I have always been thin—the kind of thin people think gives them permission to joke about your body as if it were community property. I used to stand in front of the mirror and ask myself one question: “Why can’t I just look like them?” You know the “them” I’m talking about — the girls with curves in the “right places,” the ones society applauds, the ones social media celebrates I grew up hearing names that were meant to be funny but landed like tiny darts. Some would call me “pankere wo gown (cane wearing gown)”, straight and shapeless. And when I walked, some people would whisper that I looked like a broomstick being blown around by the wind.

At first, I laughed it off. Because what else was I supposed to do? But laughter has its limits. Over time, the jokes sank deeper, and some still sting when I remember them. Sometimes it felt like people weren’t even seeing me. They were seeing only the body they thought wasn’t “enough.” And the worst part? I started seeing myself through their eyes. Suddenly, I wasn’t just slim. I was “not woman enough.” I wasn’t just me. I was “something to be fixed.”

The truth is, body shaming doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it whispers, quietly, consistently, until you start to believe the things people say about you. Until you start wishing for a different body than the one you were born with. I would look at other women and wish I could borrow their bodies for just one day, just to know what it felt like to fit society’s idea of “perfect.” But here is the truth I learned and most people don't talk about: EVERYBODY IS BUILT DIFFERENTLY. Every shape carries its own beauty. And someone else’s standard is not your blueprint.

What we all need is not a new body, but a new way of seeing ourselves. You don’t need to squeeze yourself into society’s version of “perfect.” You don’t need to chase a shape that was never meant for you. You don’t need anyone’s validation to feel complete. What you do need is understanding your body shape. Once you understand your body shape and learn how to dress in ways that highlight your beauty, something changes: confidence grows, shame fades, and you begin to realize you were never the problem. Society’s standards were. You are beautiful just the way you are. You don’t need to adjust yourself to fit anyone’s expectations. Your natural self is enough, more than enough. Because the perfect body is not a shape. It’s confidence. It’s comfort. It’s authenticity.

So here’s my message to you—yes, you, reading this: Your body is not an apology. Your shape is not a mistake. Your beauty is not up for negotiation. Be proud of your softness, your sharpness, your curves, your lack of curves, whatever form your body has chosen for you. You are beautiful because you exist. Because you are real. Because you are uniquely, unrepeatably you. People may talk, but remember: Their words don’t define your worth, you do. So step out. Flaunt your natural self. Wear your confidence like your favorite outfit. And most importantly, BE YOU. DO YOU. LOVE YOU