17 Girls Share Photos Capturing the Most Confident Moments of Their Lives
Join the movement by sharing a photo of yourself tagged #PerfectlyMe.
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Self-love starts and ends with you, so join our body positivity movement by sharing a photo of yourself tagged #PerfectlyMe. Tell us what you celebrate about your body! Is it how strong your body is? Or how fast? Or how adaptive? Maybe your body knows exactly how much caffeine you need to make it through finals week? Whatever it is, share it with us and you'll have a chance to be featured on Seventeen.
Cydnie, 17
"My body and I have a love-hate relationship — but it's mostly love. It's kind of like how it is with a best friend: Sometimes you get along, and sometimes you don't. When I was younger, I always wanted to look how other people looked. But my mom would tell me, 'You're smart, pretty, and strong,' and she would have me recite that to myself every day. That really helped me build up my confidence and allowed me to see that my body is exactly how it's supposed to be. Now, instead of trying to look like people I see on social media, I dare to be different. I don't want to be a 'copy and paste' of someone else. I'm living to look good for myself, and that's what makes me happy."
Kendall, 16
"Like a lot of teens, I've had body-image issues and found things I've disliked about my appearance. Working out helps me deal with that self-conscious feeling. My goal isn't to get skinny but to get strong. Knowing that I can lift weights allows me to walk around more confidently and feel proud of who I am, on the inside and the outside. I've also realized that it's okay to not feel great all the time. I've had to deal with negative comments about how I look — people have told me that I look manly or like the Hulk — but for me, my muscles are a sign of strength. So I just ignore the people who try to tear me down and keep doing what makes me feel good."
Autumn, 17
"I have cerebral palsy, and a few years ago I started competing in beauty pageants for girls with disabilities. I gained confidence and realized there is no reason I should have to stick to a disability pageant, so I competed in a regular one. That allowed me to see that I shouldn't be treated differently just because I don't fit the typical look of what some people consider 'perfect.' And honestly, I don't care what others think of me because I feel good about myself. Sure, I have imperfections, but we all do — that's the beautiful part."
Mikayla, 20
"I had just recently let go of a two-year relationship and moved to Florida, and I was nervous out of my mind to start this new life chapter. My friend and I decided to have a photoshoot that day, and I remember in this moment, I felt so proud of the person I was becoming. There is freedom in my smile!"
Olivia, 17
"I felt amazing at junior prom. I wore a black maxi with a slit cut above the knee and a beaded halter. I had my friend do a rosy red smokey eye and winged liner. My boyfriend matched his tie to my makeup. It was exactly what I had imagined for prom and I was so excited to see everything turn out perfectly."
Aashna, 17
"I published a YA novel called Going Places at the age of 16. My book signing took place the same day that one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Niven, happened to be at Barnes & Noble for her book signing. We met in the back of the store, where she was getting ready, and she told me she'd heard about my book. She congratulated me and said she was proud of what I'd done, which made me feel on top of the world. One of the best moments was when she actually picked up my book, which is quite long, and said, 'Wow, this is a real book!' My confidence skyrocketed."
Lizzie, 20
"This photo was taken right after I gave a short talk on what I had done at my summer internship with Pubnub, a San Francisco tech startup. (I'm the shortest one, standing next to Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and Square!) I felt confident because I wasn't a big public speaker or tech person growing up, but I'm proud of who I'm becoming."
Amelia, 15
"One thing that gives me confidence is the close bond I have with my best friend Laney! She snapped this picture when we were at a cute produce stand. I was laughing because she called me a 'fine-apple.' I'm able to be my true, quirky self around her — I don't have to worry about how my laugh sounds or if my smile is weird. She's taught me to love who I am."
Julia, 18
"I'm a freshman in college and I just became a radio DJ with my own show. In high school, I knew exactly who I was, but college is a time to reinvent yourself. The Julia I'm becoming is way more confident and cool than high school Julia ever was."
Anais, 21
"When I was 13, I developed an eating disorder. For years, I only wore clothes that hid by body. As I recover, I'm challenging myself to wear clothes I thought I'd never be able to wear, like this swimsuit! It's been a journey, but I'm taking steps to become a plus-size model now."
Isabel, 20
"Whenever I took selfies before this picture, I would always try to cover up my freckles with cover up or with filters. People used to make fun of me for them. But when I got home one day this past January and saw my lipstick still intact and how happy I felt (it was a really great day!), I didn't care anymore. I realized that although my freckles may make me look different than the girls I see in ads, it didn't matter because it made me special. Very cheesy but so true!"
Mimi, 21
"This was taken on my 21st birthday, the day I had a photoshoot for my fashion blog. My blog gives me such confidence — it's my own space and I work really hard to follow my writing dreams."
Kiara, 22
"I worked so hard in high school so I could attend a university that would help me pursue my aspirations of becoming a broadcast journalist. I maintained excellent grades, got involved with all the major student clubs, and served as president of the Spanish Honor Society. It all paid off: I got into Duke University, and now, I'm a senior. This is a photo of me kicking off my senior year at one of my school's annual galas!"
Megan, 21
"I have insecure days, but I was totally feeling myself when I took this picture. I was trying to figure out what to wear to a Justin Bieber concert. When I put on these shorts with these boots, I knew this was the one. I felt great."
Kali, 17
"This was right before prom. I loved my dress and I loved the glamour of the occasion, but even more importantly, I felt amazing."
Aanchal, 21
"I spent 12 years of my life in a Catholic school where I was the only girl with brown skin. Even though no one ever said anything about it, I felt like people didn't want to be my friend because I didn't look like them. I felt left out — no one understood my culture, what I ate at home, what festivals I celebrated. As I entered college, I felt like I could finally breathe. I saw so many people with different skin tones, personalities, and ethnicities. I took this photo one day recently when I felt like I looked good!"
Melissa, 19
"I had sky-high confidence during my vacation to Maui in August. No worries, no school, no stress acne — LOL. I felt like a million bucks."
Hannah Orenstein is the author of several novels, including Meant to Be Mine (out June 7, 2022), Head Over Heels, Love at First Like, and Playing with Matches. She's also the Deputy Editor of Dating at Elite Daily. She lives in Brooklyn.
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