Beauty*Licious

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“…My eyes are sparkly-gorgeous when I smile…”

“…My hair looks great today…”

“…I really know how to work a pink fishnet tights and legwarmer ensemble…”

What are your Beauty*licious Boosters going to be?

Can you feel the force?

For a whole lot of time I couldn’t understand why my hair didn’t come with a permanent wind-machine that made it look all swish-like and delicious. Thoughts of being a blonde-haired beauty with a buff bod used to run through my head like back-to-back episodes of The OC, and I became obsess-o-girl about getting an ab-tastic stomach and having glossy-blonde hair like the girl in my maths class. The trouble was, I just wasn’t made that way. So when I realised it was never gonna happen, I got glum.

It was official: I had felt the force.

Y’see, the buff blonde look that I was aspiring to, sure-as-stars wasn’t my idea of beauty. It had been cleverly created by media types who have images they want us all to aspire to on constant replay–and I fell for it. Grrr.

Our bodies are going through all kinds of crazy changes like we’ve got zilcho control over and when we feel unsure about ourselves, it really can feel that life would be infinitely more sparkly-gorgeous if we could just fit into those skinny-fit jeans, right?

When we feel low or insecure it’s super-easy to let media, peer and family pressure decide how we feel about ourselves. The thing is, when your idea of beauty is being shaped by others, it can sometimes make you feel like you’re on a constant quest to become perfect-o-girl. This is pretty sucky because ideas aren’t real, what with them just being ideas, and all.

But what is most definitely real, is you, so ditch the pressure to conform right now and make beauty your idea!

Snap happy

When you have a Beauty*licious ’tude you can erase other people’s yawnsville ideas of beauty and perfection and replace them with your own–I know, fabulous isn’t it? Think nose-twitching Samantha in the film Bewitched, except you, L’il Miss soon-to-be Beauty*licious, are capable of banishing negativity at the snap of a candy-pink, manicured finger. Who knew, huh?

This is how…

1 Stand in front of a mirror with your eyes closed and think of a compliment that someone has paid you or a situation where you have felt totally gorge-girl and confident–maybe a party where everyone told you how fabulouso you were looking or a teacher telling you that you’ve got an A* for a piece of work you worked really hard at. Think about it in lots of detail, what did they actually say? How did it make you feel?

2 Really think about that compliment, visualise it, make it as bright and colourful in your mind as you possibly can. Things that I think of when I’m snappin’ happy are: The Pink Ladies and I watching Audrey Hepburn films back to back…Angel and I shopping for shoes…the lady who told me I looked great in my pink legwarmers and glitter pumps combo at the bus stop…having my art-girl photos displayed in a real-life proper gallery…

3 When you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, open your eyes and check out your reflection in the mirror, love yourself up sweet thing!

4 Now you’re feeling all sparkly-gorgeous about yourself, snap your fingers. The finger snap action becomes an instant feel-good switch to your brain, so whenever you need a sprinkle of feel-fab glitter, just snap your fingers to activate your very own Beauty*licious confidence boost!

Bust the Myth

Shhh, you want to know a secret?

NO ONE really looks like they do in professional pics. Not even supermodels. (Cue excessive whooping and a collective sigh of relief from Pink Ladies everywhere!)

When the original mucho-gorgeous supermodel Cindy Crawford was asked how she handled the body-envy she inspired in other girls, she was brutally honest:

“WOMEN ARE ALWAYS ASKING WHY THEY DON’T LOOK LIKE ME, WHAT THEY DON’T REALISE IS THAT I DON’T LOOK LIKE ME EITHER.”

It takes a whole lot of lighting, make-up, pinning, posing and airbrushing to make model-types look picture perfect. So instead of bustin’ your butt trying to achieve a totally unachievable body that even a supermodel won’t lay claim to, take a lesson in loving yourself up. You ARE Beauty*licious–cuddly tums, curvy thighs, bony bums included–yep, you’d better believe it!

