The final person I asked about beauty was a good friend of mine named Aly, who is a beautiful writer and someone that has made a huge impact on my life. I hope you enjoy reading her answers as much as I did!
What does the word “beauty” mean to you?
To me, beauty means self-confidence and self-expression. Beauty might exist in the eye of the beholder, but I find myself drawn to individuals who carry themselves with confidence and feel comfortable in the skin they wear.
What’s your first memory of understanding beauty?
When it comes to my early childhood, I don’t believe I had a whole lot of interest in beauty, which seems strange, but that’s how it was for a long time. I think it was a combination of my no-makeup-allowed private school upbringing (I mean, if they could tell you were wearing clear nail polish, they were going to be able to see a layer of concealer on your chin) and the fact that the women in my life wore very minimal makeup. In my first memory of “beauty” though, I was probably five or six years old. I was hovering around my mother as she put her makeup on. I can picture her face so clearly, and it wouldn’t be until years later that I realized it isn’t weird to have your mouth hanging open as you apply mascara—or it is, but it’s a normal response. I asked her if I would put some makeup on me. She said I was too young, but decided that a little blush would be okay. She skimmed the brush over my cheeks, and when I studied myself in the mirror I could see the splash of red over my cheekbones.Did it make me prettier? I’m sure I thought so. I don’t think I went back very often after that in her future getting-ready sessions, but it was definitely the first time I realized that makeup can change you.
What do you know about beauty now that you didn’t know when you were in your teens/early twenties? Answer: That beauty is accepting yourself as you are, not how anyone else is. That beauty is more about individual qualities than a whole person. That the struggles you go through ultimately make you more beautiful. That you will not be any happier when you are 103 pounds and starving than you are now at your current weight. That makeup, although not necessary, can be fun to play around with. That Youtube tutorials can be helpful when it comes to makeup and hairstyles. That there is no reason to fear lipstick.
What do you wish you could change about the way beauty is portrayed?
I wish that beauty existed more as a feeling than it does a noun for one’s appearance and attractiveness. I want someone’s heart, someone’s laugh, someone’s kindness to count for more. Beauty glows from the inside out, not the other way around.
If you could tell your younger self one thing about beauty, what would you say?
You are beautiful just as you are. Really. Also, applying eyeliner is just as challenging for you in the future, so don’t worry too much about it.
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