National Be Your Best Self Week - Be Healthy - a video from Christina

This week, April 22-26, is National Be Your Best Self Week! Christina Maxwell, Distinguished Young Woman of America shares her thoughts on staying healthy, one of five elements that make up the Be Your Best Self program. Check back throughout the week for more videos from Christina!




Christina Maxwell is a college freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan majoring in Musical Theatre. Originally from Asheville , North Carolina, Christina was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Carolina for 2012 and the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2012. Learn more about Christina here!

You are more beautiful than you think – by Keyna

As girls, we tend to look at ourselves and notice our flaws. There is no need to be ashamed of our imperfections—it is our imperfections that set us apart and make us beautiful. Be proud of who you are. You are beautiful.

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

Top Ten Useful Items to Keep In Your Purse - by Stephanie

1.    Pony tail holder-The possible situations that could arise in which a hair elastic could be useful are endless.  Whether you get to the gym and the hair elastic you’re using breaks, or you’re walking outside and get caught in a burst of wind, always be prepared in case you want your long locks up and out of your face. 

2.    Baby wipes-Messes can happen suddenly and without warning, causing sticky evidence on your hands, face or any other personal items.  Carry a travel-sized pack of baby wipes and be prepared for the unexpected.  

3.    Pen/Small pad of paper-Although the need for this is becoming less and less due to current-day smartphone technology, keeping a pen and pad of paper with you is a nice backup in case the batteries on your electronics fail you.  

4.    Mini deodorant-Self-explanatory-who doesn’t like to stay feeling and smelling fresh, especially on a warm day.

5.    Pair of small fold-up flats-This item will particularly come in handy if you wear heals on a daily basis or walk as a main form of transportation.  For those days that your dress shows and your feet are just not in synch, whip out your pair of flats.  They’re cute, comfortable, and easily stored.  

6.    Band-Aids-In case you forget your pair of fold-up flats, this is the next best thing you can keep in your purse.  Even if you can’t change your shoes, use a band aid to protect blisters and sores that form. 

7.    Emergency whistle-This is especially important if you walk alone often.  If you ever run into trouble, one of the best self-defense mechanisms is to create as much noise and commotion as possible.  

8.    A pill box containing Advil/Tylenol and Tums-Don’t take up the space and weight of carrying 3 full bottles of tablets and medications.  Purchase a small pill box at your local grocery store, and keep it stocked with just a few doses of your over-the-counter medications.  

9.    Pocket brush with mirror-Serves two functions.  If you weren’t fortunate enough to remember your hair elastic, mentioned at the beginning, then if you have this, you can at least fix your hair style once you’ve gotten to where you’re going.  Use the mirror to be on the alert for food bits in your teeth after a meal and to check for smudged makeup.

10.    Key holder-These are both practical and cute.  They usually hang over the edge of the outside of the purse, displaying a cute logo or emblem.  On the inside, there is a clip from which your keys can be clipped.  This way, they don’t get lost in all of the other items listed above and you will always be able to find them in a moment’s notice.  



Stephanie Brady is a college freshman at the University of Connecticut in Storrs-Mansfield, Connecticut majoring in pre-pharmacy. Originally from New Market, New Hampshire, Stephanie was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of New Hampshire for 2012. Learn more about Stephanie here!

Fun in the Sun - by Marin

Y’all, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Well, I guess it’s not that much of a secret since I know I am not the only one thinking it. Anyways, here it is: I am so completely and utterly excited for summer! It is definitely going to be bittersweet with the school year coming to a close, and having to depart from my friends for three months, but that’s a completely different story! So, getting back on track to summer.

For a lot of students, summer means working at a job, or maybe taking a couple of courses for school credit. However, it also means being with family and friends and having ‘fun in the sun’- which brings me to the main point of this blog post: The Sun (didn’t see that one coming, did you?)

While summer is such a happy and fun season, it is also very important for young women and men to be informed on the effects of overexposure from the Sun. I know there is and will always be a trend towards “getting the perfect tan,” but it’s important for the younger generations to be aware of what a “perfect tan” really means for the body in the long run. 

