This is Erin. She’s a 20-year-old Spanish major from Georgia and she is my kindred spirit because she has a pink streak. She’s got just a delicious amount of rebelliousness in her, but it’s mixed up with this wonderful thoughtfulness, and I liked her instantly. We had great fun wandering through the freshly sprinkled (or should I say sopping wet) grass and laying down on benches in front of the library. (WHY, why is the grass always soaking wet at BYU? I suppose it is for the express purpose to discourage people like me from stomping on it in hopes of photographic awesomeness. Siiiiiiiigh.)

She is fearless, this woman. I was like, “Can I ask you to do something weird?” at least three times. And she didn’t blink an eye. Superstar.

Here’s what she has to say about why she’s beautiful…
     
Need some high quality pictures of yourself just because you’re fabulous? Let’s do it. brookebee@gmail.com

Kayla is just about the spunkiest, funniest, most endearing girl I’ve met during this project. She is so open and real and it we just giggled—we even tried to get a photo of her doing a handstand, but, alas, these will have to suffice.

And her response is reflective of so many women I’ve met–women in general just want to help other people and do good things. Which is absolutely beautiful to me.
Here’s her response…

    
Kayla, be my bffl?

Dianne is a counselor in the Counseling Center downstairs from Women’s Services and submitted a statement for our project. She did her graduate work when her oldest was in first grade and has been a psychologist for 10 years here at BYU. Pitlitipifec She is an incredibly validating, open-hearted woman, and plus she rides her bike to work, which is supremely cool.

I hope I am as wise and kind as she is when I grow up.

Here’s her response to our prompt…

  
Dianne, it was a true pleasure.

P.S. I know I keep telling you about deadlines, but really, it’s not too late to submit your completion of the sentence to wsr@byu.edu for your chance to get your picture taken by yours truly! 🙂
I hope your Monday is wonderful!

We lived in the same cockroach-infested promise-breaking complex with the pool I never swam in. We went to church in the same building on campus, and wore dresses to the same Relief Society and the same Sunday School class. We played powderpuff football together and I had no idea.

I had no idea that she was just like me, that she cared about how she looked and worried about it. She seemed so effortless.

I just can’t tell the world of women enough times: everyone cares. Everyone worries about how they look. Let’s all just give each other a break—resolve to accept compliments, wear the first outfit we try on in the morning, and let other women wear and be what they want.

Jessica is a psychology major and has her mission papers in! She’s also thinking about grad school, and I can’t wait to see what she does! She is such a strong woman–she will just be great at whatever she decides to pursue.

I LOVED Jessica’s response to the prompt…
   
Jessica, I have a woman crush on you.
See more from this project here.

When Britt walked into the office I was just a little bit…floored. Because, well, she looks like a model.

Turns out she used to be a model! And you can see why. The problem is that people have this illusion that if they were as gorgeous as Britt, they would be happy and totally accept themselves 100% 24/7. Pitlitipifec . Go ahead and do yourself a favor and stop telling yourself those lies. The reality is: every woman grapples with her appearance and has something she hasn’t liked about herself at one time or another. The trick is realizing that the secret is not in getting prettier, thinner, or whatever else—it’s in becoming more accepting, compassionate, and loving toward yourself.

Britt just finished her first year of law school and plans to open her own firm someday, solely dedicated to disability advocacy. And she is buying a house in Saratoga Springs with her husband—and my family lives out there! Maybe they will be neighbors.

Here is Britt’s take on the prompt…           
Thank you, Britt, for letting me in on your life and your beauty!