Letter from the Editor: June '05.

Natural Wonders

M

y friend Lisa called me first thing in the morning, eager to relay a compliment from her husband. George said that last night at dinner, he thought you were almost sexy.I We both laughed. Almost!

I remember feeling almost...something-. I was decked out in Prada satin, with perfume on my wrists and jewelry around my neck. It didnit hurt that the restaurant was four-star, the wine was French, and the candlelight was glowing. SexyI isnit a word Iid ever use to describe myself, but I can say that I felt confidentoalmost.

Given the choice between being sexy and confident, Iid pick confident any day of the week. It turns out that many women feel the same way. Allure just conducted a national survey of women and men in which we asked them to tell us what they really think when they look in the mirror. Like me, most of the women wouldnit describe themselves as sexy. But an overwhelming majorityoa mighty 91 percentosaid they feel satisfied with the way they look.

Ninety-one percent is an astonishing number, especially given the conventional wisdom that womenis self-esteem is subterranean. When asked if theyid call themselves beautiful, the majority of the women said no. Not prettyI or cuteI either, or the sad and defeatist plain.I To me, the language women use about themselves suggests true self-acceptance. BeautifulI and prettyI as physical ...