An Edmonton organization has been helping teens find their own beauty with a day of pampering.
Infinite Resources Inc. hosted the third annual Beautiful Me event on Sunday where 25 teens were selected to undergo a day of beauty.
“I think there is more pressure now then there has ever been. There is so much self-loathing about our bodies and it is not just teens. There are adult women that bash themselves. They body shame themselves and they don’t even know they are doing it in front of their own children,” company founder Shelia Chisholm explained.
“We need to love ourselves exactly the way we are created. Every roll and every flaw that we think we have somebody loves that about us.”
For the teens involved the event can be emotional.
“They literally just meet you five minutes ago but they still want to make you feel the best that you can,” Cloe Lashuk said through tears.
“Even though I don’t love myself other people are willing to love me.”
She said it was the generosity of the volunteers that touched her.
“I have bad depression and there is always that voice in your head telling you that you ae not good enough.”
Cloe’s story is not unique.
Her sister, 17-year-old Robyn Lashuk, said she felt she had to be perfect all the time.
“You feel like there is expectations, expectations to be perfect and graceful all the time.
“I do appreciate myself but sometimes I still cry about how I am not graceful and beautiful all the time.”
Cloe’s twin sister Kathryn was also part of the event and said she found it empowering.
“I haven’t loved myself in the past and this just really shows that I can love myself and enjoy what I see.”
“You have to change your point of view to be beautiful,” Robyn said.
Chisholm said she hoped to give each participant a renewed self-esteem.
“I want them to go out and share it so that everybody starts feeling good about themselves exactly they way they are.”
With files from Veronica Jubinville
