Ruth Bader Ginsburg birthday: 13 of the Supreme Court Justice’s most inspirational quotes

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has fought tirelessly for gender equality throughout a legal and political career spanning six decades.

At an early age, the Supreme Court Justice's mother instilled a strong work ethic in her daughter, encouraging her to strive for independence in a patriarchal society.

"My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady, and the other was to be independent," Ginsburg once said.

We'll tell you what's true. You can form your own view.

From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 a day, more exclusives, analysis and extras.

Subscribe now

In 1993, Ginsburg became the second woman to be appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, swearing the oath of office during Bill Clinton's presidency.

Despite recent bouts of ill health, having had surgery to remove cancerous nodules in December 2018, the pioneer remains dedicated to her profession, stating that she will "do this job as long as I can do it full steam". 

As Ginsburg turns 86, have a read of 13 of her most inspirational quotes:

leftCreated with Sketch. rightCreated with Sketch. 1/13 On feminism

'Feminism … I think the simplest explanation, and one that captures the idea, is a song that Marlo Thomas sang, 'Free to be You and Me.' Free to be, if you were a girl—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief. Anything you want to be. And if you're a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, that's OK too. That notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers - manmade barriers, certainly not heaven sent.' (Interview with Makers, 2012)

Getty Images

2/13 On how she wants to be remembered

'Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something, as my colleague David Souter would say, outside myself. 'Cause I've gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I've done for which I was not paid.' (Interview with MSNBC, 2015)

Getty Images

3/13 On the advice she'd give women today

'Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.' (Speech at Harvard University's 364th Commencement, 2015)

AFP/Getty Images

4/13 On women being included in the conversation

'Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. I don't say [the split] should be 50-50. It could be 60 per cent men, 40 per cent women, or the other way around. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.' (Interview with USA Today, 2009)

Getty Images

5/13 On how she copes with criticism

'Well, I'm dejected, but only momentarily, when I can't get the fifth vote for something I think is very important. But then you go on to the next challenge and you give it your all. You know that these important issues are not going to go away. They are going to come back again and again. There'll be another time, another day.' (Interview with ABC News Correspondent Lynn Sherr, 2000)

Getty Images

6/13 On women's rights

'Women's rights are an essential part of the overall human rights agenda, trained on the equal dignity and ability to live in freedom all people should enjoy.' (ACLU)

Getty Images

7/13 On rejection

'You think about what would have happened ... Suppose I had gotten a job as a permanent associate. Probably I would have climbed up the ladder and today I would be a retired partner. So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great good fortune.' (Interview with Makers, 2012)

AFP/Getty Images

8/13 On the biggest issue women face

'In some ways it's the most familiar issue and the largest one. It's, "Who will take the responsibility for bringing up the next generation?" That, I think, is the hardest problem. There can be incentives and encouragement, but women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.' (Interview with ABC News Correspondent Lynn Sherr, 2000)

AFP/Getty Images

9/13 On sexist, unconscious bias

'I think unconscious bias is one of the hardest things to get at. My favorite example is the symphony orchestra. When I was growing up, there were no women in orchestras. Auditioners thought they could tell the difference between a woman playing and a man. Some intelligent person devised a simple solution: Drop a curtain between the auditioners and the people trying out. And, lo and behold, women began to get jobs in symphony orchestras.' (Interview with Elle magazine, 2014)

Getty Images

10/13 On having a supportive partner

'If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. I had a life partner who thought my work was as important as his, and I think that made all the difference for me.' (Interview with Yahoo, 2014)

Getty Images

11/13 On how many women should be on the Supreme Court

'People ask me sometimes, when — when do you think it will it be enough? When will there be enough women on the court? And my answer is when there are nine.' (Talk at Georgetown University, Washington, 2015) (There are nine judges on the US Supreme Court)

AFP/Getty Images

12/13 On the impact of discrimination

'We should not be held back from pursuing our full talents, from contributing what we could contribute to the society, because we fit into a certain mold ― because we belong to a group that historically has been the object of discrimination.' (Interview with ABC News Correspondent Lynn Sherr, 2000)

Getty Images

13/13 On her most treasured talent

'If I had any talent in the world, any talent that God could give me, I would be a great diva.' (Talk at Georgetown University, Washington, 2015)

AFP/Getty Images

1/13 On feminism

'Feminism … I think the simplest explanation, and one that captures the idea, is a song that Marlo Thomas sang, 'Free to be You and Me.' Free to be, if you were a girl—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief. Anything you want to be. And if you're a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, that's OK too. That notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers - manmade barriers, certainly not heaven sent.' (Interview with Makers, 2012)

Getty Images

2/13 On how she wants to be remembered

'Someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. To do something, as my colleague David Souter would say, outside myself. 'Cause I've gotten much more satisfaction for the things that I've done for which I was not paid.' (Interview with MSNBC, 2015)

Getty Images

3/13 On the advice she'd give women today

'Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.' (Speech at Harvard University's 364th Commencement, 2015)

AFP/Getty Images

4/13 On women being included in the conversation

'Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. I don't say [the split] should be 50-50. It could be 60 per cent men, 40 per cent women, or the other way around. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.' (Interview with USA Today, 2009)

