In a sea of apps ranging from word games, flash sales and social media, it’s a breath of fresh air to find one that promotes positive body image and self-esteem among women and young girls today.
The Body Beautiful app provides inspirational quotes, curated articles and on-hand tools to help every woman learn to love her body. We caught up with Allie Marie Smith, app creator and founder of Wonderfully Made, to discover the process and learn more about her heart behind this beautiful technology.
Darling Magazine: What lead you to develop the Body Beautiful app?
Allie: In 2009 I drank the Kool-Aid and got my first iPhone. The first thing I did was download apps. With all my work with women in the area of self-confidence and self-image, I immediately browsed the app store to see what I could find. I was surprised to see that there was a scarcity of useful apps, so I took it upon myself to create what I believe was the first app for “true beauty and confidence.”
DM: How long did the app take to develop?
Allie: What was only supposed to be an eight-month project turned into a year-and-a-half development project. It was a long process, but it was worth it!
DM: How is it different from other empowering apps, books and blogs currently out there?
Allie: Body Beautiful® is a tool that’s with you as often as your iPhone or iPad is. It’s a constant stream of encouragement, which you can share with your social networks. A really unique feature is the photo app that lets you add an inspiring caption to a photo of a friend and send it to her.
DM: What’s the difference between being self-confident and being self-absorbed?
Allie: If I had to sum it up in one sentence I’d say, self-confidence is freedom and self-absorption is bondage.
DM: Why is the Body Beautiful app specifically focused on girls and women?
Allie: Only 2 percent of women describe themselves as beautiful. As a woman passionate about women, I naturally felt compelled to create an app uniquely just for girls and women.
DM: How do you find the inspiration articles, quotes and videos provided through the app?
Allie: I’m always on the hunt through news stories, magazine articles, television interviews, etc., for content that inspires me.
DM: What is the “Body Beautiful Pledge”?
Allie: The Body Beautiful Pledge is a vow of sorts you make to yourself to be a positive, self-image role model and to try and make peace with your self-image. You simply read it, sign it and then share it, thereby inspiring others to be a part of the Body Beautiful movement.
DM: What feedback have you received from the app?
Allie: The feedback has been great! People from all over the world are using the Body Beautiful app.
We ask you: how do you maintain a healthy body image in a sea of digital comparisons? Let us know in the comments.
Download the Body Beautiful App for $0.99 here, as well as keep up with Allie via Twitter and Facebook. To see a quick demonstration of how to use the app, watch this video, here.
Image via Janelle Stephanie