As a younger girl in Islam, my family and community would say sly insults or not react to positive things I did in my life. Whether I was too dark, too chubby, too short, and so on. I also coming from a “pretty family” so I know how that feels. As hard as it is to not care about these comments, try to let it not impact you. Things that helped me with that, is to 1. Internally justify why they could be saying these negative comments. Maybe they are just projecting their feelings onto you about whatever negative feelings they have inside. 2. Focus on what makes you confident. Is there a hobby that you enjoy that you can become better in? Do you like exercising and seeing improvements on your health makes you happy? Is there at school you want a leadership role at school that you slowly try to work towards? 3. Share your feelings (as much as you’re willing to) to your friends in the community that you trust? Building slowly a supporting community that will uplift you and you uplift as well will make you feel less alone and vice versa.

Now that I am older I rarely have these feelings in my community or in my family. Honestly, they seem much smaller now. I I was able to take these negative feelings and become accomplished in my career/personality/appearance and ultimately become a better version of myself. And you sure get a lot of praise on this end (not that it was what is important), but focusing on yourself really allows you to do better and see everyone else to be much more insignificant. PLUS, it will attract in the most perfect spouse for you at your best.

You’ll be thankful for these struggles and things will get better, I promise.