This past Sunday we got to witness the MTV Video Music Awards show for the 34th year in a row. And, as usual, our favorite celebs stunned with gorgeous looks and performances. However, this year one star in particular showed up and did something that many people are calling "brave" and "inspiring". Of course I'm talking about Alicia Keys, who showed up wearing a gorgeous dress and no makeup. This is nothing new for Alicia, who has been at the forefront of a #NoMakeup movement all summer, refusing to wear it not just at home but on The Voice, where she is a judge. She arrived at the VMA's looking absolutely stunning, clear skin and glowing, yet people still took issue with it. People took issue with a celebrity being comfortable with her own natural beauty and showing up, to what is more or less a red carpet event, barefaced. The ones who did not see this as an affront to all of humanity instead praised Alicia for her bravery, calling her an inspiration, a hero for having the balls to not wear makeup in public. And with all due respect to Miss Keys, I disagree completely. Not wearing makeup does not make you a hero, I don't care who you are. What it does make you, is a normal human being. The whole idea of needing to be brave to go makeup free just perpetuates the notion that women can only look good in makeup. You see it all the time in magazines and on gossip websites, or even just walking down the street. I can't tell you how many people have told me that I look tired or sick when I just wasn't wearing any makeup. And I know this isn't just me; most people don't even know what no makeup means anymore because of magazines who perpetuate the "no makeup look." This is, of course, when someone is wearing makeup to look like they are not in fact wearing makeup.

Take Taylor here for example. Taylor gives the appearance of not wearing makeup. Except that she's wearing foundation, brow filler, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, concealer, you get the picture... Pretty much the opposite of no makeup. People look at this and actually think that is what other people, celebrities, look like with no makeup on. So when celebrities and regular women go out in public actually barefaced, people are understandably confused and that's when they get accused of not sleeping or being sick, anything other than just not wearing any makeup. It is the most ridiculous thing, and it needs to end. Please do not misunderstand, I have no issue with people wearing makeup, honestly you do you. I don't really care. What I take issue with is people acting like not wearing makeup makes you "brave". Because it honestly does not, it just makes you a normal person.