In order to keep a positive body image, the number one step you need to take is to accept your body. This is much more difficult to do than it may seem. In order to accept your body, you need to have a realistic idea of your physical appearance. Many girls have a distorted image of what they should look like, which contributes to a distorted image of how they look.

Body image is directly related to self-esteem. So, if you have a negative body image—wish you were skinnier, wish you had fewer freckles, or wish your legs were longer—you are in danger of having low self-esteem as well. You can’t get around the fact that you probably care a lot about how other people see you. What you have to remember is that everybody your age worries about how they look. Most people don’t look like the characters in The OC or the pictures they see in Seventeen magazine. In fact, makeup artists and professionals using computers and Photoshop can do a lot to change the appearance of actors and models. What you see isn’t necessarily what you get.

One way to develop a healthy and realistic body image is to pay less attention to what you see on TV and in the pages of glossy magazines. You might also find out about different cultures where the “in” look may be a lot different than what we’re told is ideal here in America. Focusing on what you like about your body and appearance is an important step in feeling better about yourself. Do you love your hair color? Do you think your toes are really cute? Pay attention to the parts of your body that you love and spend less time worrying about the parts you’d like to change. If you can let go of preoccupation with your looks, you will be able to focus on other things such as school, friends, family and fun.