The Women’s Sports Foundation found that 42% of first through third grade girls want to be thinner, and by age seventeen, 78% are unhappy with their bodies. When do girls begin wanting to be someone else? Someone thinner, someone with longer lashes, someone that poses in every photo?

I’ll be the first to admit that I read beauty/fashion magazines every month. Yet when looking at the majority of models, instead of wanting to emulate their gaunt figures, I literally want to help him. I’m not asking you to throw away your magazines, but to stop convincing yourself that the woman staring back is prettier, happier and more successful.

Sadly, media and magazines have become the “standard” of beauty. Yet, the models providing the reflections are usually underweight, are airbrushed and have little to no muscular strength.

This is why, I believe, we need MUSCLES vs. models as role models.

Serena Williams.
Hope Solo.
Jessica Mendoza.
Sanya Richards.

Ladies, research these women! They are examples of TRULY strong, confident, intelligent and passionate role models. And look around you! We are surrounded by teammates, coaches and runners in our neighborhoods who probably train to (1) get awesomely cut arms and large quadriceps but (2) LOVE the way it makes them FEEL.

Think of how GREAT you feel after a work-out! You’re exhausted and drenched in sweat, but you feel accomplished! At times, I feel most beautiful after a six-mile run.

Models are passive. Muscles are active. Who will win in the end? My bet is on the athletes. So cherish your body and create your own standards of beauty.

-Ashley Koehn