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Every woman knows what it’s like to stand in front of the mirror and feel uncomfortable with the image they get back.

But despite being a near universal experience, this type of unhappiness can feel extremely isolating and develop into an obsession if not dealt with effectively.

This scenario is portrayed perfectly by Irish YouTuber Jessica Spencer whose powerful new video “When Skinny Means Pretty” is doing the rounds online.

In the video, film student Jessica describes the moment the seven year struggle with her weight began and how ever since she has felt like she is falling as she waits for her anxiety end.

She says: “I remember when I was 14 I was told I was too fat.  And suddenly, my whole perception of myself was destroyed.”

“Every time I leave the house or I talk to someone new it’s just like falling.”

“[My mind] tells me that the people who see me won’t like me.  They may not know me but who cares ‘cause I’ve fat thighs and messy hair and a tummy that looks like jelly when I walk.”

“So, how could they like me?  Do they not see what I see?”

The 21-year-old – who runs the blog jeesiblah.com – goes on to explain how she began to obsess over food and restrict her calorie intake in a bid to get the approval of others.

"So then I swapped eating for dancing and dancing for fainting.”

“All I consumed were lies and diet plans on how to become thin and it tasted fantastic, finally getting validation.”

“[I thought] this will be worth it when other people like me.  Skinny means pretty.  I promised myself, I will love me when I look like somebody worthy of love.”

 

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When it comes to other people, there are certain parts of their body that most of us would quite happily never get too close to.

From touching other people's eyes to catching sight of someone's manky-looking toes, we can be a sensitive bunch when it comes to the human anatomy.

But, if the thought of getting all up in someone else's foot space makes your stomach turn, you can count yourself lucky that the vast majority of us have NO intention of exposing other people to these tooties of ours.

That's right ladies; a whopping 66% of the Irish public would rather swelter from the ankle down than actually reveal their feet in a pair of flip-flops.

Whether it's a lack of polish, the possible stank factor or the fact the our heels alone could bring us seven years bad luck, us Irish are very precious when it comes to getting our feet out for the lads.

In fact, according to a survey by Scholl, the same amount of people find this body part the biggest turn-off in their partner.

Is it any wonder we're so damn sensitive?!

 

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Remember the last time you took a slug of a cool drink and all your imperfections disappeared?

Yeah, us neither, but it looks like we’ve been drinking the wrong thing, ladies.

Generally, when we crack a can or two we end up talking too much and falling off our chair, but it seems some cans want more for us than our standard off-licence purchases.

Buddha Water, which comes in some very slick packaging and can be found in a variety of delish flavours, apparently has a major effect on our overall appearance.

From banishing cellulite and stimulating weight loss to improving skin condition and kickstarting the metabolism, this organic super-water sounds like the sort of thing we’d fantasise about after a particular heavy weekend.

Low in calories and free from sugar and colourings, Buddha Water seems to have it all, but only time (and our thighs) will tell…

You can stock up here

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We've never thought of beards as anything other than a very welcome addition to a man's face, but it looks like they can do much more than add a level of charm to a bloke's appearance.

They can, in fact, help raise awareness of a matter close to the heart of millions of Irish people – mental health and suicide prevention.

While these issues have affected Irish families for generations, it’s only in recent years that we’ve actively tried to remove the stigma attached to these matter.

And with high-profile figures sharing their own experience of mental illness and members of the public campaigning for increased support, it’s heartening to know that none of us are fighting the battle alone.

Having been dealt a devastating blow after losing his father to suicide last year, Gary O’Dowd from Co. Kerry decided to turn a negative into a positive by embarking on a personal journey which will ultimately help families in a similar position to his own.

As part of The Bearded Man’s Battle for Suicide Prevention, Gary has been growing a beard for a year in order to raise money for two charities – Console and Kerry LifeLine – who were a huge support to the O’Dowd family in the aftermath of their father’s passing.

On July 16th, Gary will take part in a Shave or Grow event in Jack Duggan’s Bar, Castlemaine, Co. Kerry where the public will decide whether Gary will ditch the beard or keep it for another year.

If the beard growing is a go’er, Gary will shave his head alongside other brave members of the public who want to get involved in this incredible cause.

So far, the Bearded Man campaign has raised over €700, but they need your help showing people that it’s OK not to be OK.

You can get involved by texting SWCC to 50300 to donate €4 or find out more here.

Good on you, Gary!

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Not too long ago, the internet went crazy for mermaid blankets which let you get your chill on while channelling your inner Ariel, but it looks like things have officially gone up a notch.

Progressing from pro-level flake to pro-level fitness, innumerable women are participating in swimming sessions which lets them realise their secret childhood dream.

That’s right gals; it’s now acceptable to don a mermaid tail and slither into a pool all in the name of health and well-being.

While we all know that standard swimming in an incredible form of cardio exercise, this version actually ticks various other boxes.

