not a pretty girl...

"Is she pretty?" asked my friend, about my brother's fiancée.

"Oh yes. She's very pretty," I responded.

"See, girls like us, we need to have personality or something or we have nothing going for us," she said. "We're not pretty girls..."

...

I watched America Ferrera's acceptance speech for best actress in a television comedy from the Golden Globes for her role in Ugly Betty today...I liked what she said about how the show is turning the word Ugly on its head. Of course, she is anything but ugly, but as a woman with curves in an industry where stick figures are celebrated, she can be a role model to those who are not a size 2...

...

I have major body issues - always have. probably always will. I'm trying to learn to love my body, to see my own inner and outer beauty, but it's not easy. And while I would love to be so secure in my own self-worth to have absolutely no anxiety or qualms about standing up next to my brother's fiancée and her other two, stunning, tiny, attendants, I do have qualms. I started this weight-loss, exercise, self-improvement kick last year - prior to their engagement and prior to their request to be a part of the wedding party - as self improvement for my own sake. However, I will admit that lately the dress has been the primary motivator getting me out of bed to go workout most mornings...

(crossposted on work in progress...)