Senior Britta Delafield started tanning her freshman year and now tans three to four times a week.

“I don’t like being pasty in winter,” Delafield said.

Delafield doesn’t just go to tan, it is a form of relaxation for her as well. To her, looks are not that important.

Delafield is also aware of the risks and dangers of tanning. When presented with some other facts Delafield explained it makes her second guess, but she’s still going to tan.

“It’s like smoking cigarettes,” Delafield said, “Everyone knows the effects but they still do it anyways.”

Senior Taylor Grimm had a very similar outlook. Grimm feels better being tan and just started to tan for prom.

“I’m not saying you don’t look pretty if you’re not tan,” Grimm said, “I just feel better when I’m tan.”

Both Delafield and Grimm stated looks are not that important but they still go tanning. Junior Keeley Garrett, however, would never go tanning even though it’s glorified to make people beautiful.

“For one I don’t like how the media thinks everyone should be tan,” Garrett said, “If someone doesn’t love you because you’re pale that’s ridiculous.”

Garrett understands the dangers of tanning and it has affected her family as well. Garrett has three cousins that are 15 and one cousin who is 16 and they all got skin cancer from tanning.

According to www.medi-smart.com on an average day in the United States, more than one million people tan in tanning salons and nearly 70 percent are teenage girls and young women. Why has tanning’s popularity increased? Two words. Good looks.