“I would tell the Before Me to quit being so afraid of everything and everyone.” Click on the pic to see how Angela went from a shy kid to a rockin’ mom at...

“I did not like how I looked, to the point where I for the most part banned pictures of me.” Click on the photo to find out how Nate Barlow went from banning pictures of himself to posing for...

“Here I was, this poor kid wearing hand-me-down clothes going to class with girls who had parents who made literally 10 times (or much, much more) what my mom made in a year: the children of senators, CEOs, and other economic elite.” Click on the pic to find out what happened to this scholarship kid at...

I weighed 98 pounds on the first day of 9th grade. I was so short, skinny, and flat chested that I was regularly mistaken for an eleven-year-old, even by the age of 15 or 16. From skinny minnie to fierce mama, click on the pic to read Ayana’s THEN and NOW story at...

“Follow your heart, and do not let anyone lead you down a path that feels wrong. Take your stand and do not waver.” Click on the pic to see Tamara’s transformation to pretty in orange at...

“Rather than the girl boys got crushes on, I was the girl they asked to deliver their messages to the girls they got crushes on.” Click on the pic to read the rest of Roya’s THEN and NOW story over at...

Can you believe the girl in this BEFORE picture thought she was ugly??? Click on the photo to read Monique’s THEN and NOW story over at...

Dearest Everyone, So this week’s tote bag challenge is a little different. I’m really excited to announce a big initiative that we’re starting next Monday called THEN and NOW. Basically we’re asking you to submit a picture of yourself from high school, a picture of yourself now and answer three questions. For every submission we receive, 32 CANDLES will make a donation to FFAWN, a non-profit organization that promotes good decision-making, problem-solving skills and self-esteem in young girls. So by telling us your THEN and NOW story, you’ll be doing both yourself and the women of tomorrow a boon. And here’s the really big news. Not only will we give away our usual tote bag to the winning THEN and NOW submission next week. We’ll be giving away 20 T-shirts to the first 20 people who submit!!!* So if you haven’t won a 32 CANDLES T-shirt yet, submit your THEN and NOW here sooner than later. Meanwhile check out the inaugural THEN and NOW submission by yours truly after the jump. Then: Did you consider yourself an ugly duckling in high school? I was such an ugly duckling in high school. I was awkward, could barely keep my hair together, and my mother refused to buy more than two or three new school outfits every year. I remember wanting to crawl out of my skin my first year of high school. It felt like everyone was cooler and dressed way better than me. Now: When and how did you officially “swan?” Strangely enough, I officially swanned while still in high school. My sophomore year, I joined the school’s Thespian troupe and received major roles in school plays, not because I could act, but because I “spoke well.” It was very interesting to go from...