YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN-MAKEUP MAKES YOU A PRETTY GIRL

I have always had an obsession with makeup. That obsession has gone hand in hand with the feeling that I am not attractive enough, and my love of colors. I have learned to master the art of makeup for every occasion, but never managed to look beautiful. I have looked pretty. In fact, the times I feel I look my best, my mom would comment that I didn't look good because the photo didn't really convey who I was. I never quite understood what she meant...until last week.

Last week I had the opportunity to spend three days with female immigrant rights activists from across the country. I walked into the meeting room the first day and felt immediately ugly. These women were all beautiful, they looked powerful, wise, they seemed to own who they were. I have strived all my life to look like these women, but at best managed to look pretty. As the time went by with them I noticed one commonality, they didn't wear makeup. There were Mexican women, Korean women, Chinese women, Irish women, Native American women. They were all beautiful and none wore makeup.

I then realized that the purpose of makeup is inconsistent with being beautiful. Makeup is marketed to purportedly to cover up flaws, make us better versions of us, which in essence means that if the makeup is successful, you will look like everyone else; when it does its job well, you should look flawless, but flaws are what makes us unique, and embracing and accepting them are what makes us beautiful. There is a radiance that comes across.

So now I better understand what my mom means, its not that my makeup makes me look bad, it's just that it covers up all the uniqueness that makes me me. That means that it makes me pretty, but prevents me from being beautiful.

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