Beauty*licious inspir-o-girls

Don’t get me wrong, I still dig celeb girls. I just don’t want to be them–which, let me tell you, makes my life a whole lot easier. Instead of trying to work a body shape that’s just not healthy or crushing on their super-expensive matching Prada mules and handbag ensemble, I use celeb girls as a source of Beauty*licious inspiration.

In fact, j’adore my collection of ‘Beauty*licious girls–past and present’ mostest. They come in varying shapes and sizes and have a whole lot of totally diggable qualities, because being Beauty*licious is about so much more than looks. Fact.

Jane Mansfield–a 50’s Hollywood starlet who was all curves, bottle blonde locks and lived in a Pink Palace–what’s not to love?

Beyoncé–not only is she uber-talented, she will happily admit that she has to work at making her butt both Beauty*licious and bootylicious on a daily basis. Phew!

Lynda Carter–the original Wonder Woman, not only did she rock out in Lycra but she was strong in both character and physique.

Madonna–Madonna is officially the queen of re-invention, when she gets bored of the look she’s currently working, well, she just changes it–my kinda girl!

Lucille Ball–the star of retro American sit-com I Love Lucy, with her famous flaming scarlet coiffure she gave red heads everywhere their very own bombshell.

Pink–not only my absolute favourite colour but also my favourite pop-girl. The embodiment of all that is feisty, fun, fearless and fabulous. Pink–I salute you!

Who are your Beauty*licious inspir-o-girls and why?

find your muse

Channel your inner-art-girl and create your own one-of-a-kind inspiro-art.

What you will need:

Sweet music–to create a boho-art-girl atmosphere

Materials with which to create–old magazines, paints, quotes you dig, colouring pens

Scissors and a glue stick

An Andy Warhol-esque imagination

Instructions:

Find images of your very own Beauty*licious inspir-o-girls along with some inspiring feel-good quotes and most importantly, a photo or drawing of you workin’ your best Beauty*licious ’tude pose…

Now, use your material to make your very own Beauty*licious objet d’art for your boudoir wall. Make it as adorably delicious as you possibly can with the picture of you at the very centre, natch. When your Beauty*licious creation is finished, hang it in a prominent place, to be looked at, and adored on a daily basis.

Under pressure

Angel: Pink Lady and all round gorgeous girl, has killer curves.

Her trunk is most definitely packing junk and she looks really rather fabulous. Yet despite her Beyoncé-esque figure, she completely bought into the whole thin fantasy.

“…IT’S TRUE, I DID. I GO TO AN ALL-GIRL, SUPER-POSH BOARDING SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE-VILLE, WHERE THE PRESSURE TO FIT IN IS MUCHO-HIGH. THE HAIR-SWISHIN’, POUTY GIRL-TYPES GOT ME TO THINKING THAT IF ONLY I WERE THINNER LOTS OF THINGS WOULD CHANGE. SO I WENT ON A DIET. A CRAZY-ASSED DIET, THAT MEANT I DIDN’T EAT, LIKE, VIRTUALLY ANYTHING.

EXCEPT, BY THE THIRD WEEK I HAD BECOME ALL SILLY AND FORGETFUL AND BY WEEK FOUR I WAS SENT HOME FROM THE SUPER-POSH BOARDING SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAD FAINTED IN THE BATHROOM. MUCHO EMBARRASSMENTO. LUCKILY FOR ME, I WAS WEARING A MATCHING PAUL FRANK UNDERWEAR COMBO AT THE TIME–COULD YOU IMAGINE IF I’D MADE A BAD CHOICE OF UNDER GARMENTAGE THAT DAY? (NOTE TO SELF: AIN’T NEVER GONNA HAPPEN SISTA, YOU’RE A FASHIONISTA!)

