If you spend any time on social media forums for petite fashion, you won't have to scroll too far to find someone asking for advice on how to boost their confidence.
Even though a lot of short women completely embrace their height (or lack of!), it's a sad truth that many of us can remember a time when we we're made to feel insecure about our bodies.
If you are someone that struggles with body confidence, there is no quick fix or YouTube tutorial that will improve your relationship with your body. Everyone must experience their personal confidence journey in their own way at their own pace.
It took until my mid twenties to finally start to love my height, but there are a few things I wish I had known when I was younger and less secure. And if I could turn back time to visit 16 year old me, these are the 3 things I would tell myself.
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Stop the self depreciation. Making your own short jokes can act as shield to ‘control the narrative’ and deflect any mean comments. It can be a comfort blanket for those of us who are used to being teased for our height, but when you speak negatively about yourself (even in a light hearted way) you give people permission to do the same. Once you start responding to comments in a neutral way, people don’t make as much of a big deal about it. Which brings me on to my second point…
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There will always be people who say stupid sh*t but remember, secure, happy people don’t feel the need to belittle others. Reflecting on my own experience with being teased for how I looked, it is clear in hindsight that the person was using it as a way to deflect from their own insecurities. Realising this doesn't magically make you invincible to dumb comments about your appearance, but it does take the sting out…
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Stop following people who make you feel bad about yourself. This is pretty much a no-brainer, but Instagram isn't real. It's one thing to be aware of filters and face-tuning, but we're all still humans who can't help but subconsciously compare ourselves to AI-altered images. Following people who share your body type can change your whole perspective.
And finally, despite what you see on social media, don't feel pressured to love your body right now. It's okay to just feel neutral about it. Accepting something you can't change about yourself might not feel like a win, but it will feel like weight lifted off your shoulders.