Thank You To All Who Submitted Entries To The 2025 Be-You-Tiful Contest!
The Eating Disorders Resource Center (EDRC) of Silicon Valley’s 16th annual Be-YOU-Tiful multimedia contest is now closed to submissions! The themes regarding this year’s contest are Mental Health, Identity, Self-Acceptance, and Self-Care. Bay Area students grades 6-12 submitted an essay, poem, visual art piece, video, or other piece of media that responds to the following prompts:
What would you tell your past self about mental health and self-care?
How have stereotypes, cultural background, gender, race, or other parts of your identity played a part in your mental health and self-acceptance?
Winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in the Spring, where their work will be displayed for the community.
EDRC’s ultimate goal in hosting the contest is to provide students the opportunity to share their experiences with mental health and body image, encouraging them to dispel misconceptions and speak up towards a solution.
About 50% of preadolescent girls and 30% of preadolescent boys report disliking their bodies, according to the National Eating Disorders Association, and the unattainable standards set by social media are directly tied to this rise in body-related struggles. The EDRC aims to promote self and body acceptance, increase media literacy, and empower youth to challenge harmful diet culture ideals head-on, all of which can play a pivotal role in preventing the onset of eating disorders among younger generations.
