The Best in Teen Magazines

Although I am usually not eager to read my younger sister's copies of Seventeen and YM, I am always ready when Cosmo Girl comes in the mailbox. Why is this? Let me explain...

Cosmo Girl is a relatively new magazine, which is a shame, considering how helpful it would have been to me at 13 or 14. While it does feature all of the typical "teenage" topics such as fashion, boys, and beauty, Cosmo Girl seeks to send a message of empowerment to teenage girls, making them feel better about themselves. This message is not something that the magazine screams to its readers, but it is present.

In the issue I recently picked up (with Reese Witherspoon on the cover), I was pleased to see an article over becoming the girl you've always wanted to be as well as a regular "money" section, which is definitely helpful to girls at that age. I was also impressed with one of their regular features- Make It Happen- which features a woman in a certain profession, and gives tips and information on how to "make it happen" for readers themselves. Along with these things, I also noticed a unique feature- editorial-type pieces written by teens (one was on the message movies send teens about smoking, another was on the message girls' clothing gives to guys). I also was impressed with a huge write up on mentors, as well as a less subtle way of empowering girls- a full page of stars with pit stains. And I am not making that one up.

These aforementioned reasons qualify Cosmo Girl as a quality teen magazine, and yet, they still have many "teen" qualities that make it even better. First of all, their are tons of GUY related topics in Cosmo Girl, as well as stickers of celebs in every issue. Aside from this, the fashion and beauty ideas in this magazine are completely unique. There are always plenty "Do It Yourself" fashion projects to try, as well as make-up and hair ideas that I'm sure aren't in any other magazines. Aside from this, I absolutely love the room makeover section, which always has unique and interesting ideas.

I have very few problems with Cosmo Girl, but they are as follows: First of all, they still lack an even slight focus on true issues. Furthermore, in the issue that I picked up, I was kind of disgusted with a couple of features. The first was the Boy-O-Meter, a regular feature in Cosmo Girl... Yes, girls do rate guys like this in real life, but in a magazine? Come on! I know that girls would be in an uproar if guys put real teenage girls in magazines for guys to rate on different issues. Ugh. Also, I was shocked at an elaborate article giving "4 Sneaky Excuses" for various things teens do. Although I am totally aware teenagers do lie, why promote it? ( On another note, I'm sure this article has been helpful to many teenagers...)

Overall, if you have a daughter or are just a teenager yourself, I don't think that you could buy a subscription to a better teen magazine.