You Are Beautiful Just The Way You Are: Dove's Self Esteem Campaign

YOU are beautiful.

Recently, I saw a video featuring a young woman who looks much like you or any other young woman you might see around your neighborhood. She is a normal, naturally beautiful young woman. When the video begins, it speeds into "fast motion" and you see the woman being transformed into what the world views as "beautiful." I can't imagine how long the video would last if viewed it in real time. When the hair dressers and make up artists finally finish doing their jobs, a photo is taken. Then, the image of the transformed young woman is electronically altered even more. By the time the image of the woman is featured on a billboard, you can barely recognize the image of the original young woman.

No wonder our daughters are growing up believing they are ugly and worthless. Young girls are growing up feeling that if they cannot measure up to the standard the world has set as "beautiful", they are worthless, ugly, and possess little or no value.

Dove produced the video in an effort to bring attention to this issue. Dove, of course, is a company which specializes in soaps and skin care and I am sure they wish to sell more Dove products during this campaign - and they should. The company seems to be focusing on natural beauty - not the made up, electronically transformed beauty that is nearly impossible to attain - no matter what your age. I plan to purchase more Dove products and I hope you will do the same in order to show support for Dove's efforts to bring attention to this issue and help raise the self esteem of young women around the world. Plus, Dove does produce good, quality skin care products.

I do believe women should strive to take care of themselves and look healthy. However, I think it is more important than ever that we teach young women the magnitude of their value and their beauty (inside and out). They are beautiful just as they are - the way God made them.

After all, they were uniquely created, crafted by God - in the image of God. They are beautiful!

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.- Psalm 139:14

I shared the Dove Self Esteem Campaign video on Facebook a few days ago and a friend commented about a song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Fingerprints of God." After you watch the Dove Self Esteem Campaign video below, watch the "Fingerprints of God" video.

Enjoy!