Spread Your Wings

As you (and the rest of the world—let’s be honest) probably know, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was earlier this week. Personally, it’s one of my favorite televised events of the year. The lights, the runway, the performers, the Angels, and, of course, the glitter, makes for an amazing show that doesn’t have a dull moment aside from the commercials. More importantly, though, I find it inspirational. I find it motivational. I find it as a reminder to constantly put my best foot forward.

There may be many critics of the show’s contributions towards an unhealthy feminine image, but I disagree. These models are not the overly skinny, starved, unhealthy women that you will find on the majority of high fashion runways. They are extremely fit and toned. They work for the bodies that they have. Take Adriana Lima for example. She has two kids and she still has a rocking body. Why? Probably because she boxes like a madwoman. She and all of the models undergo intense training to maintain their figures, hence the visible muscle tone rather than all bones. 

Additionally, these women radiate confidence. They are beautiful and they own their beauty. It takes confidence to bare your skin for the world to see in heavy wings and tall heels, yet they manage to strut their stuff with smiles and a fierce confidence rather than as stoic stick figures. After they put in the time and effort to attain their goals, they are proud to show it.

Women everywhere could learn a lesson in loving themselves for what they after working for their goals. Rather than always picking apart flaws and never feeling good enough, rather than comparing ourselves to a set of beautiful women that exemplify the modern idea of beauty and griping about how we don’t look like them, let us take a moment to reassess what we can learn from these exceptionally gorgeous women. Work hard and continually push the boundaries of what you are capable of. Love yourself for the work you put in. And perhaps most importantly, whatever you do, do it with a smile. Do what you love and do it fiercely. The world is your runway, whether or not you take that literally or metaphorically.