Myself esteem is REALLY low. I don't like going outside because I feel when people see me they will think 'ew' and I have to go to school but I'm always just so self-conscious that everyone is just looking at me and thinking that I'm disgusting. One boy said that I look like an ape and another said that I look like a man. One time in the line for canteen this boy said me and this other boy should date and the boy went "EWWW hell no! She's disgusting". I tried so hard not to cry. No boys have ever asked me out or fancied me. One guy told me that I'm obviously never going to get married.

Also in my school they're doing this 'prettiest girl in the year' competition and most girls in the year have been voted except for me. There was another voting category '40 year old virgin' and apparently I'm leading it. I look in the mirror sometimes and cry - I feel hideous. I mean it when I say that I hate the way I look. I really do.

Myself esteem was so low at one point that I never used my pictures online - I used pictures of other people or celebrities. I realised that it was wrong and now, for the first time, I'm going to upload pictures of myself recently with no makeup on whatsoever. Just to show you the truth and that I'm not lying. When you see the pictures please don't vomit or laugh or say mean things but tell me how I can improve my appearance? Thanks

http://i46.tinypic.com/29dvme1.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/70kvhf.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/2hcfhwn.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/2nrhjc9.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/301ogax.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/289h0uu.jpg

Hi Reree17,

Believe me school is a hard time for most, it was for myself even. I was fat and to be honest instead of taking what I was called to heart I tried to embraced it and laughed it off when in fact it was killing me inside. School is not the end of things. All you can try to do is keep a brave face on things, you ARE a naturally beautiful young woman and should NOT let anyone else tell you any different.

If you want to chat or if you have any other questions just ask.

Andy :) keep smiling

Perfectly lovely pics !

Beautiful! Those people "tease" (bully?) you only because they know they can get under your skin and upset you. What you can do is to make fun of yourself too in order to take the sting out of what someone said and show it doesn't bother you -- "Yup, my father was King Kong. You should see me when I climb up buildings" or "Forty-year-old virgin? You mean Virginia? Are you going there for vacation this summer?"

It's hard to think fast on your feet when someone insults you, so role-play with your mom or a good friend. Of course, if it becomes bullying, then it's time to report it to an adult, so other kids are spared the same treatment and the bully can get some help.

You do know, don't you, that people who bully or say things like what you hear are really scared inside and have to put someone else down so they can look big and important. They don't want people to pick on them for their big nose or crooked teeth or bad complexion or red hair or whatever is different about themselves.

Please stay in touch with u, and we will do our best to boost your confidence. Many of us have been through the same thing because we were too short or too tall or too fat or too thin or too-something. I was picked on because I was very good in grammar ("Comma Queen") and also shorter than nearly everyone else, so my line was that "good things come in small packages."

And I'm not sure I like it that a school has a "prettiest student" contest. Does the faculty support that?

By the way, when I looked at your pictures, I immediately thought of Malia Obama, President Obama's older daughter and also Mrs. Obama. Those are two lovely women not only to look like but to have as self-confident role models.