When girls feel bad about their looks, 70 percent disconnect from life—avoiding normal daily activities like attending school or even giving their opinion—which can put their dreams on hold, and jeopardize their potential as future leaders, decision makers, and role models.(1) The Dove brand believes beauty should be a source of confidence, not anxiety, which is why the Dove brand is bringing together the nation’s most influential women, and girls’ organizations to launch the Dove Movement for Self-Esteem. Everyone can make a difference in a young girl’s self-esteem, and this new initiative invites all women to inspire and encourage the next generation to reach their full potential. Katie Couric, Lea Michele, and newly appointed Dove Movement for Self-Esteem Youth Ambassador, Katherine Schwarzenegger, are among those influential women showing their support by sharing their messages of inspiration. Women have many opportunities to get involved, including the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend (October 22-24), by taking simple actions that build self-esteem in young girls.

Dove started a global conversation about the need for a wider definition of beauty with the Campaign for Real Beauty. The Dove Movement for Self-Esteem sets out a bold new vision for the brand, and provides women everywhere with opportunities to mentor the next generation and celebrate real beauty.

“Dove is committed to inspiring all women, and girls to reach their full potential by caring for themselves, and each other,” said Rob Candelino, Marketing Director, Dove U.S., Unilever. “The Dove Movement for Self-Esteem invites all women to join us in making our vision a reality by encouraging girls to build a positive relationship with beauty.”

Inspire a Girl, Change Her World: Everyone has the Opportunity to Make a Difference

There are many ways for women to make a difference in a young girl’s life.  It could be as simple as sending a word of encouragement to a girl, spending an hour on a self-esteem building activity, or supporting self-esteem education in her town.

• Watch our vision and share with others: The new Dove short film, A New Vision, showcases how we can all help to build self-esteem in the people we love the most.
• Share an inspiring message: Dove is inviting women to kick off the movement by sharing their inspiring message with the next generation, and simply answering the question: What do you wish you had known at 13? Dove has gathered some of the nation’s most influential women to answer this question, and will share these messages as a source of inspiration for women and girls everywhere in the weeks leading up to the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend. Among the first to share their words of inspiration are:
  • Katie Couric: “Confidence is about the road to competence. The experience that comes from hard work results in confidence at the end of the road. But also have the confidence to know you’ll be able to cope with whatever falls in your path on the journey to your ultimate goal.”
  • Lea Michele: “Be proud of who you are. Don’t ever feel the need to conform to look or act like anyone other than yourself to fit in. Love the person you are no matter what color, shape, or size you are. It’s the things that make you unique that are the best and most fun.”
  • Katherine Schwarzenegger: “I knew that beauty starts on the inside and confidence is key, but believing it and acting on it was something I didn’t know how to do. I wish I’d known at 13 that nobody else is noticing all the nit-picky things that you feel so self-conscious about. If I could go back, I would tell my 13-year old self that, no matter what size or shape you are, you have to own it. In essence, you’ve got to rock what you’ve got!”

Source: PR Newswire