My eleven-year-old sister is obsessed with you. She’s no longer playing dress-up, cartoons are overrated even for her, and she listens to the same music as me. For her eleventh birthday she received a Kylie Jenner lip kit. I can hear 'Black Beatles' and Ariana Grande's 'Side by Side' echoing from her bedroom. She has jumped on the choker bandwagon and is looking at Adidas bomber jackets for Christmas.
If you are a YouTube make-up celeb, or you have some form of a channel or live broadcast, I want you to know that among those millions watching are pre-teen girls. You are their idol. I know you may feel beautiful with your contour and highlighter but I would really appreciate it if you are also in those videos, demonstrating self-love.
My sister is eleven. She has big chocolate brown eyes that are ready for adventure and short light brown hair that she's constantly trying to grow out. She recently has some leftover strands of blonde highlights in her hair; no doubt a fad influenced by one of you beauty gurus. Her skin is light and her freckles are beginning to spill over her nose and onto her cheeks; the most precious of all.
To you YouTubers that specialize certain “episodes” with kids’ make-up, please do specific examples of what ages should be playing with what make-up. I don’t want my baby sister to have those freckles covered up by her twelfth birthday. I don’t want her to be ashamed that the top of her cheekbones are not highlighted with sparkles or that her cheeks aren’t bronze enough without contour. I want her to embrace her inner beauty. She was my little tomboy and although it is hard for me to let her grow up, I am fearful and worrisome of what the media perceives this little girl to look like.
I want her to be eleven and not have to think she needs to look like a 16-year-old. What the media should perceive her to be is comfortable in her own skin. So, for you beauty gurus and make-up experts can you please show my beautiful baby sitter who idolizes you, that she doesn’t need the contour and the highlight. Show her how to use it minimally while still looking like her and remaining herself.
Although your dramatizing highlight challenges and dark shades look gorgeous, you entertain this little girl and she wants to imitate you. Take some time to show your fans that they are beautiful with or without the eyebrow pencil. Show those younger followers of yours out there that they should embrace their inner beauty without thinking they need to look a specific way.
She’s growing up fast; I know I cannot change this. I just want her role models to be positive ones. I can’t be home all the time to watch her continue to grow, but you are at the fingertips of her Ipad and laptop, please take good care of her self-confidence.
Sincerely,
An overly concerned big sister
