The lllusion of Perfection
    As a high school girl,l am constantly faced with insecurities and the pressure to live up to society's standard of "perfection". However, l believe it is important for teens not to give in to media pressure。 Eating disorders and anorexia are huge problems for, young people today. Part of the reason that some women habitually  eat too little is that celebrity women are all too often unhealthily skinny.  The pressure to be flawless in every way is frequently linked to self-image and weight issues.
    As I watch TV, images of famous, beautiful celebrities and their amazing lifestyles are drooled over. At first I find myself sharing in the admiration of these models with their skinny bodies and protruding bones. But then I realize what a false and sugar-coated image I am falling victim to.  Behind the pretty exterior is a lifestyle full of insecurity, eating disorder and self-harm. lt's something I shouldn't look up to or mimic in order to be what society considers flawless.
    A typical morning of a teenage girl such as myself consists of painting a not so immaculate face with expensive makeup to cover up any imperfections, continuing with a strict diet in the hope of losing more weight,  and dressing in clothes I don't necessarily like in a desperate attempt to be more like the gorgeous women I see every day.  This is part of daily life. However, seeing the increasing problem of eating disorders,  especially in the celebrity world, has opened my eyes to the importance of not succumbing to the influence of the glitter of Hollywood. Every day there are images of celebrities such as Mary-Kate Olsen,  Lindsay Lohan, and Nicole Richie, who are viewed as role models, even idolized, although they continue to live unhealthy lives for the whole world to see.  Such celebrities in effect promote eating disorders in young people.
    I believe in striving towards being happy with my own self-image and in resisting pressure to the world's standards of perfection.  lnstead of being filled with self-doubt and dissatisfaction.  have come to feel the need to be full of self-confidence and pride in my individuality and appearance, regardless of the media and the way celebrities are portrayed.  I feel sure that l should not allow myself to be defined by the expectations of others but rather hold fast to my own standards and convictions.  l have come to realize just how much our media has become obsessed with thinness and weight-loss and how I have been in danger of being affected by it as a teenage girl.  Falling under this spell could easily lead to serious self-image issues as well as the stress of measuring up to the all too thin role models of today.  This is why l now try to live my life free of the constant worry to be something I'm not, and to live a healthy life.