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This one is for Bia - Friendships aren’t about who’s the prettiest.

Growing up, I often felt like the sidekick in my own story. You know the one—the loyal best friend to the dazzling heroine. My friends always seemed to shine brighter, laugh louder, and, yes, look prettier. While they turned heads effortlessly, I worried if my hair was too frizzy, if my outfit was "too much," or if my nose was just a little too big. Standing next to them felt like stepping into a shadow, even though I loved them dearly.

But here’s the thing: life isn’t a beauty contest, and friendships aren’t a lineup of winners and runners-up. Yet, so many of us carry the quiet ache of thinking, My friends are prettier than me.

A Moving Target We’ll Never Hit

Beauty is funny that way. It’s subjective, fleeting, and often defined by whatever trend is dominating the culture at the moment. Today, it’s dewy skin and feathered brows; yesterday, it was pencil-thin eyebrows and matte lipstick. Tomorrow? Who knows—maybe braces will make a comeback. The truth is, we’re all prettier than someone and less pretty than someone else. That’s the nature of beauty: it’s a moving target. But does that make any of us less worthy? Less lovable? Less deserving of the kind of life we dream of? Absolutely not. Comparing yourself to your friends—or anyone, really—is like comparing apples to oranges. You’re not in competition with them because beauty isn’t a finite resource. Just because someone else is stunning doesn’t mean there’s less beauty left for you.

The Myth of the Prettiest Girl in the Room

For years, I chased the idea of being “the prettiest girl in the room.” I thought it would make me feel confident, adored, untouchable. But there’s no such thing as the prettiest girl. There’s always someone with shinier hair, clearer skin, or a more symmetrical smile. It’s a game you can’t win because it’s not a real game—it’s a cruel illusion. And the irony? Even the girls who seem to have it all—the ones who look like they’ve stepped out of a magazine—often feel the same insecurities. Your beautiful friend who seems so confident might secretly worry about her body, her laugh, or the way she looks first thing in the morning. We all carry our little burdens of self-doubt, no matter how we look.

Beauty Isn’t a Mirror—It’s a Lens

When I look at my friends, I see their beauty immediately. I notice the way their eyes light up when they talk about something they love, the way they laugh with their whole body, the way they can make even a bad day feel a little brighter. Their beauty isn’t just in their faces or bodies; it’s in their energy, their kindness, their quirks. But when it comes to seeing our own beauty? That’s a different story. But let me tell you something, big-sister style: you are beautiful. Yes, you. Even on the days you don’t feel it, even when your hair won’t cooperate or your skin breaks out. You are beautiful in a way that goes beyond the surface, in a way that only you can be. Your smile, your laugh, the way you show up for your friends when they need you—those are the things that make you unforgettable.

Those are the things people will remember, long after they forget what you were wearing or how your eyeliner looked. And here’s another secret: your friends don’t love you because of how you look. They love you for who you are—the friend who cheers them on, listens to their rants, and shares their late-night cravings for pizza and bad reality TV.

Friendship Isn’t a Beauty Contest

They’re about connection, laughter, and loyalty. They’re about showing up for each other, flaws and all. And if you’re lucky enough to have friends who are beautiful, inside and out, don’t waste time comparing yourself to them. Celebrate them—and celebrate yourself, too. Because here’s the truth: beauty isn’t a competition. It’s a mosaic. Each of us adds something unique to the picture, something no one else can replicate. So the next time you catch yourself thinking, My friends are prettier than me, stop. Take a deep breath. And remind yourself that you’re not just part of the picture—you’re a masterpiece all on your own.

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