I blossomed in college. That is to say, I realized my full potential in college. I realized my own intelligence, and I finally stopped internally shrinking up when I passed mirrors, and found a confident and inspiring part of me I never knew.
Now, I’ve really been blessed through my family for the environment I am immersed in, and the genetics I’ve been miraculously blessed with. I really did get the best of both worlds of my parents. I got long, thick lashes, high cheekbones, a square jaw, a great metabolism and lips that won’t quit. However, it really wasn’t until I turned nineteen that I felt as beautiful as I am.
I know so many women that still haven’t had this revelation. They think they are too heavy, or their eyes are too low, or noses too big, along with plenty of other ridiculous notions brought on by societal pressure to “perform.” Now, even with all the confidence in the world I sometimes find myself doing it: I have very knobby knees, and I have a constant fear the lip gap I was born with that makes me so unique, is really making me look stupid.
We as a movement have really started to take strides in the right direction for body positivity! We’ve made it harder to shame somebody on their choice of dress, or makeup, or physicality without them being shamed twice over through the media.
However, this year we have been exposed to a man who has taken this movement and forced it to take massive steps in the opposite direction, back to a place of misery for so many women in the United States: The words of Donald Trump.
This man has belittled women for their breast sizes, their weight, their age, and many other things. He’s called us sluts, pigs, dogs. In fact, in an interview with Esquire in May 1991 he said "You know, it really doesn't matter what they write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass. But she's got to be young and beautiful."
Young and beautiful. What a thing to be. I consider myself to be in that category, along with every woman I’ll ever meet. It’s hard, though, because you feel the judgment everywhere you go. People will tell me I “shouldn’t wear as much makeup” and that I “look sick” when I go somewhere with a clean face.
With as much opposition I get all the time about my mind and body, it’s unnerving to have such a sexist and ignorant person leading the Republican Party.
So, before I went to bed I decided to stand up for my beauty and sought to inspire more women to “embrace their face.” Let’s show Trump the true beauty of a woman, and what it means to be body positive! I am beautiful with make-up, and I am beautiful without. Every smile line, acne scar, cut or bruise, is a part of me and I love it.
No, I'm not sick. I'm not ugly. I'm not tired. So suck it, Donald Trump, you should #embracemyface.