Getty Images

5/13 On how she copes with criticism

'Well, I'm dejected, but only momentarily, when I can't get the fifth vote for something I think is very important. But then you go on to the next challenge and you give it your all. You know that these important issues are not going to go away. They are going to come back again and again. There'll be another time, another day.' (Interview with ABC News Correspondent Lynn Sherr, 2000)

Getty Images

6/13 On women's rights

'Women's rights are an essential part of the overall human rights agenda, trained on the equal dignity and ability to live in freedom all people should enjoy.' (ACLU)

Getty Images

7/13 On rejection

'You think about what would have happened ... Suppose I had gotten a job as a permanent associate. Probably I would have climbed up the ladder and today I would be a retired partner. So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great good fortune.' (Interview with Makers, 2012)

AFP/Getty Images

8/13 On the biggest issue women face

'In some ways it's the most familiar issue and the largest one. It's, "Who will take the responsibility for bringing up the next generation?" That, I think, is the hardest problem. There can be incentives and encouragement, but women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.' (Interview with ABC News Correspondent Lynn Sherr, 2000)

AFP/Getty Images

9/13 On sexist, unconscious bias

'I think unconscious bias is one of the hardest things to get at. My favorite example is the symphony orchestra. When I was growing up, there were no women in orchestras. Auditioners thought they could tell the difference between a woman playing and a man. Some intelligent person devised a simple solution: Drop a curtain between the auditioners and the people trying out. And, lo and behold, women began to get jobs in symphony orchestras.' (Interview with Elle magazine, 2014)

Getty Images

10/13 On having a supportive partner

'If you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it. I had a life partner who thought my work was as important as his, and I think that made all the difference for me.' (Interview with Yahoo, 2014)

Getty Images

11/13 On how many women should be on the Supreme Court

'People ask me sometimes, when — when do you think it will it be enough? When will there be enough women on the court? And my answer is when there are nine.' (Talk at Georgetown University, Washington, 2015) (There are nine judges on the US Supreme Court)

AFP/Getty Images

12/13 On the impact of discrimination

'We should not be held back from pursuing our full talents, from contributing what we could contribute to the society, because we fit into a certain mold ― because we belong to a group that historically has been the object of discrimination.' (Interview with ABC News Correspondent Lynn Sherr, 2000)

Getty Images

13/13 On her most treasured talent

'If I had any talent in the world, any talent that God could give me, I would be a great diva.' (Talk at Georgetown University, Washington, 2015)

AFP/Getty Images

Several Twitter users have been sending Ginsburg well-wishes on her birthday.

"Happy 86th Birthday to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has spent her life fighting for equality. You are an inspiration to everyone and my personal hero," one person wrote.

"BIG happy birthday to Ruth Bader Ginsburg! My love and respect for such an incredible woman can't adequately be put into words," another added.

"Here's to many more years of fighting the good fight!"

Support free-thinking journalism and subscribe to Independent Minds

A biopic documenting the early stages of Ginsburg's career, titled On the Basis of Sex, was released in 2018.

Starring Felicity Jones as Ginsburg and Armie Hammer as her husband, the late Martin David Ginsburg, the film depicts the then-attorney taking on a tax case that altered the way courts in the US consider gender discrimination.

A documentary about Ginsburg's life and career, called RBG, was premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

The film went on to win Best Political Documentary at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, in addition to receiving several other award wins and nominations.

25 Best Disney Movie Quotes To Share With The Person You Love

Disney movies taught us a thing or two about love.

Disney movies have taught us about many things, from friendship to trust to love, the last being one of the most important lessons we can learn.

Sometimes the lesson is learned indirectly. For example, when Beauty looks past Beast's appearance and falls for the man he truly is, we learn that character is more important than looks. Other times, Disney characters simply describe what it means to be in love.

Words are powerful and it's natural to want to search for the perfect way to express your love when you are feeling such a strong emotion. But often times, even though we feel something, it does not necessarily mean we can express it. 

RELATED: 21 'Alice In Wonderland' Quotes That Will Help You Believe In The Magic Of Life

Love is such an amazing feeling that it's difficult to correctly convey through words. That's where Disney comes in. Movies like "Tangled," "Finding Nemo," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Peter Pan" give us great examples and quotes of what love truly means.

That is why we have gathered some beautiful quotes from Disney that speak to the mysteries of love. Some of these quotes explain how we feel when we are in love and some revel in the magic of love, but they all are examples of what true love means.

RELATED: Why The 'Sunday Kind Of Love' Is The Best Love

When you're feeling the love, share one (or all) of these 25 Disney quotes with the person you love to show them how much they mean to you.

