And she’s not alone.

In fact, the Rutherford Technology High School student is a member of the majority rather than the minority.

But yesterday, Brittany’s self-esteem and distorted view of her own body image was given an overhaul during an Enlighten Education program for year 9 girls at the local high school.

As part of the program, Dannielle Miller chief executive officer of Enlighten Education – a national company that works with teenage girls in high schools on developing positive body image and self-esteem – spoke with the girls to address their concerns.

“It’s time for the princesses to awaken, and for queens to defend the castle,” she said.

And the girls listened.

“The workshop has taught us not to put ourselves down and to build ourselves up instead,” Brittany, 15, said.

“Nearly everyday I have negative thoughts about my self-image and I know most girls feel the same, but having more confidence in ourselves might go some to changing that.”

But the girls also believe that the media and fashion industry need to stand up and be accountable for the high level of body image problems across the country.

“I think magazines need to feature more plus-sized models and there needs to be bigger actresses on our screens as well. We need to see more women who eat more than a carrot, because not every girl is skinny,” Monique Kennedy, 14, said.

“It’s sad, but we do compare ourselves to singers and movie or television stars and it doesn’t help that they’re all so thin and beautiful.”

The Enlighten Education program continued last night for parents of teenage girls. But the school’s year 9 boys weren’t completely left out.

Yesterday the boys visited Maitland Gaol as part of a self-development course. As part of the course, the students were given a tour of the jail and heard from an ex-inmate about the realities of life behind bars.