Even though senior prom is still months away, a lot of my friends are already preparing for the big night. I’m not just talking about vague ideas like dinner plans or deciding whether to attend the actual dance. I’m talking full-on dress searches, hours of online browsing, in-person try-ons, and, in some cases, extreme diet and workout culture. 

Both on social media and in my personal life, I’ve noticed that many people almost take pride in how hard they work to physically prepare for prom. I remember last year, during my junior year, many of my then-senior friends openly talked about cutting out sugar or salt in the days leading up to prom, or exercising excessively just so they could fit into their dresses and look their best in pictures. I’m seeing the same thing happen again this year, with some of my own friends signing up for gyms specifically because they want to “look good.” 

Now, I believe everyone has the right to do things that help them feel confident. However, I think we also need to consider the intent behind these choices and what they might be encouraging in others, and even in ourselves. A lot of the time, these diets and workout routines aren’t about building long-term health, they’re about looking a certain way for photos that will be posted online. 

That pressure doesn’t just stay personal. When bragging about dieting intensely or overworking your body becomes a normal conversation, it can create a sort of bandwagon effect. Someone who wasn’t originally worried about their body before prom might start to feel like they should be, just because everyone around them is focused on changing theirs. 

I also think the way we approach prom in general has become a bit excessive. Shopping for dresses months in advance, obsessing over every detail, and putting so much pressure on yourself to look your absolute best for one night can take a huge mental and physical toll. 

The entire prom process just sends the message that this one day is so important that it justifies the extreme measures and, in turn, justifies potentially harming your body and mind. 

If someone honestly wants to improve their health or build better habits, that’s completely valid. But it’s important to be honest with ourselves about whether the motivation is long-term well-being or short-term appearance. It’s also important that we recognize that the way we talk about our bodies, dieting, and exercise affects the people around us more than we realize. 

At the end of the day, prom is supposed to be about celebrating the end of high school with friends, not about who changed themselves the most for pictures. Think about it this way: would you ever judge your friend for their body not being “flattering” enough for what they are wearing? No. Then why do the same for yourself? 

Before I Lea-ve, 

Let’s stop pushing this narrative that people, especially teenage girls, have to go to great lengths to change themselves for just one event.