The Skin Cancer Foundation has stated that this year, “1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer,” as well as, “about 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.” Also, did you know skin cancer is “the most common form of cancer in the United States?” Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to enjoy time out in the sunshine.  For me personally, there’s nothing better than a hot summer day outside with a good book and some sweet tea! However, that means alongside my tea and book is my handy-dandy SPF 30.

Other precautions a person can take to stay proactive is not spending too much time outside when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky. Also, I’m a personal fan of cute hats! They protect the sensitive parts of the face (eyes and nose) while being fashionably trendy at the same time!

Like I said before, summer is such a great time to be outdoors and to have fun. However, if you’d like to continue the outdoor activities for years to come, take some precautionary measures for your health. The “perfect tan” might be great for a while, but it would be a shame if that tan cost you some health issues later down the road. 

So, before you go to take a dip in the pool, or play a game of soccer, or simply relax, lather up! I promise it will be well worth it in the long run and there will also be no possibility of getting a terrible, achy sunburn. I know when I board the airplane to go home to the Texas heat this summer, I’ll have my sunscreen and hat packed. But the question is, will you? 

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Beauty Tips - by Keyna

How often do you find yourself comparing yourself to the girls around you? If you’re anything like me, the answer is A LOT. 

“She is so much prettier than me.”

“Why can’t I be skinny like her?”

“Ughh. Why is my hair always so frizzy?”

“Why am I so clumsy?!”

“I just want him to think I’m beautiful.”

Sound familiar?

What if I told you that I had the secret to achieving the beauty that we all so desperately desire?

Guess what…

I do.

1. Forget the lipgloss.

FOR ATTRACTIVE LIPS, SPEAK WORDS OF KINDNESS.

2. Eye shadow? Mascara?  You don’t need it.

FOR LOVELY EYES, SEEK OUT THE GOOD IN PEOPLE.

3. STOP DIETING!!!! Seriously.

FOR A SLIM FIGURE, SHARE YOUR FOOD WITH THE HUNGRY.

4. You know you’re just damaging your hair with that straightener right?

FOR BEAUTIFUL HAIR, LET A CHILD RUN HIS OR HER HAIR THROUGH IT ONCE A DAY.

5. Tired of tripping up the stairs? Worry no more.

FOR POISE, WALK WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.

THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN IS NOT IN THE CLOTHES SHE WEARS, THE FIGURE THAT SHE CARRIES, OR THE WAY SHE COMBS HER HAIR. THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN MUST BE SEEN FROM IN HER EYES, BECAUSE THAT IS THE DOORWAY TO HER HEART, THE PLACE WHERE LOVE RESIDES.

THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN IS NOT IN A FACIAL MOLE, BUT THE TRUE BEAUTY IN A WOMAN IS REFLECTED IN HER SOUL. IT IS THE CARING THAT SHE LOVING GIVES, THE PASSION THAT SHE SHOWS, AND THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN WITH PASSING YEARS ONLY GROWS!

by Sam Levenson

made famous by Audrey Hepburn

Being a girl in today’s world is hard. We are expected to be “cookie-cutter beautiful,” but you need to remember that your beauty comes from the inside! It’s not about how you look, but rather how you act and treat the people around you.  It doesn’t matter if you have blue eyes or brown, if you weigh 90 pounds or 200, whether your hair is straight or curly. The only thing that matters is that you are the best YOU that you can be! You don’t need to change who you are or the way you look to fit in with a certain group of people or to get that guy you’re crushing on to like you. You are beautiful just way you are!

Keyna Hoselton is a college freshman at Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma majoring in Dance Performance with a possible minor in History. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Keyna was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of North Dakota for 2012. Learn more about Keyna here!

Sometimes You Just Want to Feel Pretty - by Kelsey

You know what? Sometimes, you just want to feel pretty. We all know that we’re beautiful on the inside and outside, and that we’re blessed with a thousand different gifts and talents. But, it really is okay to pamper yourself every once in a while! Here are a few of my favorite pampering tips (DIY and $$$). After all, girls just wanna have fun!  :)

A. Skin/Make up tricks

(DIY) When washing your face, wash upward. Your pores naturally grow “facing down.” If you wash with an upward motion, you’ll actually be able to get in your pores and clean them out!

