Despite a growing body of evidence which touts sun exposure as the leading cause of skin cancer, tan skin continues to reign over pale skin in modern society's endless beauty contest. As one of many frustrated young girls, I struggled as hard as possible against my genetics in hopes of obtaining the elusive tan.

Unfortunately for me, my bright green eyes and alabaster-white skin have always prevented me from achieving my gleaming goal. One year, I got extremely close. I went to the beach every few days or so, and laid out on my towel so that the suns rays would melt into my skin and make me the color of pretty. On my off days, I would lay in my backyard. Several burns later, I was a light beige.

Even though I was still quite fair, I became hungry for more. I tried tanning salons, airbrush tans, and I wore a lot of white so it just might contrast with my new color. Eventually, my barely-there color faded, and I was left with freckles, moles, and sun spots, and both of my grandfathers were diagnosed with skin cancer. I decided at last that a tan was not for me.

For a while I struggled with my milky hue, until I realized that my skin was gorgeous. It's soft. It gleams in the sun and in the moonlight. It can tantalize others and can also be tantalized.  ******UNFINISHED******