In “The Michelle I Know” by Alison Lohans, the theme is that true beauty and strength come from within rather than from physical appearance. First, through characterization, Michelle’s insecurity about her illness and hair loss shows how much she ties her worth to her looks and says how she is ugly compared to Vanessa, which reveals her fear that she is no longer attractive and lovable. This connects to the theme because it shows her struggle to see her value beyond appearance. Next, imagery and