Paris Berelc: What Girl Power Means To Me

Girl power means a lot to me. My character Skylar Storm on Mighty Med loses her powers, but she's still a strong independent girl. Today there are a lot of strong female characters, like Black Widow, but I'm glad Skylar can be an example for a younger audience, and that they can have someone to look up to. They feel that, if Skylar can be powerful, they can too. I'm glad I can be an inspiration for younger girls.

Girl power means being a strong, independent women, but knowing when you need to ask someone for help. It's not just about doing things your own way but also knowing when, and who you can rely on. For me it means being yourself and not letting anyone tell you who you should be. It's about being a leader but also accepting and being open to other ideas.

When people say that boys are better than girls, I feel like girls need to be reminded they are powerful, too. They should see that they can do whatever a boy can do. In fact, I can be stronger than a boy.

In school, I always make sure I'm on top of everything, and I do what I can to be a good role model for kids. I have sisters, a 9-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old, and I'm always trying to help them. The oldest is in school, and when someone is giving her a hard time or she has a question about something, I do what I can to help her. I also have a lot of younger friends, and they always have a lot of questions for me and I try to help them in any way that I can.

Girls should make sure to just always be themselves. There are so many girls out there who try to be someone else because they're just afraid people won't accept them for who they are. Be yourself, don't give in to peer pressure, and always do what you think is right. Knowing your inner strength will help you overcome peer pressure. Be independent and know that you don't need anyone else to make you a better person. You don't need anyone else to tell you what you should be.

Let people accept you for who you are and not what society thinks who you should be. Be unique. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Work hard and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Nothing's impossible if you put your heart, your mind and your soul in to it.

Paris Berelc is an actress and former gymnast who plays Skylar Storm on Disney XD's Mighty Med!