Perfectly Imperfect
It’s been two weeks now since the Superbowl. While most people were busy talking about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift and analyzing every detail, I’ve still been thinking about the #Dove commercial shown early in the game. Many probably don’t remember this commercial, as it wasn’t the funniest or most talked about, but it has crossed my mind daily.
This commercial was co-created with #Nike, and full of girls playing different sports. It stated 45% of girls quit sports by age 14 due to low body confidence. This brought tears to my eyes, and I was almost one of these girls. I almost quit volleyball my sophomore year of high school, a sport I consider my first love, due to body image issues. Our uniform consisted of buns, which were not much more than bathing suit bottoms and I was too embarrassed to be on display. Volleyball was one of the most popular and loved sports at my high school. There was always a large crowd of family and students as we were defending a streak of zero league losses. (The Decade of Dominance lasted 146 games when the league changed. Go GHS!) At the beginning of each game, each of us was announced and we had to step out and wave to the crowd. While this seems like nothing to some people, this was a big deal for a shy, self-conscious girl like me. At that point in my life, I had already acquired multiple nicknames revolving around my butt. I was Bubble Butt Queen in elementary school, Bongo Butt in middle school, and Ghetto Booty or GB for short in high school. Keep in mind this was during a time when the booty wasn’t celebrated as it is today as a positive ASSet.
Fortunately, our school made the choice to move from buns to bike shorts, and I continued to play. Had I quit volleyball over body image issues, I would have missed out on some of the best friends I made and my favorite memories from high school. My confidence increased because of being part of a team and amazing friends. Had I quit, I wouldn’t be able to share those stories with my daughter and tell her how fun sports can be.
As a girl mom now, I am fearful for my daughter and nieces. Negative body images and self-talk seem even more prevalent now, and at a younger age. I can only imagine how social media would have negatively impacted my self-image years ago.
Through the years and a lot of work, I’ve come to accept we are all #perfectlyimperfect. Yes, it has been hard during certain times, such as a changing body with pregnancy and postpartum or physical changes due to autoimmune issues. Through it all, I’ve come to love myself, on most days. I’ve changed my relationship with myself and manage my self-perception by taking care of myself. Working out, eating right for me, getting proper sleep, and having a close social circle are focal points for me to keep myself confident. Thank you, Dove, for sharing this message with the masses.