“Tell your daughters how you love your body.

Tell them how they must love theirs.

Tell them to be proud of every bit of themselves—

from their tiger stripes to the soft flesh of their thighs,

whether there is a little of them or a lot,

whether freckles cover their face or not,

whether their curves are plentiful or slim,

whether their hair is thick, curly, straight, long or short.

Tell them how they inherited

their ancestors, souls in their smiles,

that their eyes carry countries

that breathed life into history,

that the swing of their hips

does not determine their destiny.

Tell them never to listen when bodies are critiqued.

Tell them every woman’s body is beautiful

because every woman’s soul is unique.”