Girls are bombarded with media messages presenting an unattainable, unhealthy standard of beauty. Girls reject this messaging in our Redefining Beauty program and discover their own definition of beauty. Check out one girl's commercial with a new definition of beauty!

“The only gold star you need is from yourself” and other important mantras that taught me how to love my body.

I wasn’t surprised that the media decided to speculate that another celebrity had plastic surgery (yawn), it was the heart-felt and articulate response of Ashley Judd that struck me. The argument that Ms. Judd put in written word, is the same argument that I have with myself too frequently. I have to ask why we continue to let this sentiment toward women and girls continue?

Normally, I wouldn’t be all that interested in the life story of a former supermodel, but I find myself fascinated by Carré Otis. I’d never heard of her until I stumbled across a brief article she’d written called “Ending the Myth” on Huffington Post this month. As a mom and a Girls Inc. staffer, her opening sentence immediately caught my attention.

When registration filled a week in advance for the Spirit and Place event "Body Image and Your Girl," I realized just how relevant the topic of body image is to greater Indianapolis families. Read about the body image event, view photos, watch a recap video, and review the parent resource for encouraging positive body image for girls.

In a world where body dissatisfaction begins at such a young age in our girls, the influence of parents and other trusted adults cannot be undervalued. Positive dialogue about the body is truly impactful. With your help, we can inspire all girls to be healthy and confident. You can promote healthy body image by...

Today’s guest post comes from Deborah Hearn Smith, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and regular a collaborator with us for empowering programs for girls, including the Spirit and Place Festival program “Body Image and Your Girl” on Nov. 6. Reap her wisdom below and leave a comment with your responses.

My daughter is six. At this age, she is amazingly comfortable in her body. If you ask her if there is anything she dislikes about her body or the way she looks, she will give you a funny look and say, “No!” As a mom, I want her to always feel this way, but I know there are challenges ahead that threaten her positive self-esteem.