1. When spending time together is your favorite thing to do.

"A day spent with you is my favorite day. So today is my new favorite day." —  Winnie the Pooh

2. When they feel like home.

"When I look at you, I can feel it. I look at you, and I'm home." —  Finding Nemo

3. When they become your dream.

"You were my new dream." —  Tangled

4. When your broken heart still seems to be full somehow.

"I never expected that you could have a broken heart and love with it too, so much that it does not seem broken at all." —  Peter Pan

5. When you feel like you're creating special memories.

"Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories." — Aladdin

6. When forever doesn't seem long enough.

"I used to believe in forever. But now I think forever is too short." — Winnie the Pooh

RELATED: 9 TV Couples That Are Total Relationship Goals — And What We Can All Learn From Them

7. When you feel like you've found "the one."

"You're the one, the one that I've been looking for." — The Little Mermaid

8. When the heart understands all.

"Listen with your heart: you will understand." — Pocahontas

9. When just knowing them is enough.

"I'd rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you." — Pocahontas

10. When it feels like fate brought you together.

"I'm where I'm meant to be." — Tangled

11. When you'd follow them anywhere.

"So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned." — Peter Pan

12. When they are always in your heart.

"You may be gone from my sight. But you are never gone from my heart." — Winnie the Pooh

RELATED: 50 Love Quotes Guaranteed To Make You Feel Things

13. When distance cannot separate you.

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart. I'll stay there forever." — Winnie the Pooh

14. When you love them for who they are.

"Like so many things, it is not what is outside but what is inside that counts." — Aladdin

15. When dreams and memories mean something special.

"In the garden of memory, in the palace of dreams...that is where you and I shall meet." — Through the Looking Glass

16. When love feels like magic.

"All you need is faith, trust and a little bit of pixie dust." — Peter Pan

17. When feelings become more important than other things.

"How do you spell 'love'?" — Piglet

"You don't spell it, you feel it." — Pooh

18. When you make memories without even realizing it.

"We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun." — Winnie the Pooh

19. When your love becomes an adventure.

"As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen." — Winnie the Pooh

20. When you'd do anything for them.

"Some people are worth melting for." — Frozen

21. When you never want to leave their side.

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." — Winnie the Pooh

22. When you will always be there for them.

"When you can't look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark." —  Alice in Wonderland

23. When good things seem incomplete without them.

"My dream wouldn't be complete without you in it." —  The Princess and the Frog

24. When your dream comes true.

"So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of." — Cinderella

25. When it seems like you are meant to be.

"For it is plain, as anyone can see: We're simply meant to be." — The Nightmare Before Christmas

RELATED: The Best Relationship Quotes Of All Time — To Help You Say 'I Love You' In 50 New Ways

Love is life's greatest gift, which is why people have a passion for love quotes - and we've got you covered. When it comes to saying "I love you", the truth about marriage, or even finding the perfect love quote for your guy, we have all the cute (or sexy!) quotes you need.

Mehruba Chowdhury is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.

The Ides Of March: 13 Quotes About Loyalty To Read On March 15

"Beware the Ides of March," which happens to be today. March 15 marks the anniversary of Julius Caesar's death, when Marcus Junius Brutus and other senators assassinated him. The 44 B.C. event has not been forgotten and is now associated with loyalty and betrayal.

The Ides of March seems like the perfect time to look at some favorite quotes about loyalty from William Shakespeare, who wrote the famous "beware the Ides of March" line, and other famous authors (via GoodReads).

"I used to advertise my loyalty and I don't believe there is a single person I loved that I didn't eventually betray." ― Albert Camus, "The Fall"

"I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me ― they, and the love and loyalty I give them, form my identity far more than any word or group ever could." ― Veronica Roth, "Allegiant"

"Master, go on, and I will follow thee

To the last gasp with truth and loyalty." ― William Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

"If I mistake not, a strong sense of duty is no bad part of a woman's portion." ― Jane Austen, "Persuasion"

"We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence." ― Cornel West, "Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life"

"'Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens,' said Gimli." ― J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Fellowship of the Ring"

"Unlike the puerile loyalty to a conviction, loyalty to a friend is a virtue ― perhaps the only virtue, the last remaining one." ― Milan Kundera, "Encounter"

"I always think loyalty's such a tiresome virtue. " ― Agatha Christie, "Peril at End House"

"'[Dumbledore] will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him,' said Harry, smiling in spite of himself." ― J.K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

"Loyalty is earned, my dear, not commanded." ― Terry Goodkind, "Shroud of Eternity"

"A hound will die for you, but never lie to you." ― George R.R. Martin, "A Clash of Kings"

"Loyalty in a critic is corruption." ― George Bernard Shaw, "Dramatic Opinions and Essays, volume 2"

"It is not until an act occurs within the landscape of the past and future that it is a human act. Loyalty, which asserts the continuity of past and future, binding time into a whole, is the root of human strength; there is no good to be done without it." ― Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Dispossessed"

Julius Caesar died on the Ides of March. Pictured: A person holds a royal manuscript ordered by 16th century French king Francois 1er, depicting and describing the twelve Caesars, during the manuscript's presentation for its entry into the French National Library (BNF) on March 11, 2015 in Paris. French royal court painter Jean Bourdichon created the enluminures of the manuscript, here showing Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar. Photo: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

Mindy Kaling's Quotes About Confidence Will Inspire You To Find Yours, Even On The Hard Days

The way I see it, Mindy Kaling is the queen of many things. As an actor, comedian, writer, and producer, she's moved beyond triple-threat status, and she's basically encompassed the linear definition of success. And while the The Mindy Project star has countless quirky quips up her sleeve, there have been many times when Mindy Kaling's quotes about confidence established, for me at least, what it means to genuinely feel self-assured, to know exactly who you are in a world that, so often, will try to tear you down, not to mention hold you to ridiculous standards. So, sure, I may love Kaling for her sense of humor, as well as her impressive acting and writing chops, but it's the wisdom she's imparted over the years about self-confidence that, IMO, makes her a true role model.

