Just the other day, my boyfriend had bought me an eyeshadow palette by one of my favorite artists, Anastasia Beverly Hills. While I was swatching the colors, he hesitated and finally said to me, " I wish guys can wear makeup and not be judged. Guys have things they want to cover up too!" After a brief pause, I said "You can. You know who you are and you know why you want to do certain things. You don't have to explain yourself to anyone."
I could tell that this topic upset him because often we talk about gender roles and how frustrating they can be. Girls can't do this because that's what boys do and vice versa. It wasn't until a week ago when I realized that the world is changing and these gender roles are now being demolished.
One of my favorite Beauty Instagramers came forward and released news that he now a Covergirl. However, this Covergirl is a boy! There's been a movement of teenage boys and adult men, showing their passion for makeup and showing that they do not care what other people think. I love that!
Whether it is makeup to look glamorous or to cover up things that make you feel insecure, makeup isn't just for women. For centuries, we've been forced to believe that women are supposed to be beautiful, and men are supposed to be rough and not care about how they look. Well, newsflash: men are human too, and they want to feel beautiful.
Beauty is a characteristic and an idea; when did we, as a society, begin to classify characteristics and ideas as certain genders?
James Charles is a Coverboy, deal with it.
