In Defense of Kylie Jenner's Selfies

Dear Kylie,

I've noticed that lately a lot of people seem concerned about your sexy selfie habit, your hair color, your lip liner, and pretty much every other aspect of your physical appearance and the way you present yourself. They're worried that it's all too much, that you are making "a shameless grab for publicity by hawking your sexuality online" and growing up too quickly.

I'm sorry if it makes them uncomfortable, but I'm here to tell you not to listen to them. Seriously. Don't. Change. A. Thing. At 17 years old, you've likely been experiencing mixed messages about your body and how you should conduct yourself for the better part of two decades. Being famous doesn't help matters much — in fact, it probably makes things worse. People who don't know you feel they can weigh-in on your personal choices and make judgment calls based on how many inches of cleavage you choose to reveal in a selfie.

I want to let you know that you look beautiful in all those pictures you post on Instagram, make up or no make up, covered up or in a bikini. The outfits you wear should in no way be used to evaluate your personality or your worth as a human being. I wish I had half an ounce of the confidence you display when I was 17-years-old.

There will always be people who are intimidated by a woman's sexuality and confidence (especially a young woman) and who will try to tear you down for the way you do your makeup or your penchant for funky hair colors. The teenage years are a time for experimenting and figuring out who the heck you are and who you want to be, so keep doing you.

I am sick to death of society holding women and girls to impossible standards of modesty and beauty and then tearing them down viciously when they fail to live up to those standards. Keep on keeping on, Kylie Jenner. We love you just the way you are.