WANTING TO CHANGE PART OF MY BODY WASN’T A PHYSICAL THING, IT WAS A SIGN OF MY SUPER LOW SELF-ESTEEM. I KNOW ITS HARD TO BELIEVE, WHAT WITH ME BEING ALL SASSY AND SELF-LOVIN’ NOW, BUT THE PRESSURE TO LOOK LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN AN ALL-GIRL SCHOOL IS HUGE AND WHEN THE SO-CALLED NORM’ IS TO LOOK LIKE A SUPER-SKINNY WAIF GIRL, THAT PRESSURE CAN BECOME ALL-CONSUMING.

IT WASN’T UNTIL I LOVED MYSELF UP FOR BEING SO FABULOUSLY YOU-NIQUE THAT I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE MY BAD BODY TUDE TO A FIERCE, KICK-ASS, BEAUTY*LICIOUS TUDE. LETS FACE IT, WITH AN AFRO AS BIG AS MINE AND A BOOTY TO MATCH, I’D BE FOOLISH NOT TO WORK IT LIKE A 70’s DIVA, RIGHT?”

Y’see, Angel’s problem didn’t vanish once the weight had disappeared. Which, while rude and wrong, is an unfortunate fact. So if you’re hating your bum, or not digging your thighs–even if the banish-bad-bit fairy was able to, well, banish bad bits–your life wouldn’t instantly become A-list fabsville, all that would change is your clothes size.

Half the fun of growing up is waiting to find out what kind of woman you’ll become and, while I know it takes a whole lot of courage to love and accept the body you’ve got, when you do, life is significantly more Beauty*licious, I promise! So give it a go sweet thing…love the skin you’re in!

While Angel is now lovin’ herself up hugely, if you’ve got a friend who isn’t diggin’ who she is, or feels under pressure to look a certain way, she’s going to need a whole lot of girl-love from her Pink Ladies…

Next time she says negative things about herself like: ‘My nose is too big’ or ‘my bum is huge’ don’t play along. Instead say: ‘I think it’s beautiful and I’m not going to get dragged into this body-bashing conversation with you.’

Get her to look at her whole body rather than obsessing over one part. Set aside a whole weekend for window-shopping and at-home makeovers. Anything that involves treating yourselves like the sparkle-girls that you actually are.

Ask her what she’d think if you were to say the kind of things she currently tells herself about you–this will help her see what a Negative Nina she’s being and that trashing herself is just not cool.

Mirror, Mirror

Being you has never been cooler. You’re a gorgeous dollop of sweet strawberry ice cream on a hot summer’s day. Don’t believe me? Just gather a bunch of your giggle girls and take a look in the mirror…

You will need:

Yourself Your Pink Ladies

A full-length mirror Paper and pen

What to do:

When we look in the mirror we usually focus on the bits we hate and ignore the rest. So, this time, without cringing, check out your reflection. Look at yourself and list five physical things you love about the chica staring back atcha–it can be the cute-as-a-button sprinkling of freckles across your nose, your incredibly long eyelashes–look at the whole person, not just one area. If you get stuck, call on your Pink Ladies for prompts–what are friends for, right?

Now put the list somewhere you can see it everyday, so that if you ever feel tempted to diss a bad bit, you’ll have an instant memory-jog of your ab-fab bits to love up instead!

The ‘Better than me, better than you’ Game

A game made popular by girls worldwide.

What you need:

The ability to diss your body

A tape measure–to compare your measurements with others

A speedometer–to measure how quickly you can lower your self-esteem

How to play:

It’s really simple, just compare yourself to others and find fault in either them or you. Score points by triggering insecurities and lowering self-esteem. Okay, ’fess up if you’re a ‘better than me, better than you’ game player…You might not need a game board or dice but everyone plays from time to time.

Do you measure your body against celeb-girls? Or, do you get a secret kick from knowing your legs are significantly longer than the new girl on the school netball team?

The comparison contest is by far the most popular game played by us girls. But, the funny thing is, it doesn’t matter how good at it you get or how long you play for–you never win. Why? Because relying on another chica to make you feel hot-to-trot is just not cool. It’s like saying ‘I’m ok and you’re not.’ Not only will it trigger insecurities and kick your self-esteem face-first to the kerb, it will mean someone else has to appear worse than you in order for you to feel better about yourself–that’s one sucky game, if you ask me. There’s always going to be someone with smaller thighs, smoother skin or longer legs.

