Looking awesome, Lea! | Source: WENN.com/Fayes Vision

It turns out that Lea loves showing some cleavage when she’s on the red carpet, and in my book, I think that’s fine. I mean, why shouldn’t she? Sure, she plays a teenager on TV, but in real life, she’s 26-years-old–definitely not a child! Our bodies aren’t anything to be ashamed of (they’re beautiful!) and being a little sexy can be a whole lot of fun. The crazy thing is, that a lot of parents think it’s Lea’s responsibility to be a role model for little kids and that her sexy look is way too scandalous.

“I think Lea Michele is sending the wrong message,” said New York mom Kim Trefcer, “She plays such a ‘good girl’ on Glee and a lot of kids look up to her persona. Then she poses very provocatively on two magazine covers which makes my almost-13-year-old son very confused and offended.”

Oh, honey! I hate to break it to you there, mom, but um, your teenage son is probably anything but offended by Lea Michele’s sexy cleavage (or anyone else’s!). I have a lot of guy friends, and although they don’t get too graphic with me (thank heavens), they’ve all hinted at special TV and movie crushes that they, achem, spent special time with as young adolescents and teenagers. Of course not all guys are straight, but if he’s telling his mom he finds sexy cleavage offensive, he’s probably just trying to make excuses for why he gets all fidgety whenever he sees her looking so smoking hot!

Plus, by being confident in her skin, Lea Michele is being a kick ass role model. She’s not shooting up drugs or showing up wasted to big events. She’s just wearing a low-cut dress and showing young girls and women that it’s awesome to love your body and feel gorgeous as you are.

What do you think? Is it inappropriate for Lea Michele to show so much cleavage? Do you like to rock a sexy look, or do you think it’s too scandalous? Tell us in the comments!

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A year without mirrors may be a disservice to yourself. | Source

Kjerstin explained that going a year without mirrors would essentially make her stop being a slave to vanity and enable her to use her time for other things–and that a year without mirrors doesn’t have to be a year without beauty. Kjerstin still wore makeup (except on makeup free Mondays), still used self-tanner, still did her hair . . . just without mirrors. (To be clear, she still used her rearview mirrors when driving, but “not to check herself out,” and reflective surfaces–including windows–were also off-limits.)

Kjerstin describes herself as a feminist who still like to feel pretty, and felt that sometimes those motivations didn’t match up, especially considering the impossible beauty standards society and the media have put in place. She wrote, “My values and behaviors had been at odds, and this would be the ‘step back’ from vanity that I needed. I would force myself to experience life from the inside-out, instead of the outside-in,” she noted. “But could I do it? How? And with what effects on my life, self-image, and personal and professional relationships? Was it possible that removing mirrors from my life might actually cause me to become more obsessed or insecure about my appearance? Would I completely lose the ability to apply make-up, style my hair, or select flattering and chic outfits? Despite these looming questions, I felt very determined. Somehow, I would wean myself off of mirrors for a year!”

While we totally applaud Kjerstin’s motivations behind going a year without mirrors–having more time to dedicate to things that matter most, not obsessing over her appearance, promoting a healthy body image–we’re not sure if the execution is one we’d necessarily get behind, because we’re not sure if hiding from your appearance is really the key to body confidence, just as ignorance isn’t really bliss.

Instead of a year without mirrors, how about a year of telling yourself you’re beautiful and using your reflection to prove it? | Source

In fact, we’d actually go so far as to argue that knowing what you look like and embracing it–owning it–is actually a better move. You don’t have to go nuts and check your makeup every two minutes, but being able to see yourself and remind yourself daily that you’re beautiful–regardless of how your jeans fit, whether or not your hair is cooperating–is a beautiful thing in itself. Because you–yes, you, the girl reading this right now–are gorgeous. For real, you are. Everyone has something stunning to offer. You may have really sparkly eyes, long lashes, full lips, adorable freckles, super cute curls, an awesome nose, darling dimples, great legs, a cute butt–and if you go a year without seeing them, it may make you forget just how pretty you are.

So we say kudos to Kjerstin for going a year without mirrors, because we totes wouldn’t be able to do that . . . but we also wouldn’t want to. We’d want to see how lovely we are and make the most of what we’ve got. Being able to look at ourselves in the mirror each day (which, by the way, is possible without obsessing and becoming a slave to vanity) and see what makes each of us beautiful is pretty empowering.

That and we’d be pretty paranoid about having spinach stuck in our teeth.

Would you go a year without mirrors? Do you think going a year without mirrors is a good way to boost positive body image, or do you think knowing and embracing your appearance is a better idea? Tell us in the comments!

This Girl Got Plastic Surgery To Stop Bullies

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No reason to be shy, girl! | Source: Shutterstock

Everywhere we look, there’s more skin. The hotter that it gets, the more clothes come off. This means that any perceived “imperfections” from body hair and love handles to s-t-r-e-t-c-h marks become more visible. Add basking in the presence of your favorite crush to this mix and, oy vey!

I once heard a newscaster say that trying on bathing suits is one of the most stressful things that women can do. Really? Not surviving war or childbearing?

