Having a cleft can be a wild emotional roller coaster - you can feel angry, isolated and confused one day, then empowered and confident the next.
Here are my top 10 cleft anthems for getting through the pain and feeling good in your own skin.
1. ‘Pretty Hurts’ - Beyoncé
Pretty hurts We shine the light on whatever's worst Perfection is a disease of a nation Pretty hurts
Pretty hurts We shine the light on whatever's worst We try to fix something, but you can't fix what you can't see It's the soul that needs the surgery
Ain't got no doctor or pill that can take the pain away The pain's inside and nobody frees you from your body It's the soul, it's the soul that needs surgery Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far Then you break when the fake façade leaves you in the dark You left with shattered mirrors and the shards of a beautiful girl ... When you're alone all by yourself And you're lying in your bed Reflection stares right into you Are you happy with yourself? You stripped away the masquerade The illusion has been shed Are you happy with yourself? Are you happy with yourself? Yes
2. ‘Unpretty’ - TLC
You can buy your hair if it won't grow You can fix your nose if he says so You can buy all the make-up that Mac can make But if you can't look inside you Find out who am I too Be in the position to make me Feel so damn unpretty
3. ‘Thursday’ - Jess Glynne
I won't wear makeup on Thursday I'm sick of covering up I'm tired of feeling so broken I'm tired of falling in love Sometimes I'm shy and I'm anxious Sometimes I'm down on my knees Sometimes I try to embrace all my insecurities So I won't wear makeup on Thursday 'Cause who I am is enough
And there are many things that I could change so slightly But why would I succumb to something so unlike me? I was always taught to just be myself Don't change for anyone
I wanna laugh, I don't wanna cry Don't want these tears inside my eyes, yeah Don't wanna wake up and feel insecure I wanna sing, I wanna dance I wanna feel love inside my hands again I just wanna feel beautiful
4. ‘Ugly’ - The Sugarbabes
When I was seven They said I was strange I noticed that my eyes and hair weren't the same I asked my parents if I was OK They said you're more beautiful And that's the way they show they wish They had your smile So my confidence was up for a while I got real comfortable with my own style I knew that they were only jealous 'cause
People are all the same And we only get judged by what we do My personality reflects me And if I'm ugly then So are you
5. ‘Beautiful’ - Christina Aguilera
Everyday is so wonderful Then suddenly It's hard to breathe Now and then I get insecure From all the pain I'm so ashamed
I am beautiful No matter what they say Words can't bring me down I am beautiful In every single way Yes words can't bring me down Oh no So don't you bring me down today
6. ‘Firework’ - Katy Perry
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag Drifting thought the wind Wanting to start again Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards One blow from caving in Do you ever feel already buried deep Six feet under scream But no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there's still a chance for you 'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July
'Cause baby you're a firework Come on show 'em what your worth Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" As you shoot across the sky Baby you're a firework Come on let your colours burst Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" You're gonna leave 'em fallin' down down down
You don't have to feel like a waste of space You're original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow
7. ‘Love Myself’ - Hailee Steinfeld
Gonna love myself, no, I don't need anybody else
8. ‘Man in the Mirror’ - Michael Jackson
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
9. ‘Born This Way’ - Lady Gaga
I'm beautiful in my way 'Cause God makes no mistakes I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way Don't hide yourself in regret Just love yourself and you're set I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way
... Whether life's disabilities Left you outcast, bullied, or teased Rejoice and love yourself today 'Cause baby you were born this way
10. ‘This is Me’ - The Greatest Showman
I am not a stranger to the dark Hide away, they say 'Cause we don't want your broken parts I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars Run away, they say No one'll love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust I know that there's a place for us For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out I am brave, I am bruised I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come And I'm marching on to the beat I drum I'm not scared to be seen I make no apologies, this is me
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