For Vanessa Kristensen, nothing is more important than a smile.
“Studies show that a healthy smile is the best way to increase self esteem,” Kristensen said. “Your mental health really dictates your physical health.”
After an internship at the University of Oregon Health Center her sophomore year, Kristensen was inspired to create “All Sizes Fit” to attack unhealthy eating behaviors at their root.

“A lot of what’s out there in society is competition with your looks — you’re constantly judging yourself based on other people’s appearance,” she said. “(All Sizes Fit) has kind of enveloped my life and changed the way people think of themselves for the better.”
Kristensen has always seen herself going into the medical field, however, it wasn’t until college that she realized the direct correlation between dental hygiene and her personal passion for inspiring self esteem.
“Dentistry is able to give me that avenue that I’m looking for to create (disease) prevention, access to public health and self confidence,” Kristensen said.
As a direct result of her participation in “All Sizes Fit,” Kristensen has also been inducted into the Mortar Board National College Senior Honors Society, the UO Friars Club for outstanding activists, won a “Do Something” award for social activism and was nominated to appear on the PBS show “Makers: Women Who Make America.”
Jessica Wilson, a nutritionist who worked with Kristensen at the UO Health Center, is inspired by the dedication Kristensen has shown in promoting a healthy mindset about body image.
“I think that Vanessa has got a very large and great vision for helping people feel better inside their own bodies. I think that she is very dedicated to her desire to improve everybodys body image, not just specifically women,” Wilson said. “I definitely think that Vanessa has the ability and capacity to change peopes lives in the future. I see her doing nothing but that.”
After graduating in the spring, 23-year-old Kristensen has plans to begin working at an orthodontic office and serving as a volunteer at oral hygiene clinics for under served populations, with the eventual goal of opening a public practice dental nonprofit.
In the end, Kristensen just wants to help promote the healthy smiles that lead to healthy lives.
“When people are self confident they can just carry themselves better. You have an overall better health status when you feel good about yourself,” she said.
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