Selfies Are Beautiful, And It’s Time We Stopped Shaming It

Inspired by a women’s studies course I’m taking in college, I decided to start a project to take back the power of the selfie. During one of our classes we discussed the stigmas surrounding selfies and their potential for change. Whatever your reason for taking a selfie—whether you look awesome and want to document it, you want to improve your self-esteem via snapping pictures of your beautiful self, or you simply want to remember how you feel in a moment—you should be able to do so without the fear of shame or stigmatization. You should be able to do so and to feel proud of the result. Taking a selfie does not mean you’re narcissistic or conceited. It simply means you’re a person who wanted to do something in that moment, and that you did it.

Additionally, selfies are a great way to increase the representation of those that might find themselves underrepresented in the media. With the increased power of social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and, of course, Tumblr, the ability to make change is in our hands, and we should harness this ability for the greater good.

And above all, selfies are about self-love and self-expression. You are beautiful and you should celebrate it. And we’re here to celebrate with you!

So, here’s what I want you to do: Take a selfie anywhere you want (it could be sitting on your couch or it could be in front of the Eiffel Tower) and submit it. Try not to think too hard about the picture. Smile if you want, or don’t. But be as natural as possible and don’t be concerned with the final result. You are beautiful just the way you are and I want you to share it with the world!

You can also spread the word via Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag, #foryourselfie. Because that’s what selfies should be: for YOU, not for others.

Happy selfie-ing.