Christina Benavides, Staff Writer
October 21, 2011
Filed under Features, Top Stories
“You are so beautiful.”
“The mirror doesn’t define you.”
“Size is just a number.”
“Change the way you see, not the way you look.”
These are some of the messages that Anna and Melissa Gutierrez have adopted from the Operation Beautiful mission and brought to Summit. Operation Beautiful strives to encourage girls and boys to boost their self-esteem and confidence by reminding themselves and others that everyone is beautiful in their own, unique ways.
“We really want people to understand that inner beauty is more important,” Anna said. ”We shouldn’t have to live up to any superficial images we usually see in the media. Those aren’t real.”
The Operation Beautiful website contains evidence that some celebrity pictures aren’t real. Photoshopped versions of Katie Couric, Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, and Miley Cyrus have notable differences than their original shot.
“The point is that we are all beautiful. You are enough… just the way you are.” Operation Beautiful Creator, Caitlin Boyle said. “The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post anonymous notes in public places for other women to find.”
Anna and Ms. Gutierrez, Summit’s newest Spanish teacher, encourage students, including guys, to wear purple on Monday’s to signify their support of Operation Beautiful.
“Girls take what guys say very seriously,” Anna said. “Guys should support and encourage girls to take a break from all the heavy makeup.
Anna realizes that it’s a difficult to just stop wearing make-up all of a sudden, but she says it will gradually get easier. She recommends girls to stop wearing at least one product at first and girls to just apply mascara, and skip the eyeliner, or reverse.
“It gets easier,” Anna said. “ I know that some people won’t do it unless someone does it with them, so you should get a friend to do it with you.”
Ms. Gutierrez is also the Key Club Advisor. She reminds her students that points will be given to kids who wear purple, and who don’t wear make-up on Monday.
“It’s important for girls and boys to know that it’s okay to be yourself.” Ms. Gutierrez said.
Anna has set up an Operation Beautiful Summit High School Facebook group. Posters and flyers can be found all around the campus, and students can look forward to seeing encouraging sticky notes on bathroom mirrors, windows, and other random places. Customized T-shirts can be bought from Ms. Gutierrez in room G2 for $8.
“Hopefully we can get the administration to allow us to play an inspirational CD during passing period on Mondays,” Anna said. “Hearing the songs about promoting confidence should really catch the students’ attention. It could change our school.”
Anna thinks that if Operation Beautiful can change Summit, it will change all Mansfield ISD schools. She believes that it will impact middle school students the most.
“No one should have to feel like they have to wear makeup or hide behind it,” Anna said. “ Middle school girls are just starting to wear make-up, and they should be reminded that make-up doesn’t define them.”
Be You-Nique week, which is being scheduled to begin in February, will be filled with confidence-inducing, self-esteem boosting activities.
“It’s going to have dress-up days, because I love dress-up days. I know it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Anna said.
WFFA’s Channel Eight News contacted Ms. Gutierrez to write a story about Summit’s Operation Beautiful program. Anna and Ms. Gutierrez jumped on the chance to share the message.
“I’m really excited,” Anna said. ”I hope it will spread to all the Mansfield schools.”
Ms. Gutierrez has been given permission to take a busload of students to the news station on Oct. 31. Students who are interested in being part of the interview will have to fill out permission forms and be able to arrive to Summit early in the morning. For more information, there will be a meeting in room G2 at 2:45 on Oct. 24.
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