TEACH YOUR KIDS BODY POSITIVITY

Only 39% of UK girls have high body confidence, which Emma says can have a lasting impact on self-esteem and happiness

Girls are bombarded G with images of models, surgically enhanced stars and ads for cosmetic surgery during their favourite shows, like Love Island. No wonder two-thirds of UK girls have low body esteem. The images they post online scream of low self-confidence. They pose provocatively, lips pouting, heavy filters applied, and many are caked in heavy make-up and fake tan. They clearly believe they must conform to a standard of beauty that means disguising their own. This will only change with education, starting at home

Most of us have felt unattractive, and you can feel arrogant saying you are beautiful, but unless we do, in full view of our daughters, we can’t expect them to feel beautiful. Don’t talk about your hang-ups in front of your daughter. Talk about strong female role models, from her hilarious aunty to athletes like Serena Williams and healthy stars like Fearne Cotton. Open her eyes to feminism by talking about how women fought to get the vote, and go to work. Buy books like Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls and Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World

to take her focus off her looks and make her feel part of something “bigger”.

Praise what makes her unique and talented and remind her that her body is strong, capable and perfect just as it is. Encourage her to enjoy hobbies that she can pursue independently, too. Pressures will remain, but she will know that it’s shallow, and not where real happiness comes from.