By moving your body in unison under the water, you automatically engage muscles which can often go ignored during standard work-out sessions in the local gym.

It seems legs, bums and tums are really put through the ringer as you plot your revenge against that oul wench Ursula.

Ladies? We're sold.

Feature image: Mermaid_Coral_Teacher Instagram

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Anyone who has ever taken part in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon knows that it's definitely a day for the memory books.

Whether walking, jogging or running for yourself or for a family member, the annual June event in our capital city brings thousands together, and reminds us that when it comes to sport and charity, we have it absolutely nailed.

It's been a week since this year's Women's Mini Marathon, and with some of us still nursing blisters and others still pumped after trumping their personal best, this Facebook upload has given us ALL the feels.

Shared on the VHI Women's Mini Marathon Facebook page yesterday, the short vid captures the excitement and enthusiasm generated by this incredible summer event.

Can you spot yourself?

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Ladies, if you've been deliberating over a whether you actually need to start rocking a pair of black plastic frames, but can't be ar*ed scheduling an optician's appointment, then this is for you!

Doing the rounds on the internet for some time now, this test has made a reappearance in recent days and blown our minds all over again.

Take a look at this snap and ask yourself whether world-famous scientist, Albert Einstein, is staring back at you or whether 50s bombshell Marilyn Monroe is giving you the eye.

If you see ol' Albie, then according to the experts, you're solid on the vision front. (Go you girl, go you.)

If, however, Mazza is looking back at you, then it may be time to start weighing up the round frames against rectangular.

Explaining all, ASAP Science say: "Depending on how well you're able to focus or pick up contrast, your eye will only pick out details. Up close, we're generally able to pick up fine details like Einstein's moustache and wrinkles."

"But as the distance increases, or if your vision is poor and creates a more blurred image in the first place, your ability to pick up details fades away," they added.

There you have it!

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They may have been butt of numerous schoolyard jokes, but it looks like the redheads among us will be having the last laugh if a recent study from the Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and Unilever is anything to go by.

Conducting a study into 'perceived age', researchers provided an independent group with more than 2,500 photos of bare-faced strangers and asked them to guess their age.

Interestingly, the individuals who possess the MC1R gene were considered to be the most youthful, with many participants underestimating the subject's age, reports Cosmopolitan this week.

And yes, you guessed it, that particular gene, which creates melanin, is the one responsible for the production of red hair.

So, in addition to boasting a head of stunning red hair, you guys are going to look super-youthful while the rest of us frantically dye our roots and bathe in anti-ageing creams.

Jealous, us? Yes.

 

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If you've ever found yourself standing in a room in your house and not been able to remember what the hell has brought you in there, you're not alone.

Forgetting the reason for your sudden change of location is super common, and it looks like researchers have finally cracked why so many of us have to retrace our steps in order to get a handle on the original task.

According to a recent study, a worrying number of us are completely thrown by the existence of doors in our homes, and it seems our brains begin to malfunction the moment we pass through one. (We know, we're embarrassed for us too.)

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have dubbed it the 'boundary effect' and it basically means that upon passing though a doorway our brains automatically bring one memory to an end and allow for the beginning of another, and sometimes our original escapes us.

Investigating the theory with the help of video games, researchers put 55 participants to the test and established that people are less likely to retain information if they have to move rooms while processing it. reports The Metro.

And there you have it, doors are the enemy.

 

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Whether directly or indirectly, we've all been touched by mental illness at some point in our lives, and while most of us hope to remove the stigma attached to various conditions, there is no doubt that it's an ongoing battle.

Raising awareness of conditions which can affect any one of us regardless of age, background or education, is something we here at SHEmazing! are keen to get behind.

Rachel Martin, founder of The Insider Daily blog, has given a voice to all those who are struggling with depression by offering a moving insight into her own experience of the illness.

Take a read…

Everybody’s experience of depression is different, and people find help in different ways. At fourteen years old, I’d completely given up hope. I was at my lowest point and couldn’t seem to pick myself up. At that age, it would have never crossed my mind that these feelings were caused by depression.

I’ll start off by telling you a little bit about the group of girls that tormented me for so many years. These bullies were clever, they kept school attacks to scare tactics and harsh words. Outside of school and if they happened to bump into me, things would get more physical.

I was plagued by hate pages made about me on social media accounts. Every time one was reported and deleted, another one would reappear. I spent weeks eating lunch in a room on my own, the schools solution to keeping me out of their way.

After years of bullying, my depression and anxiety crippled me. I barely slept at night, I spent most of my time on my own and I made up any excuse not to go to school. I presumed these feelings and suicidal thoughts were normal for a 14-year-old. After all, how much does a teenager really know about depression? I couldn’t tell you how many times I thought about ending it all.