Establishing a strong sense of self-confidence is difficult enough without the all-eyes-on-you lifestyle Kaling has led since her breakout role on The Office, but it seems as though the comedian has done so with grace. By perfecting her craft as a creator and actress, and navigating what it means to be comfortable in the skin you're in, Kaling has not only flourished in her industry, she's also become one hell of a woman to look up to.

Confidence is something that everyone struggles with from time to time. If ever yours is lacking, and you're in need of a boost, check out these quotes from Kaling that'll inspire you to own who you are, for exactly how you are.

On The Difference Between Confidence And Entitlement

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Amazon

There's a thin line dividing confidence and cockiness, and oftentimes with cockiness, comes entitlement, aka the expectation that what you want is what you should automatically get. But even though entitlement, like cockiness, tends to have its own negative connotation, in her book, Why Not Me?, Kaling explained that confidence, to a certain degree, is entitlement — but it's entitlement that has been earned.

"Entitlement has gotten a bad rap because it's used almost exclusively for the useless children of the rich, reality TV stars, and Conrad Hilton Jr., who gets kicked off an airplane for smoking pot in the lavatory and calling people peasants or whatever," Kaling wrote. But entitlement in and of itself isn't bad, the actress clarified, continuing,

Entitlement is simply the belief that you deserve something. Which is great. The hard part is, you'd better make sure you deserve it.

On Self-Acceptance Giphy

Being confident, in part, means being resilient to the nasty things people might say about you. It means recognizing that those negative comments, and the people who are saying them, simply aren't worth your time, because when all is said and done, you are who you are, and there's not much you can do to change it. You could put your energy into caring about what people say and trying to please them, but you could also focus your energy on accepting yourself for exactly the way you are. For Mindy Kaling, it seems like she's (wisely) gone with the latter.

"Being called fat, being called not pretty, these are just weapons that men can use against women that we can't use against them," Kaling said in an interview with Refinery29. "I am fairy impervious to when people say those things about me, because it's like, well, I was born this way and I can't really change that."

On Instilling Confidence In Others

Confidence isn't something you're necessarily born with, which means you might have to put a considerable amount of effort in to work on it throughout the course of your life — and that's OK. In fact, it's totally normal, and it's exactly why Kaling wants to make sure she instills a sense of confidence in her baby daughter early on in her life. Back in May 2018, the 39-year-old actress told Shape that she not only wants her daughter to "learn at a young age that exercise is a great habit to have," she also wants her to feel confident in everything she does.

"I was not [confident] as a child, and I want my daughter to be really confident all the time," Kaling explained. "I'm going to do that by always making her feel like she is good enough and not being stingy with encouraging comments. That goes against my nature a bit because I'm a critical person—of myself, of the things I work on—but it's very important to me to make sure I instill confidence in my daughter."

On How To Be "Cool" Giphy

"Cool" is such a subjective term, which is exactly why Kaling told BuzzFeed back in 2015 that the best way to be and feel "cool" is to disregard the adjective altogether, and just do you.

"I have just focused on the things I am good at and not focused as much on being cool — although like any other human I'm fixated on cool — and just hoped that other people assumed I was [cool]," she explained, adding that even the "really, really cool people" probably never think of themselves that way, let alone try to be "cool." In other words, Kaling's advice is to "try to ignore" these arbitrary definitions of what it means to be "cool," and instead, just be the best version of yourself that you can.

On What True Self-Confidence Looks Like Giphy

I know myself, and I've definitely experienced moments when my self-confidence was strong, as well as moments when it was weak, but as far as Kaling's concerned, true self-confidence can't falter. She told BuzzFeed,

When people get the confidence knocked out of them, I feel like it was probably false confidence because you can't, I don't think, get it knocked out of you when you are truly confident. I think you have to be able to have everything taken away from you and be sitting in a ditch and know you could build it up from scratch. That's how I feel and that's how I know it's true confidence.

On How To Express Your Confidence Giphy

To me, confidence has always been one of those things that just radiates from a person, and evidently, Kaling agrees. During a 2015 interview with BuzzFeed, The Office alum explained that, for her, confidence is best communicated by showing someone what you're made of, rather than telling them directly.

"I started doing that when I was in elementary school and high school when I would audition for plays," Kaling said of how she showed her parents that she felt confident in her talents. She went on to explain that, in college, she would write and produce plays, and it was through this hard work that her parents never had a reason to doubt her success.

"Like anything else, it's show, don't tell," Kaling continued. "And if you feel like you need to tell your parents, 'It's in me, I just can't show it' then maybe you need to just show it for a while, and then come back to them and say, 'See?!?'"

On The Power Of Confidence Giphy

Sticks and stones may break your bones, and yes, words can definitely hurt you, too. But, according to Kaling, if you have an unyielding sense of confidence, even the most harmful words might not hurt quite as much — because, after all, they're just words.