At any rate, it’s natural to be nervous about being naked or nearly naked in front of a crush. We wonder: Ack! What will he or she think of my jiggly parts or non jiggly parts? The truth is, my lovelies, looking good is all about confidence, and feeling confident with less clothes on is all about self love.

Here’s how to be comfortable naked (or nearly naked!):

1. Feel comfortable naked by yourself.
If you don’t feel confident when you’re naked and alone, it can’t happen miraculously when others are around. How we can expect someone else to love what we don’t? Feeling better about being in the buff around your crush starts with learning to love your body.

Homework Alert! It is majorly cool that you have access to your beauty-FULL body 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Go into the bathroom or your bedroom and lock the door. Now, take your clothes off. (Yes, everything.) And take a good, long look in the mirror.

This is not a fault finding expedition. Your goal is to indulge in a little body love. Stand there until you can name 10 awesome things about YOUR body. It’s not about the size of your body parts. Some real girls have curves and some real girls don’t. You are gorgeous just for being you.

2. Love your real beauty!
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype. I’m a fashion mag junkie. However, gazing at pics that someone took in The Best Moment Of Her Life is not realistic to how we look every day. The people in the photos we want to look like don’t even look like that! It takes a Glam Squad village of 15 experts to make our favorite cover girl or reality TV chick look flawless.

Confidence is KEY! | Source: Shutterstock

Your body is a freaking miracle of nature! When you’re sweaty in private or at the beach, makeup washes away and hairstyles go awry. All that’s left then is you glorious you. Anyone who is around when that happens is super privileged and lucky.

3. Make sure you feel comfortable with him with your clothes on.
So you really like this person with a capital “L.” You may even use the other L word, love, to describe your ooey gooey feelings. Add a third L-word, lust, to this trifecta and you feel like it’s time to get naked. So how do you feel comfortable around him or her with your clothes off? FIRST, make sure that you first feel comfortable around this person with your clothes on!

We all turn into a bundle of nerves when we have a crush. It’s natural. Your heart is thump-thumping, your mouth goes dry and you forget where to put your fidgeting hands. We wonder, does he really like me? No one wants to feel or look stupid.

If you’re thinking of spending “nekkid” moments with someone, take the time to get to know them. The more comfortable you feel rocking out with them on a day-to-day basis, the more comfy you’ll feel overall.

Remember, guys get nervous too. They may act like they have swag but they don’t have anything more figured out than we do. Dude is probably too insecure about all of the things that he thinks are wrong with him to judge you. Release the fear of judgement. Know that anyone who would criticize your beautiful self is not someone who deserves to be in your big, fat shiny life anyway.

Would you feel comfortable naked (or almost naked) in front of your crush this summer? Do you ever feel self-conscious in a swim suit? Tell us everything in the comments!

What’s Your Swimsuit Personality? Find Out Here!

We were so much alike . . . until these came along! | Source: Shutterstock

Then something happened that made her so much different from me: she grew breasts. And these weren’t just any breasts–we’re talking big boobs, here. I was pretty little when she started wearing bras, but seem to think she skipped the training bra stage entirely and went to super industrial sized mondo-support monster bras. The cups were big enough that at six and seven years old, I’d tease her by putting them on my head as hats.

Yes, I know. I was a very mature second grader. Whatever.

Anyway, I figured that within just a couple years, my time would come. I’d have a super curvy Jessica Rabbit, Marilyn Monroe, knock-you-out-with-my-knockers kind of figure, too. So I waited. And waited. And waited for my big boobs.

My super-sized rack never arrived. Instead of a diva-esque D-cup, I peaked at an A/B. And holy moly was I annoyed. The strapless dresses my sister had worn that I hoped I’d grow into never fit. In fact, no strapless dresses ever did, unless they were made of spandex, which just showed off how flat I was! Where people (including cool guys) thought my sister was older than she really was because of her big boobs, people (including cool guys) thought I was a baby because of my tiny ones!

This really kind of IS the size difference! | Source: Shutterstock

Now that I’m older, I realize that having big boobs didn’t make my sister’s problems any smaller than mine. While I was frustrated and sick of being treated like a baby, she was getting all kinds of unwanted sexual attention from creepsters–including a mall Santa at Christmastime–when she was still just a kid! And where I can’t wear strapless dresses or certain halter-style tops, she can’t wear most button-up tops or ever get away without wearing a bra.

And as for those “cool guys” who used to give her attention because of her figure and ignore me because of my tiny top? I think my sister and I have both realized that the coolest guys of all are looking for way more than perfect breasts in a girlfriend (although a certain boyfriend of mine wanted me to say that he thinks mine are great!).

I wish I hadn’t been so mean to my sister about her body–and that I hadn’t been so mean to myself about mine, either. Body snarking is way too freaking common among girls–in fact, I’d be willing to bet that most girls spend more time thinking about and talking about other girls breasts than dudes do–and it’s really just stupid.

You know why? Here’s the secret: It’s your confidence, not your cup size that makes you beautiful. I just wish I’d known that a long, long time ago.

Are you jealous of other girls or siblings with big boobs? Do you have big boobs yourself and hate them? Are you proud of your boobs just the way they are? Tell me everything in the comments!

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