Dressing with Dignity

America, you’re sending girls a mixed message. On one hand you’re saying to have positive body image and love who we are, on the other we’re being marketed makeup and clothing that obviously turns us into someone different. We’re not supposed to go after boys with looks (or really show that much skin at all), yet we’re being sold “boyfriend pushups,” lacy thongs, and magazines like Seventeen (which is read by girls way younger than seventeen, I’ll tell you) or CosmoGirl with feature articles like “476 Ways to be Irresistible.”

As Miss Teen USA, Danielle Doty will promote several charitable alliances and plans to expand the charitable organization that she started called Modest is Hottest, which teaches girls about self-respect and self-esteem. “I want girls to know that people will like you and you will have friends when you are comfortable in your own skin,” she said.