Bridge Teen Center Holding Girls’ Event for ‘Redefining Beauty’

A mental makeover is in store for young women who visit Friday night.

The community center will be holding a Girls Night In, focusing on true beauty, worth and value. Attendees will participate in a spa demonstration with beauty professionals leading activities, and take part in an open discussion about value and worth. Along with light appetizers and mini desserts served, each participant will leave with a gift bag with items from Neutrogena, Suave, Dove, Crest and others, according to a release from the teen center.

The demand is high for such an event, as registration completely filled up two weeks prior, said Nicole Donelly, staff for programs and marketing at the Bridge. Last year, 65 girls attended the event, and this year 100 are scheduled to come, she said.

“The whole night is about redefining beauty,” Donelly said. “All the different stations are set up to take what culture often shows and redefine what’s beautiful and positive. [Priscilla] saw a need for girls to be reminded that they are beautifully and wonderfully made. We decided to continue and let it grow.”

Bridge Founder and Executive Director Priscilla Steinmetz started the event last year to help circumvent narrow perceptions of beauty often portrayed in pop culture.

“Young girls, especially in the suburbs, get bombarded with hundreds of misleading messages about beauty each and every day,” said Steinmetz in the release. “This is a very special night where we can focus on not only our outside appearance, but also on our inner beauty.”

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