Published October 7, 2026

Change the world, you gorgeous smartypants

By Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, CEDS-C

You're smart, you're beautiful, and you matter

If no one's told you today, you should hear it from me: You're smart, you're beautiful, and you matter. I believe this about myself, but I didn't always.

Growing up girl in the 70's, I learned pretty quick I could be pretty or smart, not both. It wasn't a choice, it was determined by hair color and glasses.

Don't believe me? You're under 40. Because Generation X'ers know exactly what I mean. Our main caregiver (60's TV reruns) told us all the time: Daphne/Velma, Betty/Veronica, Wilma/Betty, Ginger/Mary Ann, Marsha/Jan, Granny/Elly May, blonde Jeannie/brunette Jeannie, Samantha Stevens/Mrs. Kravitz... need I go on? The prettier of the two was never very smart, the smarter of the two was never very hot, at least according to the sole defining metric of importance: who got the guys.

Never mind that all of these people were movie stars/cartoons so they were stunningly gorgeous or imaginary to begin with, which kind of proves the point. No matter how pretty and smart you might be, you actually WERE NOT ALLOWED to be both. There simply was no precedent for such a thing. (And lest you point to Samantha Stevens, remember yes she was gorgeous, but she had to hide her smarts so dodo Darren always seemed to save the day.)

Anyone who actually WAS pretty and smart in that era - Jane Fonda, Beverly Johnson, Gloria Steinem, Tina Turner come to mind - if we were even aware of them as young girls - usually had their intelligence discredited with some version of "they just got ahead because of their looks."

Growing up I knew which category I was in. I was smart. It was obvious, hello. My nickname was Smartypants, I won the spelling bee, science fair and math contest, the bracha bee, and (sore subject alert) I was pulled out of class for the Gifted program.

I was smart, therefore I must not be pretty. And if anyone had any doubts, I had brown hair and wore glasses, which sealed the deal.

But something happened in high school. In 80's terms, I "blossomed" (i.e. boys started paying attention) and my main tie to cultural norms (prime time television, obv) had shifted just enough that it occurred to me I might be both.

This was a possibility that had NEVER occurred to me before, and opened me up to an entire new way of thinking. I lived in a world where women didn't have to be defined by just one characteristic! (Does this sound ridiculous? Ask your mom and tell me what she says. Also ask her What's a Scooby Snack and Who Shot JR?)

Although you may not have had to overcome the smart/pretty dichotomy of my youth, I doubt there is any woman alive today who hasn't faced some kind of gender discrimination or reductionism, erasure or oppression, racist or colorist discrimination, mansplaining, or some other systemic/institutionalized/culturally accepted insult to your womanhood, appearance or intellect.

A few of the brilliant women changing the world

So today let's everyone of every gender recognize that there is an infinite number of women in this world who are both smart and beautiful, sharing their smarts and beauty to improve the world. Here are just a few of the opportunities they offer to all of us:

Blake Bittle and Isabelle Carren-Lesauter have created a course called ADHD-Affirming Approaches to Eating Disorder Care

Marci Evans and Lauren Dear put their brilliant and beautiful brains together for A Case Based Workshop for Digestive and Eating Disorders.

Tamie Gangloff created this card that patients (with or without chronic pain or illness) can hand to their medical team to basically say HANDS OFF!! unless needed and if so, touch GENTLY! but in much nicer words. Share this Hands Free Assessment Patient Advocacy Tool with anyone who wants to be told before they are touched (and isn't that everyone?).

Colleen Sloan, a PA who is ALSO an RD - i.e. beautiful and doubly smart! - and I discussed what we wish every medical provider would know and do about eating disorders on her podcast Exam Room Nutrition in Think You Can Spot an Eating Disorder

You know when I'm podcasting I can be unfiltered and uncensored, and speaking with Laura and Shannon was no exception. These beautiful, smart women and I covered menopause and body image in Part 1 and Lookmaxxing and Social Media in Part 2 of Eat Kale and Cupcakes.

If you have a beautiful, smart, young adult woman in your life who might want to hear about eating issues from someone who's not you, this Health Class She Deserves might be a good fit.

Complex Considerations in Eating Disorder Care

The Alaska Eating Disorder Alliance - a whole organization of gorgeous, brilliant women that has embraced me as an honorary member - continues to bring the world amazing education at no charge. Their latest offering is an online series called Complex Considerations in Eating Disorder Care that includes:

Exploring the Relationship Between Food Insecurity and Eating Disorder Pathology - 10/08/2026

Rethinking Eating Disorder Treatment Through a Neurodiversity Lens - 10/22/2026

Clinical Considerations for Eating Disorder Treatment During Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Lactation - 10/29/2026

We're all here together

As women and our allies of all genders continue to battle the external and internalized limitations on ourselves, let's also continue to raise up our sisters in both good and bad times, knowing that ultimately we are all continuously linked, around the world, forward and backward in time. Because although we shouldn't have to fight for our bodily autonomy, physical safety, or respectful medical care, we do, and I'm ever thankful that we're all here together.

Keep taking care of yourself and each other,

Jessica