womanhood is a gift

femininity and strength are not opposites

somewhere along the way through

puberty I picked up this idea

I couldn’t like pink because it was “too girly” and I avoided frappucinos because they were “girly drinks” I longed for close female friendships but bought into the narrative that I should be “not like other girls”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ the media pitches

such a narrow ideal of beauty,

one that I felt I could never measure up to

but today I proudly embrace the things that make me like other girls

because other girls are resilient other girls are brilliant other girls are beautifully unique my womanhood is not a weakness, it is a gift

written by Alyssa Davis | @alyssacdavis

Self-portraits by Alyssa Davis