($$$) One of the products I have found especially helpful when cleaning my face is Astringent (I use Sea Breeze, it’s cheap and effective!).

(DIY) A relatively newer eye make up trend is the color smokey eye. Take three colors. (For example, a light gold, a medium-light silver, and a dark purple). Put your lightest color (the gold) all over your eye, from eyelashes all the way up to your eyebrow. [Easy! Its easier to add color than to remove it, so start with a little and add more as you want!] Next, highlight the part where your eyelid folds into “your crease” with the medium-light color (silver). Finally, put your dark color (purple) in the outside corner of your eyelid. Do not go above your crease. Put a lot of the color in the very corner, and slowly fade it out until about ¾ of your eyelid has the color on it. Use a brush to blend to your desired effect!

($$$) Another product I recommend is air-brush foundation (I use Sally Hansen). The less you touch your face the better, so using the air-brush foundation minimizes contact while giving you a nice, smooth complexion. Use foam triangle makeup applicators to smooth/even out the foundation until you reach your desired effect!

($$$) The reason you should avoid touching your face is that your hands have natural oils that will cause your face to break out, plus all of bacteria that your hands come in contact with every day can also cause break outs. Carry around a pocket size anti-bacterial hand sanitizer with you so when you know you’re going to touch your face, at least your hands are as clean as they can be! 

B. Spa Day!

($$$) Treat yourself to a pedicure! Not only will your toenails look super cute, but most places give you a leg/foot massage too! 

(DIY) Facemasks are a great way to care for your skin and pamper yourself! There are tons of different home made masks, but here’s a really simple one for you to try! 

Honey Facemask: Run some water until it’s hot, and soak a washrag in the hot water. Heat up a small amount of honey in a small dish (Approximately 2 tablespoons in a small dish in the microwave for about 15 seconds should work!). Apply the washrag to your face for about a minute (this allows your pores to open up!). Remove the washrag and apply the honey to your face. The natural stickiness of the honey can help pull out the dirt in your pores as well as pull away dead skin cells! Leave the honey on for about 10-15 minutes and then rinse honey off with warm water.

($$$) Go to your favorite hair stylist and get a new haircut! Sometimes just a new ‘do can put you in a good mood! 

(DIY) Ask your mom, dad, friend, brother, sister or cousin to trade back massages! Not into back massages? Get some gel pens and draw on each other’s backs; my mom and I used to take turns doing this. Not only does it feel good, but when they’re done, they can tell you all of the pictures they drew!

C. Clothes!

($$$) Okay, when it comes to clothes, there’s not much you can do without spending a little bit of money. But I’ll try to help you guys with a few ideas! The most obvious way to get a new wardrobe is to hit the mall with your mom and BFF’s! My favorite store is Forever 21. They always have cute, cheap clothes! What are your favorite stores? Leave me a comment so I know where I should shop next!

(DIY) One way to save money is to give your old clothes a make over! I took one of my dad’s oversized gray t-shirts and made it into a fitted tunic with a giant bow that I made from another old shirt! There are ton’s of How-To blogs, videos, and step by step instruction websites for how to sew or turn old clothes into something new! My favorite place to get inspiration for these things is Pinterest!

($$$) I work at a Hollister, and I spend a lot of time in the back with all the clothes. When we change a floor set, most of the clothes that were on the floor all get marked down. There isn’t room for all the clothes that filled the entire store in just a few clearance shelves, so a lot of the clearance gets put in the back. Ask someone who works at the store if they have (for example) t-shirts in your size (for however much you’re willing to spend) in the back. 99% of the time there are clothes that you’ll love that fit your budget AND the workers are more than happy to help you out! I just bought my brother a brand new coat for $7 using this method!

Are there any tips you have for me/everyone else? Anything that you’re looking for tips about that isn’t mentioned here? Let me know and I’ll find something for you!

Kelsey Quin is a college freshman at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana majoring in General Health with a Pre-medicine concentration. Originally from Peru, Indiana, Kelsey was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Indiana for 2011. Learn more about Kelsey here!