Megan Young. ABS-CBN News
Miss World 2013 Megan Young says true sisterhood means lifting each other up — not tearing one another down over subjective beauty standards.
According to Young, embracing flaws is part of dismantling unrealistic beauty expectations and promoting a culture of compassion among women.
“Sisterhood in general is supporting one another. Be a girl’s girl. Uplift one another, support your sister, push her when she needs encouragement. Don’t push them down, lift them up. Sino pa ba ang magtutulungan if tayo-tayo lang?” Young said in an interview held during her launch as the latest brand ambassador of Sisters on Friday.
She urged women to be more mindful about their words, noting that what may not appear beautiful to one person could still hold value for another. “Not everything needs to be said. Minsan basta may ma-comment or ‘mema’ lang. Supporting one another is enough. What may be beautiful for myself may not be for someone else — and that is okay,” she said.
The actress and beauty queen also reminded women to be less hard on themselves, admitting that she has struggled with self-criticism, especially after giving birth.
Young gave birth earlier this year to her forst child,Leon, her son with Mikael Daez.
“We are our worst critic. Lagi natin pinupuna sarili. Even me, after giving birth, sabi ko, ‘bakit ang laki pa rin ng tyan ko?’” she recalled.
She added that she has, however, since learned to embrace weight gain, stretch marks, and the changes that come with motherhood.
"Somebody who does not know me now will compare me from before. I would get comments like ‘what happened?’ Hindi ko na lang pinapansin. I stick to people who will uplift me rather than focus on the negative,” she said.