Ilana, 16, and Marlena, 17, may only be teenagers, but they're wise enough to know that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Ilana and Marlena are co-founders of The Honest Beauty Project, a Facebook page started in January 2014 where users can submit their own photos accompanied by an inspirational message of why they are beautiful. Some answers are humorous and uplifting, others are heartfelt and deeply emotional, but each answer is undeniably unique, and definitely shines light on how individual beauty can shine through society's expectations.
As of October 10, the page has over 5,500 likes and is still growing strong, with Facebook users from all shapes and backgrounds submitting their own personalized stories.
Some of the more touching examples include one woman's message that states "I am beautiful because I held my grandmothers hand in hospital all night when she was dying."
One inspirational message comes from a woman wearing a big grin and displaying a sign that says "I am beautiful because - I finished my first paper in English!"
Every photo submitted to The Human Beauty Project, no matter how uplifting or emotional, generates a large positive response from its online audience. You can learn more about The Honest Beauty Project by watching the video below and by visiting their Facebook page.
The Honest Beauty Project Facebook page.