--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know what it's like to look in the…" description: "\"I know what it's like to look in the mirror and absolutely hate what's looking back at you, and to pick up a fashion magazine and think, why can't I lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg" --- # I know what it's like to look in the mirror and absolutely… ![“I know what it's like to look in the mirror and absolutely hate what's looking back at you, and to pick up a fashion magazine and think, why can't I look like that?” quote by Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg) > “I know what it's like to look in the mirror and absolutely hate what's looking back at you, and to pick up a fashion magazine and think, why can't I look like that?” [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑image struggles arise from comparing oneself to idealized media standards. **In simple terms:** Mirror hate stems from unrealistic media images. Key Takeaway Practice self‑acceptance and limit harmful comparisons. Themes body image self‑esteem media influence Mood empathetic encouraging Type advice reflective When to use this quote - personal grooming - social media use - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology fashion cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - What steps help improve self‑image? - How can media be used responsibly? A Different Perspective Media can also inspire positive change; individual resilience varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutely Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-hate-382734/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-looking-388058/) [Look Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-mirror/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Absolutely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-absolutely-4948785/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [I used to look in the mirror and feel shame, I look in the mirror now and I absolutely love myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-used-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-feel-shame-i-look-in-the-mirror-now/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [I hate looking backward, but every once in a while it sneaks up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-lancaster/i-hate-looking-backward-but-every-once-in-a-while-it-sneaks-up-on-you/) [Burt Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-lancaster/) > [I couldn't care less what anyone thinks about me. When I look in the mirror and see what's looking back at me, I'm incredibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-barrett/i-couldn-t-care-less-what-anyone-thinks-about-me-when-i-look-in-the/) [Wade Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-barrett/) > [I really hate looking back. think it's useless. The only way is forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyan-slat/i-really-hate-looking-back-think-it-s-useless-the-only-way-is-forward/) [Boyan Slat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyan-slat/) > [I used to hate looking in the mirror. I've grown up into myself and now I'm happy with the way I look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-used-to-hate-looking-in-the-mirror-i-ve-grown-up-into-myself-and/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [It was so hard to watch myself back because whatever movie I do, I never look at the monitor. I hate looking at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odeya-rush/it-was-so-hard-to-watch-myself-back-because-whatever-movie-i-do-i/) [Odeya Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odeya-rush/) > [I hate how I'm looking at someone.s page (Not stalkingXD) and I accidently click the unsubscribe button.-.- and then I press it again and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/i-hate-how-i-m-looking-at-someone-s-page-not-stalkingxd-and-i/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [I'm surrounded by young and beautiful people. I hate looking at ugliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/i-m-surrounded-by-young-and-beautiful-people-i-hate-looking-at/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [Yep I so hate looking in the mirror at myself~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yep-i-so-hate-looking-in-the-mirror-at-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate looking in the mirror..its never what I want to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-looking-in-the-mirror-its-never-what-i-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate it when I'm looking at his eyes and I can't lie . :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheng-faltiquera/i-hate-it-when-i-m-looking-at-his-eyes-and-i-can-t-lie-d/) [Sheng Faltiquera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheng-faltiquera/) > [I don't like myself. I'm not vain at all. I hate looking at myself - I always think I look ugly. Honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/i-don-t-like-myself-i-m-not-vain-at-all-i-hate-looking-at-myself-i/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I don't objectify myself. I hate looking at pictures of myself, they're usually awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-astbury/i-don-t-objectify-myself-i-hate-looking-at-pictures-of-myself-they-re/) [Ian Astbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-astbury/) > [I hate politics. Absolutely hate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-rosen/i-hate-politics-absolutely-hate-them/) [Josh Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-rosen/) > [I absolutely hate arrogant people, irks me to no end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-absolutely-hate-arrogant-people-irks-me-to-no-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Gok Wan > [I hate being on my own, I rely on my friends and my family and my job to keep me occupied and to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-hate-being-on-my-own-i-rely-on-my-friends-and-my-family-and-my-job/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [Everyone has something about themselves they hate. I once worked with one of the most beautiful women in the world and she absolutely hated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/everyone-has-something-about-themselves-they-hate-i-once-worked-with/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [People assume I must have this fantastic body that I'm dying to show off but the truth is I have body issues - just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/people-assume-i-must-have-this-fantastic-body-that-i-m-dying-to-show/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I've always thought I'd have kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-ve-always-thought-i-d-have-kids/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I love tracksuits because they're so comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-love-tracksuits-because-they-re-so-comfortable/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [If I could wear sport-luxe all the time, I would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/if-i-could-wear-sport-luxe-all-the-time-i-would/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [You get the real me on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/you-get-the-real-me-on-tv/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I became the nation's sweetheart because I'm a safe gay. I'm non-intrusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-became-the-nation-s-sweetheart-because-i-m-a-safe-gay-i-m-non/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [You have to stop registering size with negativity. The biggest body can be absolutely beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/you-have-to-stop-registering-size-with-negativity-the-biggest-body/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I joke that I came out of my mother with chopsticks in my hands. But one of my earliest memories is of my dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-joke-that-i-came-out-of-my-mother-with-chopsticks-in-my-hands-but/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I dropped out of my drama course at university after a year and just floated from rubbish job to rubbish job, with no self-esteem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-dropped-out-of-my-drama-course-at-university-after-a-year-and-just/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [My dad taught us all a very strong work ethic so I'm constantly thinking, 'When is this going to end? When am I going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/my-dad-taught-us-all-a-very-strong-work-ethic-so-i-m-constantly/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I learned all my life skills working in a restaurant. How to have a relationship, manage, develop a brand, dress people, make people confident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-learned-all-my-life-skills-working-in-a-restaurant-how-to-have-a/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [I get very, very jealous if I see people who are dressed better than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-get-very-very-jealous-if-i-see-people-who-are-dressed-better-than-me/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) > [With my family, all they have to do is look at me and they know what's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/with-my-family-all-they-have-to-do-is-look-at-me-and-they-know-what-s/) [Gok Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) [Explore all 99 Gok Wan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/) ## More Fashion quotes > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Never in a million years would I imagine Calvin Klein flying me out to my first men's fashion show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dallas/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-imagine-calvin-klein-flying-me-out/) [Cameron Dallas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dallas/) > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [No one knows whom the shoe pinches - no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-aleichem/no-one-knows-whom-the-shoe-pinches-no-one/) [Sholom Aleichem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-aleichem/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [I have always been too round to do fashion shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/i-have-always-been-too-round-to-do-fashion-shows/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) [Browse all 19,830 Fashion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know what it's like to look in the mirror and absolutely hate what's looking back at you, and to pick up a fashion magazine and think, why can't I look like that?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gok Wan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-absolutely-hate-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fashion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-absolutely-hate-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab9/gok-wan-6346_fashion_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mir_3030674.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know what it's like to look in the mirror and absolutely hate what's looking back at you, and to pick up a…” — Gok Wan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gok Wan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gok-wan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know what it's like to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-absolutely-hate-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gok-wan/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-absolutely-hate-what/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```