"Maybe because I have professional confidence that comes from my business, but calling me chubby cannot hurt me in the way it does so many, many girls, millions of women," Kaling told The Guardian back in June 2014. She continued,

When you've seen Instagram comments like, "You're so ugly, you should kill yourself," it's like, I went to college. How could I be offended by someone who talks about what you look like? I wouldn't even deem you a person I'd speak to.

On How To Respond To People Who Say, "You're Not Chubby, You're Beautiful!" Giphy

No matter how self-assured you feel, there will always be people who, if they're not trying to directly tear you down in some way, will indirectly imply that your confidence isn't legitimate, even if they don't actually mean to do so.

Back in September 2015, Mindy Kaling touched on this topic in an interview with The Guardian: "You know what's funny? If I call myself a cute, chubby girl, the natural kind woman's response is, 'You're not chubby! You're beautiful! And thin!'" she told the outlet. "And I always want to hug the person and say, 'It's OK, I identify as someone who is cute and chubby – that doesn't mean I'm not worthy of love and attention and intimacy.' And also, my priorities are not such that I'm mortally offended by someone thinking that."

Say it louder for the people in the back, Mindy.

We asked 6 women to share their thoughts about body positivity. They didn’t hold back.

If you ever want to witness the phenomenon of gassing up—where friends boost each others' confidence with effusive praise and appreciation—just gather together a bunch of smart, funny, interesting women who have never met each other before.

That's just what happened when Well+Good invited six New York women to join us for a photo shoot celebrating bodies, confidence, and self-love. These women—April, Jessica, Aurea, Helen, Kiara, and Yesenia—were all perfect strangers at the beginning of the day. But over the course of a few hours together, they were sharing meaningful stories about their lives, gushing over each others' go-to confidence outfits (which we asked them to wear to the shoot), and laughing together like old friends. At the end of the day, they all exchanged contact info in order to stay in touch long after the camera flashes subsided.

In a world that has never felt so divided, so fraught with tensions and complications, there is nothing more powerful than seeing six completely different women with different life experiences come together with so much love and compassion—for each other, and also for themselves.  —Jessie Van Amburg, senior editor

April Christina, 33, endometriosis advocate and beauty blogger W+G: When you hear the words "body positivity," how does it make you feel?

AC: I think I like [the words] "body positivity," but I like "self-love" more. Because when I think of body positivity, self-love is the first thing that comes to my mind—especially because I have endometriosis. When I have an endo flare, my body changes—my tummy expands and it makes me look four to five months pregnant and I'm not—so I still have to learn to love myself despite what it may look like.

What are some of the ways you'd say having endometriosis (which is usually thought of as an "invisible" illness) has affected your relationship with your body and your self-image?

[My relationship with my body] is ever-evolving. I used to not feel too happy about myself, to the point where I didn't want to work out because I felt like it didn't matter how I would change my physical body, because my condition could still take control of it at any given moment.

But now I'm at a point where I'm learning to love my body more…I tell people all the time that [my endo] is a part of me, but it's not me. Although it does have its own personality, its own characteristics, and its own mannerisms. Sometimes it's very fierce and metamorphs into the physical image that I see, and sometimes it's calm and quiet—it goes away and then I can just be me. So that's how I've been really learning how to take it: Knowing it's its own character, this individual that's just living inside of me and with me and [the flareups are] just temporary.

I feel most confident when I…

Do things for myself. Just simple things. I have leg pain, and to still be able to walk, to drive, to fix food for myself, to get the remote control—doing those simple things even though I feel like I need to sit down shows I still have control over parts of my life.

Jessica De La Rosa, 34, disability rights advocate, artist, dancer

W+G: What do you think about the term "body positivity"? Is there a term you prefer to use instead?

JDLR: There's no [one] term. It's like, "I'm f**king beautiful." I don't need people to remind me, to remind themselves, that I'm beautiful. There's a stigma regarding what we should and should not be positive in ourselves about that we're taught, both subliminally and outright. I catch myself doing it all the time. Even though I'm quote-unquote a "very body positive person," I still catch myself in weak moments where I'm just like: "I'm too fat," or "I'm too short," or "I'm in a wheelchair." But I remind myself that those are other people's issues. Not mine.

How would you describe your relationship with your body today?

I used to hide myself in baggy clothes, in dark clothes. I already stick out, right? Because I'm in a wheelchair. I didn't want to bring any more attention to myself. Now I'm like, "Ha! It's in your face! Come get it. I'm going to give you something to look at right now!"

I'm tired of living by other people's thoughts and standards. It was affecting my happiness.

I feel strongest when I…

I feel strongest when I'm prioritizing myself. I spend so much time trying to make the lives of everybody else around me easier and happier, so I stop and take a minute to remind myself: If I can do it for other people, I can do it for myself.

I've definitely gotten better at taking the time for myself, pampering myself. I set up candles, I put the iPad on in the bathroom, and I watch a show or movie while I take a bath. I do a hair mask and a face mask…So taking care of myself in those ways, loving myself, reminding myself of my worth, my strengths, those types of things [makes me feel strong].

"I used to hide myself in baggy clothes, in dark clothes. I already stick out, right? Because I'm in a wheelchair. I didn't want to bring any more attention to myself. Now I'm like, 'Ha! Come get it. I'm going to give you something to look at right now!'" —Jessica De La Rosa

Aurea González, 26, artist

W+G: How has your mental health played into your self-confidence and body image?

