As I was skimming through a magazine the other day, my eye caught the results of a study done, which clearly stated that 77% of teenagers (ages 12-14) consider themselves as “fat” and “ugly”, and get depressed every time they see pictures of beautiful models on TV and in fashion magazines. It’s a shocking percentage, don’t you think?

What’s more, half of the girls in early adolescence described themselves as “ugly” or even “disgusting”. The research was made by a well-known cosmetics company that wanted to show the effects of pressure by the beauty industry on teens.

At my job, I have to do with teenagers. So, I decided to do some research of my own. I talked with teen girls (between 12 and 15 years old) and most of them confessed that they wear make up at school. In fact, 50% knew how to wear make up since the age of ten, while 90% had been familiar with cosmetics since they were 8. In addition, the majority faithfully follows fashion trends, and they don’t neglect to read and implement beauty tips they find in fashion magazines or beauty blogs. Girls at that age spend at least 20 minutes every morning to do their hair, and often visit the ladies’ room to fix details of their appearance.

One could ask, what’s wrong with that? These girls just do that because they want to look beautiful. That’s also what they claim. When I asked a girl: “Why do you bother so much about your appearance? Is it about the boys?” “No”, she said. “I just try to look good”. There is nothing wrong about trying to be beautiful. However, the amazing thing is that of those girls, 77% not only don’t feel beautiful, but feel “ugly”.

On the other hand, who am I to judge? Not many years have passed since my adolescence; I can still remember those gatherings with my girlfriends on Saturday afternoons. We used to spend 3 hours to get ready before spending 2 hours at the movies. For what? I didn’t care back then. For me it was just a game I stopped at about 16. I never took it too seriously. And I disagree when a fun game becomes psychological pressure. Because for many teenagers “beauty” has long stopped being a fun game; it is a struggle they can never win. Disappointment is not the only effect. Add low self-esteem and psychological pressure that leads to depression and other serious health problems like anorexia.

Can we blame TV?
Girls, by the age of 12, will have watched approximately 80.000 TV commercials that could harm her self esteem. Sure, commercials are a factor, but throwing TVs out of our houses is definitely not a solution.

How can teens be protected?
The role of parents and teachers is important. Encourage your children to work on their talents and skills from a small age. There are many things to do besides watching TV or reading beauty magazines that will keep them interested. Let your kids get involved in music or sports. Encourage them to go dancing or take drawing classes. Keep their minds busy with arts or technology.

If it happens to be teens that read this article, you must know that beauty is not about external appearance. It is good to take care of your self and look nice wherever you go, but try to stay away from all this “beauty fever”. Quotes like “the greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart” and “beauty is skin deep” may seem passe (though so true), but do depression and anorexia seem more modern? Let me just tell you this: according to Asdfing’s 3-day-poll results, 57% vote that the most important characteristic of a perfect mate is intelligence. Only 14% said it is beauty. So, work on your intelligence. Evolve your talents and enrich your knowledge. Just think about it.