I just want to tell my story. Way way back I used to pity myself. Growing up, I felt like I am not beautiful and was bullied during my elementary days. I have discovered self-love later part as I was about to graduate high school.
I have a very low self-esteem before but when I started to joined dance groups and started dancing I slowly boosted up my confidence. It didn't happen overnight, it was a process. Slowly, I have learned to value myself more and have learned that people around me who value me and sees me as a beautiful individual believes in me more than I believed in myself.
I was the vice president on our classroom during high school, I was not the muse but the teacher chose me to auditioned for the Miss United Nation as our section's representative. Unexpectedly, I was chosen to represent the entire grade level. It was hard for me to keep it a secret from my family but later part I needed to tell them on the day of our coronation.
I can vividly remember the crowd cheering for me as I made my introduction speech and as I did my first timer walk at the stage. Until I was crowned First Runner Up then I saw my mom cried for joy.
Right after that event, I was scouted to joined several pageants and I did modeling as years passed by.
If there's one thing that I've realized over the course of years is that everything starts within you. If you started to believe in yourself and your capability then it will attract all the positive things.
Start loving yourself more and never compare yourself to anyone because at the end of the day it is always You versus You. You need to be better than the person you were yesterday. :)