My body image struggle

By Marlene C

I hadn’t always been self conscious about my body image. I had started off as a normal little girl not caring what I looked like. Then my family and their words changed my whole perspective.

Out of nowhere I had started to receive comments about my body from my family. “You need to eat less or your stomach is sticking out so suck it in.” is just some of what they would tell me.

At first I started off ignoring the comments but eventually they started to affect my confidence and the way I viewed myself. I started getting used to the comments since I had been hearing them for a while but one day me and my brothers were arguing and my little brother had called me “fat”.

As I heard that word my eyes filled with tears and then they began rolling. I had finally had enough, I couldn’t control my emotions any longer and just gave in to feeling them all at once. My mom heard this and instantly texted me to say that I was a Barbie and to not let anyone tell me otherwise. At hearing these words I instantly start to feel better but not much since she also contributed to the comments made towards me.

Family still makes comments to me about my body or the way I look but they no longer hurt me as much as they did. Their comments still burn me at times but never as much as when I was younger. My family's comments no longer dictate how I look at myself, I know now that I am beautiful just the way I am.

Soon I started going to friends and one cousin in particular to vent to them and for support. The advice was starting to help, and I started to gain confidence. They gave me the support I need to help build me back up. They helped me regain myself once and for all. I no longer allow myself to be hurt by others words, I now love and appreciate my body for how it is.

For the Warrior Times, this is Marlene Camarillo.