AG: I feel like my relationship with my body is like a roller coaster—I would be dishonest if I said it wasn't. I try my best to love it every day and there are days when it's a lot harder than most. Last week, I felt hideous and lived in sweatpants. But that's the roller coaster—that's just life, and as long as you pick yourself back up, then you're good.

It's more than just a physical thing, it's a mind game as well…I'm in therapy every other week. I take medication for depression and anxiety. Working out also helps me a lot. Working on my mental health has allowed me to feel a lot better and more optimistic and just try to turn a negative into a positive as much as I can.

How would you say that fitness has been a part of your self-love journey?

When I was 19, I used to work out a lot. I used to run outdoors. I've always been pretty active and I used it as tool to de-stress. I grew up in a very sheltered home and was very stressed out most of the time and just very angry. I was an angry little girl growing up. Then I got patellofemoral syndrome in both my knees, and then I gained weight and that didn't help my knees, so I couldn't do any high-impact training and it really screwed me up.

Late last June I got back into fitness and I've been consistently working out; now it's like a second home for me. What started off as, "I want to lose a certain amount of weight," turned into, "I just love working out." I love seeing what happens to my body and my mind, seeing how I feel afterwards and that I'm growing muscles in places I've never had muscles before…When I realized that I can be consistent in fitness and saw the beautiful results that came from it—what it did for me emotionally and mentally—it made me feel like, "Okay. Now I can be consistent in everything else that means this much to me."

I feel most confident when I…

Am staring at myself in the mirror naked. It's an exercise. When people ask me, "How are you so confident?" the first thing I say is: "Do you own a full-body mirror, a full-sized mirror? If you don't, get one. And when you get one, you need to look at yourself fully naked." You have to face the fear, you can't hide from fears your whole life. I always tell people, "Dissect your body in three parts: chest up, midsection to your waist, and then from there down. Find at least one thing that you like about each section and just give that part love."

Helen Phelan, 27, pilates instructor and health coach

W+G: How does the term "body positivity" make you feel? 

HP: I usually use the term "body neutral" instead of "body positive," because I have a history with eating disorders. While I like to be super-positive in my classes and show people all the incredible things their bodies can do, I also think it's important to separate [the way you feel from the way you look]. Your worth is not based on your looks. So I think that the body neutrality movement is a little bit more realistic for mental health purposes.

You've been outspoken about your experience in the past with eating disorders. How has that experience shaped your perception of your body?

I started dancing when I was three, and I [began a long battle with] anorexia and bulimia when I was 10. It was always in phases and it always felt like, "This is like something I can manage, it's not a big deal." When I had stomach problems a couple of years ago is when I started to be like, "Oh, okay, I'm really hurting my body in a permanent way." I had to get an endoscopy and a colonoscopy—all these procedures to check out the damage in my throat and my stomach. So I guess that was like the wake-up call that made me want to start to get better…When I was a professional dancer, I really hated [my body] and then, through having a trainer and doing a lot of therapy, I have become more positive about it. But I've also been able to detach that [sense of] worth from how my body looks.

I feel sexiest when I…

I feel sexiest when I've done some sort of self-care or taken time for myself that day. It's hard for me to connect with my body if I haven't spent some time meditating, or dancing around my living room, or having a few minutes just to feel my body. I guess that could mean [I feel sexiest] anytime, so long as I've given myself that time today.

"It's hard for me to connect with my body if I haven't spent some time meditating, or dancing around my living room, or having a few minutes just to feel my body." —Helen Phelan

Kiara St. James, 41, founder and executive director of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group

W+G: You've spoken about how you grew up in a gender-policing and non-affirming household. How did growing up in that environment affect your relationship with your body? How did that change (if at all) once you were able to embrace being a woman?

KS: I grew up in a very religious family. I was not able to actualize who I was when I was [growing up] back in Texas. Coming to New York City and finding a community that was able to affirm who I am…felt like I came out of being a caterpillar and into a butterfly. That's what it felt like to me—being a caterpillar at home in Texas, being restricted to a binary gender—so coming to New York really helped me.

You were a drag performer in Atlanta before you moved to New York. How did doing drag shows influence your self-expression and body acceptance?

I loved it. It was a way of getting away from my everyday existence. And drag performances in Atlanta were really about celebrating our resilience. I didn't realize it at the time…but it was still at the zenith of HIV and AIDS, so community members were dying [and] were oftentimes shunned by their family members. So it was up to the community who depended on the "female illusionists" to raise money to bury a lot of our gay brothers and sisters. I took that role very seriously, that I was doing something for the community and bringing us together.

[In terms of body image], I was appreciative of the older girls who showed me how their bodies looked outside of the gowns [they wore on stage]. There was a lot of disfiguring and discoloration that happened; the older girls used to inject Crisco oil and free-market silicone into their bodies…For black and brown trans women, it was [often] about emulating our sisters' body shapes, our mothers, our aunts. Which meant being more voluptuous, more hippy, [emphasizing] the buttocks. Trans women also tend [to have broad shoulders]—I have broad shoulders, I accepted the fact that I have broad shoulders, there's nothing I can do about it—and making their butts, hips, and breasts bigger was another way that trans women would try to take away from having broad shoulders and from what we felt were masculine features. They endured a lot of pain with their bodies.

