Does appearance matter? And why do we judge others based on appearance? We’ve teamed up with Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe to create a series of six short animated films for children. We want to help young people everywhere build confidence and self-esteem so they can embrace their authentic selves, make lasting friendships and celebrate uniqueness. So, this episode helps young people understand the importance of appreciating who they are beyond their appearance.
We’ve teamed up with Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe – an award-winning show that follows the Crystal Gems and their half-human, half-Gem “little brother”, Steven. Each Crystal Gem is unique – and it’s their individuality that gives them their power, showing young people that being unapologetically themselves is beautiful. Every Dove Self-Esteem Project x Steven Universe episode covers important topics that will help build self esteem and show children why appearance is not so important. So, if a young person you know is struggling with their body, start a conversation with them, explain the value of their inner qualities and let them know that their uniqueness is what’s truly special.
Working with experts from the fields of psychology, health and media, we’ve developed a range of resources to help guide parents, teachers and mentors in building self-esteem. So if your children are struggling with questions like ‘why is personality important?’ and ‘how to feel good in your body’, our resources will be there to help you support them, every step of the way.
Steven Universe
Find out more about each episode of our partnership with Steven Universe

Teasing and bullying
How can words make us feel? Amethyst and Jasper learn how to talk about bullying.

Competing and comparing looks
What is body image? Smoky Quartz and Sardonyx discover how unique they are.

Media and celebrities
Why do some images in the media make us doubt our own appearance? Peridot explains why we shouldn’t let everything we see affect our self-esteem.

Body talk
How does it make other people feel when we comment on their appearance? Pearl and Bismuth show us how important it is to place value on our personalities and skills rather than how we look.

Social media
Why do we worry about what we look like on social media? Stevonnie explains how we can build a positive space, support each other and be our most authentic selves online.

Body functionality
What incredible human abilities do we have? Garnet, Opal, and Stevonnie teach us how to celebrate and appreciate our amazing bodies – inside and out.