Fact.

Imagine if I compared myself to the Pink Ladies: Angel is all caramel-skin and dangerous curves; Sadie is petite, elfin-like and able to carry off too-cute ensembles that I would look quite ridiculous in: and Bella is total bleach-blonde uniqueness. I, on the other hand have pink hair and a round belly. The fact is, the Pink Ladies are all so totally different, we’re just not comparable. So, instead of comparing ourselves to each other, we embrace our differences and celebrate our fabulousity because, well, we really are rather fabulous and, more importantly, so are you–just believe it, star girl!

Pretty Unique

Beauty*licious girls are quirky girls.

Yep, whether it’s a brace, a cute l’il mole on your right cheek, glasses, freckles, a birth mark, pink hair, one eye that’s a different colour than the other, or a gap between your front teeth–when you’re Beauty*licious you work your quirks like a pair of pink diamond-encrusted Converse.

Take super-confident, fashion girl Betsey Johnson, complete with dread-locked hair tied in pretty-pink lace ribbons, an infectious energy and a talent for designing to-die-for glam-girl ensembles. She knows she doesn’t need to be someone else’s idea of beautiful to be a success in the world. She rocks her individuality and has complete confidence in who she is–now that’s Beauty*licious!

What quirks make you Pretty Unique?

This girl will rock you world

Pink rocks my socks, and even if you don’t love her music, you’ve got to give her hefty props for not following the crowd and making her very own Pink-shaped footprints in the world.

Make like Pink and instead of seeing your quirks as flaws, except and celebrate that you’re Pretty Unique–because that chica, is such a good thing!

This girl will rock your world: It’s not just her flashy pink hair that makes R&B/pop artist Pink stand out from the multitude of female singers fighting for a chart position; she’s got a kick-ass voice, big talent, and single-handedly roasted the yawn-inducing, carbon-copy pop princesses who dominate the tabloids in her video for ‘Stupid Girls’.

Pink hair and a Beauty*licious attitude.

We dig. A lot.

She says: “…I’VE BEGUN TO ACCEPT THAT LOOKING DIFFERENT ISN’T BAD. IT’S GOOD. I’M NOT FAT, I’M NOT THIN, I’M ME…”

The Beauty*licious Parlour

To avoid becoming a beauty school dropout, channel your 1950s starlet and join the Pink Ladies in the Academy of all things Beauty*licious. It’s a sugar-pink parlour, complete with those decadent, squirty perfume bottles–y’know, like in the movies? This is the place to dish Beauty*licious secrets, bust myths and share advice–Bellisimo!

My friends tell me I’m not fat, but there is a group of boys who tease me and call me chubby. I want to lose weight in a healthy way. How do I do that?

THE PINK LADIES: Whoa, just because some boy-types tease you doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your body. Nobody has the right to make you feel bad about your bod, you make the decisions about you, okay? If you hang out with us a bit longer, you’ll soon realise that when you’re Beauty*licious, there’s lots of Converse kickin’ things you can do to learn to love your bod by keeping it healthy and fit!

I hate my nose and want plastic surgery for it but I know it costs thousands of pounds. I’m really sick of it what can I do?

THE PINK LADIES: Girl, surgery is a super-extreme solution and there are huge risks involved. Have you spoke to anyone about how you’re feeling right now? Talking over problems with your friends, or your mum, can help put things in perspective and give you a much needed confidence boost.

I get called freckle face, it really upsets me.

THE PINK LADIES: While it might be easy to let bad-mouthed bullies get you down about your freckles, those little spots are permanent fixtures that make you totally unique. Being friends with yourself is the first step to feeling confident. So, when you look in the mirror, don’t feel bad and sad about your freckles. Instead, turn them into a positive smile-worthy thing–how cute are you?