I’ve been a girlie girl for as long as I can remember.

In fact, I was a girlie girl before I was even conscious of the sunglasses on my face or the ruffles on my clothes. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and as I get older, I’ve noticed I am becoming more and more like my mother, one of ladiest of ladies.

Although I’ve always been known to have a dry wit, a lot of guy friends, and would be more likely at a sports bar than dancing at a club, I would never, ever, put down my lipstick, listen to a guy advise me on what to wear, or stop shaving my legs in the winter.

Why on earth do women think they need a man to take care of themselves?

It’s so, so ridiculous.

I don’t know about you, but I do everything I do for me.

Over the years, my boyfriends have tried and tell me not to wear makeup. They’ve encouraged me to put on a pair of jeans and ditch the dress, to stop wearing the big sunglasses, to grow out my hair, and to take off my lipgloss. They’ve told me to dress sexy, they’ve told me to stay in sweatpants, and hell, they’ve even told me what they wanted their ex-girlfriends to wear.

And you know what? I kept doing what I wanted to do.

I will never cease to roll my eyes at any magazine or propaganda that informs women how to please their man, dress for their man, or attract more men. You know what I have to say to that? Be your damn self, because that’s how you’ll attract the right man.

I know what you’re thinking: “This girl is single, what does she know?” Well, I’m the one who called off a wedding 10 years ago and has lived with three men over the course of my life, and I’ve always been the one to leave. I don’t stick around for the stifling; I would much rather be free, happy, and myself. I’m waiting for the one who embraces my girliness, loves my lipstick, and encourages me to be me. I’ll wait forever if I have to.

I suppose I just can’t come to terms with women who don’t want to do things for themselves.  Being a girlie girl doesn’t make you weak, being graceful doesn’t make you any less powerful, and embracing your femininity doesn’t mean a man can walk all over you.

Being female is a superpower.

So, take your power back.

My wish is for women to stop putting so much weight on men’s opinions and how it makes them think of themselves. I don’t want to hear about women changing their clothes because of a man’s opinion, memes complaining about having to take care of yourself because of a date, or videos like this. No. Just no.

Shave your damn legs for yourselves, ladies. Trust me, it feels great.