Hi, and welcome to AdiosBarbie.com! I'm Pia, and I live in San Francisco. I was born in Mexico and grew up in California, the daughter of an American mother and a Mexican father. As a child, I was shuttled between countries as a result of my parents' divorce. I lived in Santa Monica, but spent my childhood summers in Mexico City visiting my dad and his family.

My struggles with body image began with an exposure to the hot Mexican sun. Every August, my dad's side of the family convened in Acapulco for a week long vacation. Their easily tanned skin afforded them the luxury of playful hours without protection. I wasn't so lucky. My red hair and fair skin betrayed my Mexican heritage. This barred me from any activity in the sun unless I wore a cumbersome long-sleeved shirt, a silly hat and goopy opaque sunscreen. I often sat in the pool jealously watching my dark-skinned sister frolic around unrestricted by ultraviolet armor. I felt extremely self-conscious - - and far from "cute."

At age 13, I was determined to get a tan. Instead, I ended up in the hospital with Lupus, a hereditary disease that primarily affects black women and Latinas. Lupus is triggered by an overexposure to the sun. Struggling against the illness as a teenager, I grew to hate my body for not functioning properly. This grew into a hatred of myself for not having boobs (a result of being ill), for being "too short," and for my thick Mexican waist and short forehead. The only pride I felt was that the Lupus left me abnormally thin.

Junior year in high school, beyond the expectations of my doctors I got well. My transition from high school to college was both a physical and a mental metamorphosis. I felt indebted to my body for giving me a second chance. I wanted to celebrate with everyone, and began to attract people through my openness and optimism. I sought out a community of friends that were open to discussing their differences, and drew upon them for support and inspiration.

Today, I don't force my body to be something that it is not. I no longer hate it for not looking, feeling or performing like everyone else's body. I accept its limitations and I'm learning to embrace its differences. But it is a process. At the very least, I've learned that nothing is wrong with me. Instead, there is something wrong with a society that distracts girls and women from success by bombarding us with impossible ideals of perfection.

AdiosBarbie.com is how I fight the recurring feelings of alienation from my body, my culture and other women. This site reflects a beauty and strength I derive from an appreciation for diversity--not appearance. It is truly an online "community" and I hope it serves as a source of inspiration to you.

Pia Guerrero
Contributing Editor