stop Hating My Body? (Part One)

The first step is the one you take in getting off the scale.
Lesley in
Healthy, body image, body politics, my formula has eleven secret herbs and spices, radical anti-diet extremism, self-esteem, weight

Oct 25, 2011 at 3:00pm | 0 comments

i am not a psychologist

Your Own Worst Enemy: Getting Over Impostor Syndrome

You ever feel like nothing you do is good enough and someday someone will expose you for the giant fraud you secretly are? No? Oh. Never mind, then.
Lesley in
Relationships, I am not a psychologist, pretending to be Jane, self-esteem, telephone psychics

Nov 3, 2011 at 2:00pm | 0 comments

radical anti-diet extremism

ASK LESLEY: How Do I Stop Hating My Body? (Part Two)

Some further steps on the self-acceptance path. Bonus: Nutella!
Lesley in
Healthy, radical anti-diet extremism, self-acceptance, self-esteem

Nov 17, 2011 at 3:00pm | 0 comments

nutella

Compelling Reader Comment Of The Week: Too Many Good Ideas

Never stop commenting.
Madeline in
Fun, nutella, self-acceptance, self-esteem

Nov 18, 2011 at 7:00pm | 0 comments

body politics

How Not to Hate Being Photographed

Sometimes, seeing an unflattering photograph of yourself can hit you like a punch. We’ve all had this experience, when our comfortable self-image is shattered by a photograph that looks nothing like what we expect. You can get over it.
Lesley in
Relationships, body politics, dole whip, photographs, self-esteem

Dec 21, 2011 at 11:00am | 0 comments