Girls Giving Advice: Fall Winter 2018

We’ve asked three fierce girls to share their thoughts on building confidence, dealing with haters and peer pressure, and loving your body the way it is.

Jocquail Solomon of KIPP Booker T. Washington High School, Tyriel Beal of Hammond Westside Montessori School, and Sheltion Bruno of Sophie B. Wright Charter School recently competed in Glam U’s New Orleans’ Next Top Teen Model competition, where they showcased their runway presence, creativity, and public speaking skills. These ladies know how to rock a runway and how to be comfortable in your own skin!

BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Jocquail

“Stop comparing yourself. Comparison is the thief of joy and when you’re focused on others and their success, you are not focused on you. Speak positively of yourself. Be your own hype man!”

Tyriel

“Don’t give up and don’t let anybody discourage you! As a child I was always bullied for being tall, so my mom told me to turn the negative energy into positive.”

Sheltion

“Set yourself up with positive people. In your alone time, look in the mirror and just sing and dance and be yourself. Have fun with yourself and build on who you are! My confidence comes from being a cheerleader and pushing myself. To build confidence, you have to have the mindset that you are you, and you have to accept the skin that you are in.”

HATERS AND PEER PRESSURE

Sheltion

“I deal with peer pressure and my haters by not dealing with them! The more you make people feel like they’re doing something to you, the more they will go on. So therefore, I feel like you do better by ignoring them and staying within yourself. Just be you! Love who you are and do what you want. Don’t hold back for anyone and don’t let anyone bring you down because you come before anybody.”

Jocquail

“I try to stay away from negative people. As I got older and matured, I found myself distancing myself from negativity. Haters seek negative reactions, but instead I kill them with kindness! When it comes to peer pressure, I can’t and won’t let anyone pressure me into doing or saying anything negative. I also tell myself that I am ‘brilliant’ and any decisions I make are for me! Follow your own mind!”

Tyriel

“I ignore them and just keep pushing. Just remember that you got this and don’t need to be scared.”

POSITIVE BODY IMAGE

Tyriel

“Every morning I look in the mirror and remind myself how beautiful and talented I am. You don’t always have to fit in; just be yourself and be in love with you!!!”

Sheltion

“At one point in my life I was insecure because I didn’t like the fact that I was so skinny and everybody felt like thicker is better. But over the years, as I got older, I realized that this is me so I will embrace my skinny legs and wide shoulders. That’s how I got into modeling. Ignore outsiders and bullies; you are who you are for a reason so embrace your beauty.”

Jocquail

 “What makes me feel positive about my body is knowing that I was made perfectly how I am. I wouldn’t change anything about myself and I think you should also feel confident and comfortable in your skin. To love your body the way it is, you need to practice self-love. And remember, if you can’t love yourself, how can you love anyone else?!”