Now that I am much older, I have a better respect for and understanding [of my body]. I've lost so many contemporaries, so the fact that I'm still here and I'm able to thrive gives me a better appreciation of this body, how this body has carried me through trauma, into a different journey of joy. And so I'm just in a really happy place.

I feel strongest when I…

Am able to express myself and be unapologetic about it. I spent most of my life censoring myself…I felt the best way to get along was to just be quiet and be part of an overall toxic environment. I realized that for me to really get to a place of abundance, I first have to speak my truth. The people, places, and things that we surround ourselves with are going to either push us forward or hold us back, and I take that very seriously.

Yesenia Torres, 45, advocate

W+G: What do you think of when you hear the words "body positivity"? 

YT: Healthy. Because it gets away from the concept of a "beautiful body." What is a beautiful body? Being positive towards your body is being healthy.

You were injured over 20 years ago—how has your relationship with your body changed since then?

[At first] it was about seeing the changes in my body and not liking them. But I was fortunate to have a lot of  people around me that did not care about that. They just wanted me to be breathing, knowing that they still had me and didn't lose me [is what was important]. 

When I first saw myself speaking out as an advocate, my point of view of my body changed. I didn't care if my hair was in a bun or with curls, if I had my glasses on or off. [The emphasis] was on what I needed to express and not my physical [looks].

I discovered my inner beauty and that's enough for me. So whoever doesn't like my outer beauty, they'll love me because of what I'm transmitting, who I am, what I'm capable of doing, and how I've become a testimony of life. That's the beauty that's in me.

I feel sexiest when I…

Put a good lipstick on.

Note: These interviews were edited and condensed for clarity. Reporting by Jessie Van Amburg and Kells McPhillips.

9 empowering ‘Captain Marvel’ quotes to awaken your inner Avenger

Keep the empowerment going long after the movie's over with these Captain Marvel quotes.

If you're anything like me, you left the theater after watching Captain Marvel with a sense of determination and pride. Captain Marvel is the MCU's first female-led movie, and it was everything we could've hoped for.

Carol Danvers is a hero that anyone can look up to. She's insanely powerful, she's confident, and she doesn't take "no" from anyone. The movie was full of compassion, humor, friendship, and proof that a woman can kick just as much ass as any of the guys.

To make sure you keep feeling as powerful as Carol, even after the credits finish rolling, check out some of the most empowering Captain Marvel quotes! And if you're looking for more amazing moments from kick-ass women, be sure to check out our favorite Wonder Woman quotes.

9 empowering 'Captain Marvel' quotes

'My name is Carol.'

-Carol Danvers

As a quote, it seems simple, but the statement is so much more than the sum of its words. With this declaration, Carol is saying that she isn't going to believe the lies people have told her about herself anymore. She's not going to accept the box they've put her in. She's going to own her identity and her power. She does explicitly say some of those things at different points throughout Captain Marvel, but the "My name is Carol" statement perfectly embodies all of it.

'Call me 'young lady' again and I'm gonna put my foot in a place it's not supposed to be.'

-Maria Rambeau

Because Maria Rambeau deserves to be an Avenger more than any best friend character ever has before. Move over Falcon and War Machine. There's a new girl in town. Despite facing an extra terrestrial creature that she had every reason to be terrified of, Maria Rambeau's pride and self-worth remained strong enough to put him in his place. It doesn't matter what planet you're from in Maria's house. Respect is respect!

'If there are lives at stake, I'll fly the plane.'

-Carol Danvers

This Captain Marvel quote serves as proof that Carol Danvers was a hero long before she had any super powers. She's always been willing to step up to the plate for a cause that she believes in, even with everything on the line.

'You are Carol Danvers. You were the woman on that black box risking her life to do the right thing. My best friend. Who supported me as a mother and a pilot when no one else did. You were smart, and funny, and a huge pain in the ass. And you were the most powerful person I knew, way before you could shoot fire through your fists.'

-Maria Rambeau

This quote from Maria offers even more proof of all the ways that Carol Danvers is the hero we need. Not only will she throw herself on the fire when necessary, but she'll also step up in all of the smaller ways that can mean even more to people who count on you. Even when there's a lot less glory to be had.

'I've been fighting with one arm tied behind my back, but what happens when I'm finally set free?'

-Carol Danvers

This quote is Carol fully taking control of her power in Captain Marvel. She'd been held back by her circumstances and everyone around her, but when she shed all of that, she was able to achieve her full, amazing potential. There's no end to what you can accomplish when you realize that so much of what's holding you back is just in your head.

'I have nothing to prove to you.'

-Carol Danvers

This Captain Marvel quote is up there with my favorite lines in the movie. So often women feel like they have to harness their power to prove men wrong or to get some sort of vengeance, but Carol knows who she is and how much power she has. It's not for anyone else, and she doesn't have to prove it to anyone.

'This isn't about fighting wars. It's about ending them.'

