When I was in second grade, I got my eyebrows waxed for the first time. If you're born into my family, you come complete with a head full of thick, long hair. Literally a head full of hair, thick eyebrows and all. By the age of 8, I had a raging unibrow and did what most of us girls do to fix that problem: painful waxing and plucking. I remember telling some girls at school about my eyebrow waxing experience (I guess I thought it was cool?) and complaining of the little sting I felt when the hair was ripped out. However, what I remember most about this whole experience was a quote a friend told me as I was telling my story. She simply said, “Beauty is pain.” And I thought to myself, huh, she is exactly right. Through the upcoming middle and high school years I always kept that quote in the back of my mind whenever it was time for another eyebrow waxing, braces, fake eyelash removal, and especially when getting my hair pulled through that dreadful cap for highlights. Beauty is pain, right? Being beautiful doesn’t just happen, it costs you, right? The beautiful girls have to always be curling and plucking and highlighting and wearing uncomfortable clothes… right?
However, I soon began to think differently.
I remember another saying I heard when I was younger that becomes more prevalent every single day. It was a quote my mom always told me whenever I couldn’t understand how certain girls could be so mean or self centered. It was something she told me when I wondered why some pretty girls I knew always had to have a rude attitude towards others. She would simply say, “Pretty is as pretty does.”
Pretty is as pretty does. I think this is what we should be preaching to all girls as they begin grow into young women. I think this is something they should learn before they begin to think, “beauty is pain.” Because beauty is not pain. It is kind. It is encouraging. It is gentle. It is empowering.
The definition of beauty goes way beyond how many boys text you and "dm" you on snapchat. The definition of beauty goes way beyond how much money you spent on a new shirt and the name of the designer on the tag. And lastly, the definition of beauty goes way beyond how many dang likes your Instagram picture gets, the followers you have, and how many comments on your page that read “omg can I be you.” I have always believed the way you make others feel speaks volumes about yourself. In a world so cold, cruel, and selfish, what we need is this kind of beauty. A beautiful face will only take you so far, but your inner beauty and demeanor is what leaves a lasting impression on others. Might I also add, a beautiful face loses very much of its beauty when accompanied by an ugly and hurtful heart. A beautiful girl is one who is humble and grateful. She is a girl who lifts others up and encourages them to reach their potential. She is someone who is confident, but never tries to make others feel inferior. She is someone who makes mistakes and takes iresponsibility. A beautiful girl is someone who is kind to everyone, no matter who they are or where they came from.
Anyone can enhance his or her physical appearance with plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. Anyone can make their pictures appeal more attractive with a filter and photoshopping. And this is all perfectly OK, but true beauty comes from one’s character. It cannot be bought, edited on an iPhone, highlighted, curled, waxed or plucked. Because beauty is not pain. It is kind. It is encouraging. It is gentle. It is empowering. And a pretty girl is one with a pretty heart to match.
