Not Snow White, Just Me | Maggie Wang | TEDxHuili Shanghai Youth
Growing up, she saw herself as a "queen," confident in her magic mirror’s reassurance. But societal beauty standards for Asian women—pale skin, delicate features—shattered that illusion. After years of striving to become "Snow White" through makeup, diets, and self-denial, she realized her mirror reflected only impossible ideals. Diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, she exposes how global beauty trends (like skin bleaching) perpetuate harm. Her conclusion? Smash the mirror of toxic standards. True happiness begins when we stop chasing fairy-tale perfection. Maggie Wang is a Grade 8 student. She is a very talented and experienced public speaker. She has participated in multiple WSDA championships and has won 6th place, 2nd place, and 5th place awards consecutively. In January, she received her ESDP Public Speaking and Debating Special Certificate and a 1st place in NHDLC with her original oratory speech on the same topic of appearance anxiety. During these experiences, she met some of her best friends, learned how to express herself, how to show confidence, and how to use the power of language to influence others.She is also a passionate writer who takes pleasure in creative works. She has written short stories ranging from social issues, the environment and climate change to romance, horror, and fantasy stories. As a hobby, she has studied journalism, songwriting, and drama scriptwriting.In her talk, she hopes to inspire you with creativity and originality. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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