Litzy, 18
"The worst thing that someone has told me
[about my body] is that I’m a bit chubby,
and the best thing [I've been told] is that
looks do not matter all the time.
"At first, I used to get really sad about what
people said, but after a while, I was like, 'Whatever,
I love myself the way I am.'
"I do not care a lot about looks, but when I see
someone that I like, I always comment on how
nice their body is."
Carla, 30
"The worst thing [I've been told] is that I'm fat, and
the most positive thing I heard when I was single
was that I had nice breasts. Now, all that is over.
"As far as thinking about others' bodies, goes, I think
you see in others what you think you are lacking."
Ana Lilia, 39
"The best thing I've been told is that I have a nice butt. And the worst thing is
about my varicose veins. But those things are inevitable.
"The good comments cheer me up, but the ones about my varicose veins make
me feel bad. I've really tried to take care of them and I've bought a lot of things
for them, but haven't found the solution.
"The truth is that, to have a nice body, one has to exercise a lot, and no
one has a perfect body. And overall, here in Mexico, everyone criticizes."
Keren, 24
"The first negative comment that all women come across is being called 'fat.'
The nicest thing I've ben told is that I have nice legs. On a personal note,
I'm one of those people who think that as long as you love your body,
and yourself, the rest does not matter.
"I'm usually one to not criticize at all, because I do not have the perfect body.
I avoid making any comments because I do not have a body to brag about."
Brenda, 18 & Monica, 30
Brenda: "The best thing [I've been told] is that I have a nice body and that it looks good. The worst is that I'm a bit chubby or that I'm gaining weight. Hearing negative things has made me stop eating certain foods so that I can maintain my body. But hearing good things makes me feel great and cheers me up."
Monica: "The worst thing I’ve been told is that I’m fat. And I've been catcalled by young boys. Being called 'fat' makes me feel like I have to start taking care of myself, so that I can get skinny. Like, I have to go to the gym and all that. Being catcalled makes me feel uncomfortable, like I should be covering up. I criticize men a lot because they always want a beautiful face and a nice body. They always ask for a lot, when they aren’t even all that. Some of them are older, and could even be my father, but want a young woman like an 18-year-old or a 20-year-old."
Mariana, 42
"The worst [thing I've heard] is that I have a big belly. It brings me down
because I am really sick and there is nothing I can do about it.
"But I also criticize. I'm very judgmental. I like to look at pretty women, but,
the ones that do not look so good, I criticize."
Lina, 24
"The best thing [I've been told] is that I have nice legs, but the worst
thing is that I now have muffin tops in my belly. But those comments do not affect me at all."
Maria Elena, 18
"The nicest thing [I've been told] is that I look pretty and
the worst thing is that I am too skinny.
"I don't allow the negative comments to affect me because I feel great about
the way I look. And the good things make me feel beautiful. I feel great."
Karla, 26
"Like you see, I'm tattooed and a lot of people have judgments about
women with tattoos. They ask a lot of questions like, 'Why so many? Why so big?' They
do say nice things about my abs, even though I'm a bit out of shape at the moment.
I always try to take care of myself even though I'm a mom.
"I do not discard the bad comments 100%, because one can use them
to learn. And the good comments motivate me even more."
Juana, 53, and Esmerelda, 23
Juana: "The worst thing that I've been told is that I'm fat. And the best is that I look good. The negative comments make me feel depressed, but the positive one makes me feel great and they boost my self-esteem."
Esmerelda: "My husband always compliments me a lot. He says I always look beautiful and that makes me feel good. I do not care about what other people have to say, because I feel great about the way I look. I always see people more chubby than I am, but I like to see how high their self-esteem is. Sometimes those people have a better self-esteem than the skinny ones that have a nice body. I really like their level of self-esteem and I aspire to have one that high."