{Today’s post is written by our B.A.D Girl of the Month– Nicole Di Carlo, Editor-in-Chief of Spill the Juicy Magazine}

Be (B)eautiful: I think all beauty lies within happiness. The happier you are, the more you shine. I feel most beautiful when I am laughing, smiling, and content with my life. To feel beautiful may require some assistance from others at times, a mom, a boyfriend, but it really should only matter what you think of yourself, and that’s something I’m working on.

Be (A)uthentic: One of my favorite quotes of all time is “be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else,” by Judy Garland. I truly love this statement because it’s the truth. SO many young women try so hard to be like this girl or that girl, that they lose sight of who they are. Of all the things I’ve struggled with in my past, being authentic and real is definitely not one of them. I may not always feel the best about my body or my hair, but I have a tremendous amount of confidence in myself as a mother, a writer, friend, anything, you name it. I’m proud of who I am regardless of the mistakes I’ve made. It’s a fact that there truly is no one else like you, to me that’s the coolest weapon we all posses – uniqueness. It’s like having a one-of-a-kind dress straight off the rack, no one else can wear it but you, no one else can be you but YOU.

Be (D)etermined: I believe determination goes hand-in-hand with passion. If you’re not passionate about something, you’re not going to be determined to fulfill it. I am an extremely passionate person, which can be a blessing and a burden as I let my emotions sometimes get the best of me. I’d fight tooth and nail for the things I believe in. I’m not just going to say something is right because so and so did, I’m gonna say something is right if I believe so. Never kissed up either, never ever will. My son is my determination. Getting up every day and fulfilling his needs as well as trying to make a living for us is my number one. I’ll do whatever I have to do to make it possible to give him the life I had myself, as well as giving myself a career I enjoy and deserve.

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