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30 November 2009
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Friend Chat

Friends helping friends

Friends, eh? They can be flippin hard work. You keep emailing us about them, so we're putting as many of your questions as we can up here >>>

My friend smells. How do I tell her?

A boy wrinkling up his nose

My friend's got B.O. What should I do? All the boys are picking on her.

I am her best mate and everyone's telling me to tell her about her B.O.

A Slink fan, 15

Slink Trev's mate Claire says:


A pink flower smelling nice

You need to speak to your friend. It's better coming from you than someone who is going to be horrible about it.

I don't know about you, but I would hate to be 'that girl with BO problems' that everyone is making fun of. So however hard it is to speak to her, you've got to help her.

Choose a moment when you're alone and both comfortable. Try and tell her in a way that will hurt her feelings the least.

If it was me, I would gently tell her that the deodorant she uses isn't doing her any favours, and that she should get a better one. And then if she questions why you said that, be truthful.

Tell her that you've heard some people commenting on her body odour, which is horrible of them, but as her best mate you wanted to let her know because you care about her.

Tell her it's worth doing something about it now before the comments escalate and turn nastier.

Good luck!

Claire x

Your thoughts:


Some perfume

I had this problem too.

I thought about it long and hard and tried all sorts of weird things like spraying myself with body spray right next to her... but in the end, I just told her.

It's the easiest way, honestly :)

Sarah, 16

Next week's question:

Me and one of my best friends got into trouble at school, and I mean really big trouble.

She blamed it all on me even though it was her idea and I was so close to getting expelled.

I got after school detention every day of the week for 2 weeks and she didn't even got 1 day of detention.

What shall I do? Shall I ditch her and not be her friend anymore??

Please help!!!!

Chloe, 12


Please remember: Our friend chat doesn't come from qualified experts, just our friends, and may not be right for you.

Previous letters (some answered by Louise Rennison and Grace Dent):
My friends can be weird
Teased for being a tomboy.
I'm moving to a new country.
My mate won't move on
My mum won't let me see my mates.
Are we growing apart?
Why am I the only one giving presents?
I'm really shy and can't talk to anyone
She can't stop bragging and lying
Torn between groups
My mate embarrasses me
Is the boy I like using me?
I'm so different to my friends
Mum thinks my friend is a bad influence
My friend made me smoke
Can't say goodbye
Does he still like me?
Starting senior school and worried about making friends
Worried about my friends taking drugs
Public speaking makes me go jelloid - help!
I always feel like an outsider
We both liked the same lad, now she's going out with him
Does he LIKE like me, or are we just friends?
I'm lonely at school, how can I make friends?
My best mate fancies me - how do I let him down gently?
Worried that my friend will start smoking
How can I make friends after I move to a new school?
She's copying my friend's coursework
She blamed it all on me
My friend smells. How do I tell her?
Drifting apart in a new school
My friend embarrasses me for no reason
All my mates have boyfs except me
Told everyone my secret
Left out of the group
Paranoid about my best mate
She's being mean behind my back
My friend's always round my house
I've fallen out with my best mate and hanging out with a girl I don't like
Ditched by my bestie
My mate's ex - can I date him?
Can I date and keep my mates?
Should I ditch my boyf 'cos my best mate fancies him?
My friends don't include me
I'm worried about my friend's stealing
My friend keeps ignoring me
We both fancy the same lad
Where should I go for a first date?
My mate doesn't like my crush
My friend's ignoring me
My lad's a player, but I still fancy him
My mum's too overprotective
I'm stuck in the middle between two friends
Do I go the distance?
I want to date my mate
My best friends are making me bunk
In love with my best friend
Teased about my boyfriend's height
This weird girl keeps following me
How do you balance friends with boyfriends?
My friend is always putting me down
My mate thinks it's all about her
I really like my ex but he's asked my best mate
My best mate keeps flirting with my boyfriend
My mates are hanging out with my ex
Should I go out with my mates brother?
My friend's making me choose between her and my boy
My friend treats me really badly
I've got no boy mates
I left my friends for my boyfriend
All my friends have got boyfriends
I'm being bullied
I'm torn between friendship groups
My best friend and I are a year apart
My best friend has diabetes
They hate me snogging my bf
My best mate thinks I've changed
My two best mates are jealous of each other
My group are splitting up

Friendship stuff
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CONFIDENTIALITY: All emails will be treated in the strictest confidence. We recommend that you do not use your real name when mailing us. We reserve the right to edit submissions. We regret that we cannot answer all the mails we receive.



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