I am a size 8.

Yes, I have revealed my pants size. Many girls shudder at the idea of publicly revealing to anyone “the cursed number” they spend days and nights obsessing over.

My question is, Why? Why do women invest their time with the constant mantra, “If only I was one pants size lower”?

Is it because almost every woman reading this column has already compared my size 8 to their own and their idol actresses, such as Jennifer Aniston or Megan Fox.

I bet money that the female readers have already looked at my picture above and have compared it to their idea of what a size 8 looks like.

Women can be one another’s worst critics—constantly comparing themselves to everyone else. I do not know how many times I have walked through Stevenson Hall and seen my fellow female students scolding one another for picking the greasy breakfast burrito over the healthy Caesar salad.

While, on the other hand, I have never seen our male population critique one another’s lunch selections at Stevenson.

Like other women, I have caught the “wandering eye” while working out on the treadmill.

I will causally turn around and catch my fellow female treadmiller looking at my speed and calories lost and compare it to her own.

Some women seem consumed with comparing their pants size, food selections and even workout routines with others.

Not to call out my gender, but ladies, how are we to get what we want out of this world if we are too busy nit-picking one another?

As Mama Edwards always said, with her southern twang, “God made you only one body. So love it, sweetie.”

I know not everyone in the audience is for Mama Edwards’ religious tendencies, but I am positive she got the whole “how to love your body” idea down flat.

Beauty, curvy or skinny, is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Women need to stop hating on one another and admit their constant comparisons lie in their own insecurities about their own bodies.

I realize the media tend to exploit women’s insecurities. I have compared myself more than once to my idol actresses such as Drew Barrymore or Jessica Alba.

Women need to unite and be allies in support of one another.

If we are so consumed with one another’s bodies, how we will accomplish anything beyond the physical?

We have more important things to do than worry about our neighbor’s lunch selection or workout routine.

Please, ladies, start loving your body and stop hating on others—because you only get one.

Elizabeth Edwards is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-7942 or DENopinions@gmail.com.