“To mark International Women’s Day, I’m writing a letter to girls everywhere, especially those who have been ignored, forgotten and lost. Remember, you are brave, you are strong and you are beautiful.
To the girl who cannot look at her reflection in the mirror, you are not alone. We have all had those moments, moments in which we feel inadequate, hate our bodies and wonder why we are not beautiful. Society has dictated to us what beauty is. It’s hard, but remember, beauty lies in simplicity. Beauty lies in your smile, in your kindness, in your actions and deeds. You are more than a body and you are more than your looks. You are a girl with strength and overwhelming potential.
To the girl who has been through female genital mutilation (FGM). It will be OK. You survived – you are a survivor. They may have violated your rights but believe in yourself. Believe in your strength. FGM does not define you; you are much more than that.
To the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, you are still in my heart. It has nearly been a year since you were kidnapped, simply for wanting an education and others have been stolen since. An education is your human right, but like Malala Yousafzai and the 66 million girls denied and education worldwide, you are stripped of that inalienable human right. My sisters, you are lionesses- resilient, strong women. I salute you and I will never forget you. We will never forget you.
To the girl who has been sexually assaulted or raped – it is not your fault. It is not your fault even if you were drunk, wearing a miniskirt or walking around a dark street at 7pm. It is never your fault, the blame remains entirely with the perpetrator. We cannot reverse what happened, but your life can continue. There will be dark days, days you feel you simply feel like you cannot continue. Please don’t give up on those days – you survived. That in itself says something, right?
To the girl who feels that before she can be beautiful she has to change the colour of her skin. You skin is perfect as it is. Your skin is beautiful. You are perfect as you are.”
