This might sound contradictory and ambiguous, but it truly stems from taking the time to observe, with curiosity and without bias, the image of an avatar created from one of my photos uploaded to my social media profiles, and telling myself how beautiful I am just being myself. Yes, that version of myself who, when she lets loose and enjoys the moment, can flirt in front of the camera and show her more sociable side (for lack of a better word).

This exercise of seeing myself with different eyes invited me to reflect on how I've perceived myself for a long time, and how difficult it is for me to acknowledge that my physical appearance has always been an unresolved issue. It's very hard to realize that for years I haven't seen myself as "pretty" and instead hid because of those insecurities that have been building up since childhood, perhaps due to the stereotypes imposed on us by society or the bad habit of comparing myself to others based on those beauty standards.

I've always been one of those people who avoid having their picture taken because I'm very critical of myself and I start looking for flaws, like whether I'm overweight or have a particularly pronounced wrinkle—really trivial things that have deeply affected me, even hurting me. This lack of acceptance translates into low self-esteem and all its implications, one of which is undervaluing oneself.

Becoming aware of low self-esteem is not an easy task, but it requires first the courage to examine its causes, and then seeking professional help to begin the healing process by working on oneself to release negative programming and other beliefs.

Now I embrace the image of who I am and how I am; I see myself with the eyes of my soul, with eyes of love… That love that embraces the insecure girl I once was, who has worked to become a resilient, authentic woman, confident that her beauty is a reflection of her essence. I also know that I am no longer someone who doesn't want photos; on the contrary, I put on my best smile for the world, but above all, for myself.

Finally, I thank all those wonderful people who have been a part of my life and have made me feel loved.