I know how you feel. But I don't see it as guys wanting girls 5-10 years younger...I see them wanting girls in who are around 25 or younger (even under 18, if they can get away with it), no matter how old the guy is. This isn't all guys, but I seem to see it with most guys. Not all can get girls that young, but the Internet allows them a better chance, at least online, since they can lie about their age, looks, etc. I see guys in their 60's seeking out 20-somethings. If they have money, they might get them, too!

I am not bashing men, either, and I don't want to make you feel worse than you already do, but I am talking about my experiences and what I've seen, in real life, on TV, and on the Internet.

I just watched a BBC America documentary on a website that helps women get free breast implants. I'd heard of the site a couple of years ago, but hadn't known much about it, except it lets women solicit men for money to buy breast implants. I learned a little more, but here's the part that goes towards this thread: The prettier you are, the younger (in other words, older might succeed, but you're less likely), and the more risque, the more likely you are to get the money, and more "adult" your photos, the faster you get it. One of the two male owners said any woman (any looks, any age) may put her photos up and join the site, but it's "survival of the fittest." This seems to be the general rule in society...the younger and prettier you are, the more likely you are to get benefits in life, in careers, and just in general.

On a recent episode of THE TYRA BANKS SHOW, a group of five teenage girls (the youngest was 13) admitted to "sexting," or sending sexy text messages and images. One girl said that the pretty girls don't have to do that, but the ugly or less attractive girls had to do it to get boys' attention. She said kids called her "pig-nose" since she was in the 2nd grade, but since she sent a boy her nude pic, he'd stopped doing that and was nicer to her. (I have to wonder if he's so kind about her when she's not around.) It saddens me that girls think this way, yet it's not really different than past generations. There have always been the pretty girls who knew they were hot, and then the pretty girls who didn't know and the average or less-attractive girls.

I don't have much in the way of suggestions, except to find your strengths and talents, and if you can see yourself as beautiful, don't be shy about it. That doesn't mean shoot sexual and nude pics of yourself and post them online, but accept that you're beautiful and show off your confidence. Confidence is the most important thing to beauty.