Michelle Obama and Charlize Theron were amongst a group of heavy-hitting women at Glamour's "The Power of an Educated Girl" event in New York on Tuesday. These two power players are speaking up for young women! Both Obama and Theron had correlated views regarding what advice they would give for girls who may be afraid to be smart because they might be a turnoff to guys.
"There is nothing sexier than a smart woman," Theron, 40, told the crowd. "We have been told to live by a certain mold, especially women, and it's time to break it and it's up to us to do that. Stop waiting for men to do that, look in the mirror and see yourself and say I am sexy, I am attractive, I am smart, I am intelligent, I am powerful, I have a voice, I look cute in these jeans. Yes, I don't have long hair, I have short hair but I am still a girl and I'm still hot."
"And let's just be clear you don't want to be with a boy that's too stupid to know you're a smart, young lady and I want to encourage all of us as young women, as older women, we have to raise our own bars, you will not be successful hanging around people who drag you down," Obama said.
Adding, "There is no boy at this age that is cute enough or interesting enough to stop you from getting your education. If I worried about who liked me and who thought I was cute when I was your age, I wouldn't be married to the President of the United States."
Raising awareness for girls' education around the world, the panel pushed on the significance of staying in school, gave advice on how to get through those tough adolescent years, and promoted the influence that a strong education can have.
While living successful, meaningful, and fulfilling lives, it only seemed appropriate to ask this question to panel: What advice you give to your high school self?
"I would so love to go back and say to myself slow down, breathe, don't feel so rushed," Theron said.
Obama added, "What is important right now is who you're going to be and how you're developing that part of yourself."
Preach!
