No dangerous curves, but I am a 'real woman' too!

Dear Diana,
I am 18 years old. I have a slender frame and A cup-sized breasts. I eat right, I am m healthy, sporty and happy with how I look. I'm often complimented for being beautiful, talented, smart, caring, modest etc. I'm also known generally as a sunny natured, positive, and a sweet person. Recently though I've been turning bitter and hateful. I am sick of readingu00a0 everywhere about how 'real' women have curves. And it's stupid to think that all skinny girls are anorexic, don't eat enough, have boyish bodies and are less feminine. Thanks to such bombardment in the media, I have lost my self esteem. Also, my friends, who are all on the curvier side often talk about how guys like "fuller" girls (not meaning to insult me, I assume). Last time, when my friend could not fit into a shirt, she said, 'Ah it's made for flat-chested chicks.' At first I ignored these comments but recently I've started getting angry. I really want to tell them how I feel before I end up hating them all on the inside. What should I do?



Sheena
Dear Sheena,
You should not let body size define you. Be happy with the body you have. You often get complimented on your looks and your personality, so why are you letting these media messages get to you? Besides, if anything, you should feel good about your figure. Most international models have skinny bodies and barely any curves. I think you are obsessing about curves. I am sure your friends are not being mean when they talk about the kind of girls guys want. Anyway different guys want different things. But if you are getting affected, talk to your friends. If they are your true friends, I am sure they will understand your point of view.

He loves me, but won't leave his wife...

Dear Diana,
I am in love with a married man and he feels the same but he is afraid to leave his wife. We get along really well togetheru00a0 and share a lot. How can I convince him to take the next step? We are of the same age and trust each other too.

Romola
Dear Romola,
You cannot convince him to leave her, he needs to do this himself. But please do not hold your breath. It seems like you are doing the chasing and dictating him to leave his wife. You've been had. He doesn't love you, he's just using you. If he didn't love his wife, then he would have left her long ago

How do I tell him I like him?

Dear Diana,
There is this guy I really like in my school but I don't know if he likes me. We are friends. I often catch him out of the corner of my eye, looking at me. If he talks to me about himself and his friends, he alwaysu00a0 brings up the fact that he has no girlfriend! When we are out of school, and he passes me by he always smiles and says, "hi" and I do the same. I really would love to tell him that I like him but Iu00a0 find it hard to do so, just in case he doesn't think of me that way. It will be really awkward. What should I do?

GR
Dear GR,
Well, there are a number of ways you can let him know that you like him, without actually saying the words, if you are feeling awkward about that. You could tell one of your common friends that you like him and maybe ask him or her to tell the boy that. He might supprise you by admitting that he likes you back. He certainly seems to. It sounds like both of you are really flirting with each other. And if he wasn't interested, then you would've picked up that signal too. I think you should spend more time with him, just get to know him better. The next time you hear of his plans with his friends, ask if you and your friends can join them. Meeting him outside school might help you both understand each other better.