Ashlee, 18
Chattanooga, Tennessee

My mom made me shave my armpits so people wouldn’t be disgusted by my armpit hair. I don’t like to shave. Most people are pretty grossed out when they see my armpits. They’re like, “Uhhh we’re not in Europe.” I just don’t understand shaving every day. I like my armpit hair. My boyfriend likes my armpit hair too. People just buy into the unattractiveness of unshaven armpits. My whole family cheered when I shaved.

I had to get my hair and makeup done [for the Cotton Ball]. Makeup makes me feel ugly and gross. I’ve heard these horrible stories about how it’s made from animal fat from McDonald’s. Makeup is just trying to make everyone look the same, to conform to the beauty that is expected of us. I think people are way more beautiful when they don’t wear makeup. The way you are is the way you’re meant to be.

Sheena, 15
San Jose, California

Another thing I do for looks is wear either tight shirts that cut down or shirts that show my stomach, so one part of my body is showing. So a guy will say, “Ooh, stomach” or “Ooh, cleavage. That’s sexy.” You know, it’s like a total turn-on right there.

How it starts out is a guy sees a girl’s cleavage, then he sees her boob, then he sees her nipple. I know that cause I’ve talked to a guy that was looking at a girl’s boobs before, and he told me.

Being bi, I see a girl with cleavage and I’m like, “That looks nice.” Then I see her stomach. It’s like, “Ooh baby.” That’s what guys are thinking. Just because they’re bi and female doesn’t mean girls can’t think like a guy does. I know I could.

I’m horn-crazy all the time. I started realizing it around second grade. I used to play this game with my friend: “You stick your hands down my pants, and I’ll stick mine down yours.” It was just a total game. In fifth grade, I had boyfriends.