Name: Kristel Mae A.

Perdezo Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Grade/Section: 11- STEM (Humility)

Nobody is Perfect

MY PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE

“I want to look good for my first day of high school.” Every teenagers goes through this
awkward phase in which their bodies change dramatically. Acne, body disproportions, and a
crackly voice. All the wonderful things that life has to offer, right? I began to gain a lot of
weight right when the pandemic started. I went from a size 2 to a size 5. Every day, my mother
would nag me about how thick my thunder thighs were and how I’m bloated. She literally
brought a mirror into our room to remind me how fat I was. Every time I saw my reflection, I
felt a strong sense of guilt, knowing that I hadn’t met my mother’s expectations. My mother
would purposefully bring up my weight whenever we went out for family dinners or there’s an
birthday parties. “Mae, don’t eat too much of food, it’ll make you fat.” Or “Stop eating or you’ll
turn into a pig or a cobra.” Eventually, these constant reminders became an addictive mindset;
endless thoughts of food, calories, and exercise. My confidence began to plunge as I became
more self-conscious of my body. Surfing through my Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok feed
was a battle of jealousy; it was brimming with beautiful, skinny models. “Why don’t I look like
her?” I’d see sixteen-year-old girls who had been pampered to look and act like twenty-year-
olds. All of whom are usually dressed in teeny-weeny crop tops and shorts that expose far too
much skin. Children are growing and maturing faster than ever before. My mother told me that
she didn’t start wearing makeup until she was eighteen years old. In contrast, I was only nine
when I began pleading with my mother for a lipstick, face powder and nail color. “I’d see
sixteen-year-old girls who had been pampered to look and act like twenty-year-olds.”

I was constantly looking in the mirror, grabbing the excess fat on my thighs and purposefully
sucking in my tummy for a skinnier complexion, imagining what I would look like if I were
exactly like them. Comparing myself to models and influencers eventually became a daily habit
that was slowly deteriorating my mental health. I felt like a prisoner imprisoned within my own
body, unable to express my inner beauty and accept myself for who I am. Attempting to
achieve that 23-inch waist, thigh gap, and defined collarbone. I began to wonder about society
in terms of how we define beauty. It made me question my own identity and how others
perceive me. Why do people associate the word “Fat” as a negative connotation? And why is it
so frequently used as an insult? I’m curious as to why my mother was threatening me with
harsh words despite the fact that there was nothing wrong with me. People will always pass
judgment on me, even if I have a perfectly healthy BMI.

I realized that I had been exposed to this unrealistic body expectations since I was a little girl. I
remember being taught that in stories, women must be sweet, caring skinny, dainty and petite
to have a happy ending. You will never find the Prince Charming of your dreams if you do not
meet the requirements. In my favorite Disney film, The Little Mermaid ,the villain in the movie,
Ursula, who has the lower body of an octopus, is the polar opposite of Ariel, as she is old, fat,
and horrifying to look at. Ursula says in the film that a girl’s voice is not as important as her
physical appearance. This teaches children that boys only appreciate women based on their
appearance. This creates unrealistic gender portrayal expectations, which has a negative impact
on one’s self-esteem.

I was 11 years old that time,when the new Disney Villains Designer Collection released a new
Ursula Barbie. The original character had been shrunken down to a slimmer version. I
remember pleading with my parents to get me this beautiful doll, even though I knew she was
the ugliest character in the movie. I guess the new Ursula is now avoiding her daily sweet
intake and giving up all of her favorite foods. The designer obviously did this on purpose, but
was it necessary to make her lose all that weight? Ursula’s transformation to fit in with the
other dolls is analogous to forcing children to have a “thin ideal” body shape to fit in with the
social norm. Is this to say that society should not accept body diversity? Are we telling children
to go on a diet so they can grow up to be beauty models?

Regardless of how self-conscious I am about my appearance, I believe the world is full of

beautiful people, and I see them all the time. Stretch marks, cellulite, and excess skin are all
characteristics that define us as humans, and we should not be ashamed of them. Each body is
unique in terms of shape and size. Many of the advertisements we see are edited and photo
shopped to remove the distinguishing features that make each person unique. Furthermore, the
majority of these beautiful women may have had plastic surgery to hide their flaws and
imperfections. As a result, we should not rely on our eyes. As a result, achieving the “ideal body
image” will be difficult. As a teen, your ever-changing body can be strange and confusing. To
truly love yourself, you must embrace beauty on the inside and out.

I am Kristel Mae A. Perdezo, sharing you my personal struggles as a teen girl growing up in a
modern society. “Everyday, I would spend hours looking at myself in the mirror, staring at
every imperfection. ”You see that pimple on my forehead? Not a big deal, right? Nobody is born
to be perfect.”