Backup

You know, sometimes I look back at old photos or videos, and honestly, a lot of it just makes me cringe. Not because of what I was doing, but because of how I felt about myself back then. Growing up in Korea, beauty standards felt incredibly strict and all-encompassing, especially when it came to body shape. I vividly remember countless times, people, even well-meaning relatives, would comment on my 'fat and ugly legs.' It wasn't just a stray remark; it felt like a constant pressure, a whisper in the back of my mind telling me I wasn't good enough, that my legs weren't what they 'should' be. It really chipped away at my confidence, making me feel self-conscious every time I wore shorts or a skirt. I’d try to hide them, compare myself relentlessly to others, and honestly, it cast a long shadow over my teenage years. It’s hard to explain the relief and freedom I felt when I moved to the US. Suddenly, those constant remarks about my appearance, particularly my legs, just… stopped. No one here seemed to focus on that detail in the same way. It wasn't that the US has no beauty standards, but they felt different, less focused on that specific critique I'd grown up with. This new environment allowed me to finally breathe and see myself through a different lens. It was like shedding a heavy cloak of insecurity that I didn't even realize I was carrying. This shift wasn't instant, of course. It took time to unlearn all those internalized criticisms. I began to appreciate my body for what it could do, for its strength and health, rather than just its appearance. I started to understand that beauty isn't a singular, narrow definition dictated by others, but something deeply personal and diverse. It's about how you feel about yourself, not what others say. That journey from feeling like I had 'fat and ugly legs' to embracing my body has been incredibly empowering. If you’re out there struggling with similar feelings, whether it’s about your legs, your weight, or any part of yourself, please know you’re not alone. The world, and different cultures, have such varied ideas of what is 'beautiful,' and it’s easy to get caught up in trying to fit a mold. But true confidence comes from within. It’s about accepting and loving yourself, flaws and all. And it’s okay if that journey makes you cringe at your past self sometimes – it just means you've grown. This is a big part of my story, and why I love connecting with you all, whether it's here or on platforms like Twitter, sharing my authentic self. Remember, your body is amazing just the way it is.