-Mar-Vell

This quote is repeated several times throughout Captain Marvel and is essentially the backbone of the movie. No matter how much power anyone has, the goal should be peace and prosperity.

'Tell the Supreme Intelligence that I'm coming to end it. The war, the lies, all of it.'

-Carol Danvers

Once Carol Danvers reaches her potential, she wastes no time in making full use of it. She's not scared of anyone and she's going to do whatever it takes to make things right. That's starting with the Kree and the Supreme Intelligence that rules them, but it won't end there. Hopefully she'll fly into Avengers: Endgame with the same fervor.

'Higher, further, faster, baby.'

-Carol Danvers

She's been aiming to go higher, further, and faster than the boys right from the start, and she did not disappoint in Captain Marvel!

Related: Captain Marvel is way too powerful and I love it

What is your favorite 'Captain Marvel' quote?

Azriel Clary And Joycelyn Savage Defend "Strong Relationship" With R. Kelly

Consistencies have already sprung between Clary's reasoning for being with R. Kelly and what her parent's have told authorities. 

On Thursday (March 7), CBS This Morning aired interviews with Azriel Clary, 21, and Joycelyn Savage, 23, where they accused their parents of blackmail over their relationship with the 52-year-old singer, R. Kelly.

Speaking with co-host Gayle King, the young women expressed their content over the polyamorous relationship they have with the singer while explaining how their parents were the ones who lured them into relationships with the Kelly from the start. The interview is a mirror image of Kelly's emotional conversation with King that aired Wednesday (March 6). Clary screams and breaks down into tears several times over claims that she had sex with Kelly at the age of 17.

"I was not having sex with him when I was 17. When I first met Robert, my parents told me to lie about my age. So when I met him, he thought that I was 18," she said. "On top of that, when I was 17, my parents were making me trying to take photos with him, trying to get me to sexual videos with him. They said they if they had to blackmail him they can use it against him which is exactly what they're doing."

Clary's allegations against her parents continued, especially when it came to her aspiring music career. Despite videos and testimonies seen in the Surviving R. Kelly documentary about Clarry's dreams of musical stardom, she quickly shut them down and stated her previous suicide attempt was because of her parent's pressure to make her into a star.

"No, that's another lie. Trust me, I do not want to sing. Before I even met R. Kelly, I told my parent's I did not want to sing," she said. "My parents made singing a job for me to do. Not even that, I tried to kill myself because I didn't want to sing because this is not how I wanted to spend my life."

Medical records have shared a different story as Clarry was hospitalized following her attempt. She reportedly told a doctor she tried to take her life after a messy breakup with her boyfriend and that music was an outlet that made her happy.

In between Clary's interview, Savage sat next to her and agreed subtly by saying "Yes, definitely" when it came to their parents' behavior. Kelly was also reportedly in the room watching, despite orders for him not to be in the room when the women were speaking to King.

In the documentary, several people from Kelly's camp described Savage as the leader of Kelly's group of women he had at an Atlanta home as she was allegedly given more freedom since she "kept" the other women in line. She also accused her father of being manipulative.

The interview has only drawn up more confusion over the matter as both Clarry and Savage's parents deny receiving or trying to extort money from Kelly's camp.

See more quotes from the interview below.

__

1. On Their "Strong Relationship" With R.Kelly

Ariel Clary: We both have our individual relationships with him and we're all family, all together. We have our moments where we sit and watch movies together or go to amusement parks together.

Joycelyn Savage: We're with him in a relationship, we just said it. A very strong relationship as well.

2. The Intimate Factors Of Their Relationship

Clary: Sexually, I'm not here to talk about my personal life and I wouldn't share what I do outside the bedroom and as I woman I'm sure you would not either. It's not a different circumstance [because of abuse claims towards Kelly], there are people all over the world who have multiple girlfriends. It's no different.

3. On Their Parents Alleged Intentions To Extort Kelly for Cash

Savage: Everything that she's saying is true. Our parents are out here just to get money and are scamming because they didn't agree on what happened with music and where they could be.

4. On Clarry Lying To Kelly About Her Age

Clary: I was not having sex with him when I was 17. When I first met Robert, my parents told me to lie about my age. So when I met him, he thought that I was 18. On top of that, when I was 17, my parents were making me trying to take photos with him, trying to get me to sexual videos with him. They said they if they had to blackmail him they can use it against him which is exactly what they're doing.

Clary: My dad and my mom are sending threats to both of us. They said, 'I'll put all your naked pictures all over the world and ruin him and ruin you if he doesn't send $20,0000 to this bank account by Monday or I'm going to put everything out there and then $10,000 after that." You're trying to solicit me like I'm some ho, I'm not. I'm your child.

5. On The Allegations Of Brainwashing

Clary: I'm crying because you guys don't know the truth and believing some facade that our parents are saying. This is all f**king lies and if you can't see that, you're ignorant, ignorant stupid as f**k because you want to be. That's the world we live in. Negativity sells, rumors are what sells. We're not here to talk about decades, we're here to talk about what our parents have done.

6. On What They Want To Do With Their Lives

Clary: I'm happy just doing what I'm doing. I haven't figured out what I want to do with my life yet but when that time comes, we know Rob is going to support us regardless.

Savage: Most definitely, he's our full support and we're his. We're family.