Being a little black/brown girl in a school full of white girls,
Made me believe that I wasn't good enough or pretty enough.
All the magazines, movies, series, songs, etc. (the media) feature “beautiful” white women.
That convinced me that,
Since I don’t meet those standards,
That I’m not beautiful.
I dreamed every day that God had replaced my skin with a fresh white one,
As if my black skin could be peeled off.
Years went by and nothing happened.
I can't forget the day I screamed when I saw a picture of the Egyptian actress Yousra,
Posing for the camera,
Lying on her side,
Revealing her large hips.
Finally, I saw someone with the same features as mine,
Proudly flaunting them on the cover of a magazine.
So when people talk about how important representation is,
Don't belittle them.
Because it really does matter,
Especially for young people.
It would have spared me a lot of daydreaming.
It would have helped me love myself growing up.
It was a long and tough journey,
But I am so grateful.