Mercedes Cooper
![](https://naturalskinrocks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Mercedes-Cooper-768x512.jpg)
Becoming more confident with my looks helped me to focus on other things that should matter like my career goals. I’m a few months away from turning 30, and feel more confident than ever. If I could write a letter to my 16-year-old self I’d tell her what my mom told me, “Mercedes, those features you hate are exactly what make you beautiful.”