One of these attempts led me to the hospital alongside my mam and grandmother. I’ve never had the best memory but there are some things you never forget. 

I remember the look of my mam’s face and the feeling that I was breaking her heart. After this, I started working on overcoming my depression through counselling, talking through things and changing parts of my life.

I decided that I wanted to stay in school, after all I was still a teenager who wanted to see her friends. On my first day back two of the bullies came looking for me, by that stage it didn’t take much for me to start crying.

I remember one of the girls laughing and saying ‘What are you gonna do, go and kill yourself?’ My mother collected me on a half-day and I never looked back. I started a new school the following year and met some friends that I know will be my good friends for life.

Over the next few years, my family became the greatest support network I could ask for. Someone was always on hand if I was feeling down. Whether it was a long chat, a trip to the cinema or going to a concert, these little things kept my mind strong.

I didn’t always need someone to talk too, sometimes I needed someone to just say ‘let’s go do something fun!’ and I would instantly start to feel better. I’ll always be grateful for everything they did for me

Overcoming depression isn’t something that happens overnight, I spent years building myself up. Those years were filled with tears, counsellors and plenty of bad days when I didn’t feel like I could face the world.

Every once in a while I start to feel a little down but I know now that it will pass. I can recognise the difference between feeling sad, hormonal or depressed and I know when I need to talk to someone about it.

Someone once asked me if I could change something about my past what would it be. I smiled and said ‘nothing’ because everything that has happened has shaped me into the person I am. After all these years I’ve spent rebuilding my confidence, I’m proud of the person I’ve become!

To hear more from Rachel, check out her blog here.

If you or someone you know needs to talk, Samaritans Ireland have a 24-hour service which you can free call on 116 123

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Ah, summer – us Irish women love and fear it in equal measure.

Given the fact we spend most of the year huddled under umbrellas and bundled beneath winter coats, it’s no surprise that we literally don’t know what to DO when the sun actually makes an appearance.

Revealing parts of our body that haven’t seen the light of day in close to nine months isn’t for the fainthearted, and if you’ve been skimping on your skincare routine during that time, you’ll know the horror of going bare-armed and bare-legged for the first time.

Give yourself a head-start this year by getting on top of things pronto.

1. Water

By flushing out toxins and ensuring a clearer complexion, water is your only man if you really want to keep your skin in tip-top shape this summer.

Like your phone, wallet and keys, a bottle of water should be a handbag staple, and you should aim to get through at least a litre a day.

Healthy skin often starts from the inside so get chuggin’.

2. Sun protection

Even if it doesn’t feel like you’re being treated to an especially warm day, the sun is still up there doing its thing and you need to know how to deal with this.

P20 sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and retains its effectiveness for up to 10 hours meaning that your daily dash around town won’t wreak havoc on your skin.

Liberally apply P20 on your skin as part of your daily beauty regime and help prevent against skin damage, premature aging and the horror of unexpected sunburn.

3. Exfoliation

As we all know, applying moisturiser to old skin is fairly pointless, so you need to make sure that you’re getting rid of dead skin cells on a regular basis.

Get to work with a body brush before every shower and then gently work over problem areas with a pair of exfoliating gloves while in the water.

There’s nothing worse than applying tan to old bumpy skin, so don’t put yourself through it!

4. Sleep, sleep, sleep!

Like water, sleep is a free and easy way to keep your skin in picture-perfect condition, so don’t deny yourself those precious z’s!

With the evenings getting longer, it can be super-hard to stick to your nightly routine, but aim for at least eight hours an night and you’ll be on the right track!

No amount of tan and make up can truly hide dull and tired skin after a restless night’s kip.

5. Don’t over-do the fake tan

It’s tempting to go to TOWN on yourself when applying false tan in honour of the sun’s highly-anticipated appearance, but there’s no need to overdo it.

If you’ve been keeping your skin protected on the daily with P20, and checking the sleep, water and exfoliation boxes on the regular, then a light layer of false tan will be all you need.

Think sun-kissed, not leather handbag.

 

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If you're currently living the People's Republic of Cork then you may need to keep a closer eye on your tush the next time you use the bathroom.

According to a report in the Irish Examiner, the recent floods have resulted in some very unfortunate rodent-related events, and you don't wanna be next, believe us!

Drawing Cork County Council's attention to the issue, Councillor Noel Collins explained that one Cork resident suffered injury after falling foul of a crafty rat hidden in the sewer system.

"The flooding resulted in another problem for residents, that of rat infestation, which really upset many families, mentally and physically, and indeed, one elderly gentleman suffered a rat bite to his posterior while using his toilet, and had to receive immediate medical attention," Councillor Collins said.

Issuing a warning to Corkonians following the unfortunate incident, Councillor Collins said: "I would advise homeowners to keep their toilet seats down when not in use, and to watch their posteriors."

Consider yourselves warned, ladies.

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