I had the privilege to interview Caitlin Boyle, creator of Operation Beautiful, an inspirational campaign spreading to young girls all over the nation!
Check out her amazing story and the tremendous impact Operation Beautiful has had on countless young women.
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What is Operation Beautiful?
The concept is that people leave positive post-its in public places for others to find. These notes usually encourage a positive outlook or a healthy body image, and people leave them in all sorts of places – bathroom mirrors, library books, on diet drinks at the supermarket.
What inspired you to start it?
I was having a really horrible day and catch myself thinking very negative thoughts as I looked in a bathroom mirror. I was inspired to write YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL on a piece of paper and leave it on the mirror. I took a picture of my note and blogged about it, and next thing I knew, Operation Beautiful was born!
Have you ever struggled with body image yourself?
I have, but I really just struggled with my sense of self-worth. I used to self harm as a teenager and have gone through periods of depression and anxiety.
What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment since starting Operation Beautiful?
The little things make me the happiest – getting emails from people who say the site helps them through their own struggle. However, the two Operation Beautiful books were also a huge accomplishment! As was being featured on the Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Network.
What would you tell girls who currently don’t like the way they look?
I would encourage them to think objectively about the forces in our society that makes them think that! Our society has so many horrible messages about what beautiful is about. If you think about the most beautiful woman you know, it is often your mom or grandma or sister, and these women are beautiful not because of the way they look but because who they are.
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Check out some of the notes from Operation Beautiful below!
