What Is Your Best Feature?

I think most girls, at some various point in their lives, have been asked the question: so, what do you think is your best feature? I myself had the conversation first in the gloomy wings of my primary school as we waited to perform a highly embarrassing and improbably noteworthy adaptation of James and the Giant Peach. Back then, I remember saying my eyes - not because I had any particular fondness of them, but because that seemed the most common answer; there weren't such factors as boobs and butts and (enormous) lips at that time...

So hushed and emphatic were the voices of my classmates. I really like my hair, said another; we all agreed, the girl in question had very nice hair. It was sort of an obligatory compliment-fest. I never paid it much attention, however, now I am older, I wonder why I never considered the intangibles. Automatically upon receiving the question, it was a hungry wonder at the attributes of my own face (which, at 10/11 years old, was really not anything to be critiqued). If I was asked today, as I am writing this, I would say my ability to feel at home in my own skin. It wasn't a quality I was seriously aware I had, until the question kept arising, and it became a comical expectance within the throngs of girls I happened to associate with.
When I was around 14, I responded to the same question, I don't really think I have a 'best' feature.
I was met with a torrent of: oh, your eyes! Hair! Nose! Freckles!
To which I replied (with a suitable blush to the cheeks): Maybe my personality?
This was met with blank stares. I laughed it off, but it did occur to me that never once had I heard a girl say, oh, my laugh, or my not-giving-two-sh*ts, or my habit of procrastinating in the face of impending doom. All which I consider great attributes. I definitely relate to the latter. Less did the conversation now mean sourcing a honest answer of one's self, and more did it become a chance for other people to judge what you chose.

But, innocent as the conversations were (and the intentions of all participants), it niggled at me. Image is pretty much all physicality these days. There's nothing wrong with liking your face, or your body; in fact, I'd encourage self-confidence at any given opportunity. I have a love-hate relationship with mine. But I know that many people are insecure about their looks, and really, that upsets me, because looks ARE. NOT. EVERYTHING. What the hell is "hot" or "pretty" or "gorgeous" supposed to look like? When did attractiveness become a carbon copy of your favourite Instagram model? Why are we encouraged, whether consciously or not, to constantly scrutinise and criticise our features as a society? Similarly, it's perfectly normal to dislike your personality and focus on your (perceived to be) better looks. But that attitude certainly isn't helped by the glorification of social media and standardised beauty. I guarantee you, your personality is what makes you different; it is what makes you, you. Improve it. It can be done (I believe in you).

This argument is one that is slowly but surely causing impact. Diversity is more common across beauty industries; plus-size, no-size, any-frigging-size! Beauty is less categorised in every sense of the word. Being yourself is encouraged; finding yourself supported. I realise it isn't a new argument, but that doesn't mean it should fade from the limelight. I look forward to the day where people are less conceited and more accepted. Mostly, I pray the day will actually happen. I want to emphasise the fact I am fully aware I am not making groundbreaking statements within this post (a fact I am happy to clarify, that many people share similar viewpoints) and that the sole message of this post is you should love yourself, all of yourself, and not feel pressurised to change it unless YOU want to. I'll be saying this till I'm ninety and no longer have the motor function to type and resemble an old prune who still loves to procrastinate in the face of impending doom.

So I ask you, what do you think is your best feature?
But let me rephrase real quick: what do you think isn't your best feature?
This is a damn rhetorical question, because it requires no answer at all. 

I'm also completely open to any ideas anyone might have about this. Feel free to start a conversation ❣

Olivia