Written By Kadence Schaecher

Photographed By Britney Spangenberg

Graphics By Desiree Daos

Modeled By Natalia Cordero, Elisa Peters, Kya Wilson, & Kadence Schaecher

To some, there is nothing more humbling than comparing your looks to the flawless social media models that appear on our screens every day. With 9 in 10 children and adolescents being exposed to toxic beauty standards for an average of four hours daily, it can feel impossible to accept yourself for who you truly are when your body does not always match what you see on social media.

I had to face this fact at a young age. My body has always been sensitive to the sun, and because of this, I have various freckles, moles and awkward tan lines stretching across my skin. After seeing so many models with perfect, unblemished complexions, I was convinced that these marks were flaws, something to hide like a dark secret. I am far from the only one who has experienced this. Even to this day, countless people publish tutorials on blogs or social media sites that describe how they cover up their own marks. Of course, there is nothing wrong with altering your appearance to increase your confidence. However, I have always felt like it was an expectation for me to cover my skin rather than an option. But, it does not have to be this way.

Almost all adults are reported to have moles or other marks on their body, typically between 10 and 40 of them, in fact. While skin defects can sometimes raise a concern for cancers and other potential health problems, a large majority of the time, these marks are completely harmless. So, why are we so ashamed of them?

The marks on your skin, whether you were born with them or if they appeared with time, tell stories about your life. Sun exposure often comes with freckles or moles or awkward tan lines, sure, but they all show that you have gone out and lived your life to the fullest.

Personally, I find it easy to be confident with my natural skin after realizing how truly natural ‘imperfection’ was. Think about it — how often do we see perfectly shaped flowers or leaves on a tree with a smooth color all across? Nature herself is speckled, blotted, and imperfect; yet she is beautiful. There is no reason for us to think of our own imperfections as simply skin-deep, not when the canvas of our skin reflects the beauty of the world around us and everything we have been through.