I struggled with my body image and low self-confidence before meeting a caring adult in my school who supported me. Now I have more confidence than ever, and I even run my own beauty and lifestyle blog. I hope to study broadcast journalism at UCLA or attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
Find out what I’m made of. Click on the items below to explore my portrait, and hover over the left navigation for more of my story.
Listen to my story
Click to stop the audioIn spite of being bullied in middle school, I found empowerment through makeup and style, even starting my own beauty blog and a club about makeup where we talk about self-esteem and confidence at my high school.
Listen to my story
Click to stop the audioI love to dance with the folklórico dance club. This was a turning point for my confidence level at school.
Listen to my story
Click to stop the audioMy family means the world to me. My family has always been extremely supportive of me, no matter what challenges I’m facing.
Listen to my story
Click to stop the audioMath has always been the hardest subject for me. However, one-on-one academic assistance has made all the difference for me, and my grades have steadily improved.
Listen to my story
Click to stop the audioBullied throughout middle school, I struggled with body image. Communities In Schools has helped me be myself and be confident in my own skin.
Anais is a junior at Mendez High School in Los Angeles, California. She struggled with her body image and low self-confidence before meeting Communities In Schools of Los Angeles site coordinator Xochitl Cervantes-Luna. Now, Anais is a confident woman who runs her own beauty and lifestyle blog, and has dreams of going to either UCLA to become a broadcast journalist or to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
of U.S. teens have personally experienced at least one of six types of abusive online behaviors. Anderson, 2018
Being their true selves right away. There’s a part of everyone that doesn’t want to feel judged or criticized, like I was in middle school.
Many don’t know my story or what I’ve been through. They see the confident student who is outgoing, but they don’t always see that I have my ups and downs. I’m not always secure and confident, and it’s taken a lot for me to accept who I am and to love myself.
One thing my Communities In Schools coordinator taught me was prioritizing. I was facing some trouble trying to balance my AP classes, homework, extracurricular activities and running my own club. I clearly remember that Mrs. Luna told me to prioritize the things I found important for my future. That has taught me to always put my goals for the future first, and the rest will fall in place.
I have a small family—Mom, Dad and a 10-year-old sister. My parents are supportive, loving and caring. They are hardworking and always try to provide the best for my sister and me. My family supports my dreams, talents, hobbies and my successes. They also have supported me emotionally when I was going through a rough time in middle school. I can always count on my family when I need someone to talk to. I know they support me in the good and advise me in the bad.
I chose to join the folklórico club at my high school because dance always caught my attention. I thought it would be a cool experience to get to know more people, learn new things, be more outgoing and unwind myself in front of an audience. Dancing folklórico makes me feel amazing! When I get up on the stage, I feel confident and unstoppable. The vibrant and colorful dresses and the rhythm of the music make me feel proud of my culture.
I started posting makeup videos online when I was 14 and started my blog a little after that. I’ve always had a big passion for makeup and fashion, and it’s amazing how I can share that thanks to technology. One of the reasons I love makeup is because it’s a wonderful way to express yourself and feel confident. I’m very versatile when it comes to my makeup aesthetic. It’s so difficult to choose one since I like to change it—it all depends on the mood. Some days, I’ll go more neutral. Another day, I’ll go elegant and classy or edgy and colorful. I love to play with makeup, especially since it comes off at the end of the day!
Right now, I’m watching Gossip Girl for the third time! It’s one of my favorites. For movies, I recommend Dumplin’, Insatiable and Girlboss.
Even If you are going through a hard time right now, good times will come.
I want the world to know that even if you’re going through a hard time right now, good times will come. I was bullied at school because of my appearance. I lacked confidence and self-esteem, and I didn’t accept the way I looked. Fast forward to high school—I decided to change my mindset and love myself the way I was, because if I didn’t accept myself, others wouldn’t either. I am happier than ever in a school that I love and feel a part of, where I feel accepted by the teachers, staff and students. I overcame self-doubt and bullying, and I truly believe that others can, too!
