On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your looks? If given the chance to change your looks, what would you change?
Recently, I watched Eva DeVirgilis TEDxRVAWomen talk’s on her perspective on beauty from a makeup artist point of view here, and there was something that she said which strike me, that, every woman is bothered by certain imperfections. Whether it is the small Asian eyes, hook nose, acne scars, tummy fats, legs without a thigh gap, or anything else, there were just imperfections that they apologize for.
For me, I was never happy with my bunny teeth, (super) dark eye circles/bags, small chest, and recently those tiny freckles that started appearing on my cheeks. I also wished I would have more prominent double eyelid, a smaller and photogenic face shape and hair that don’t grow out to be curly.
Yet, to be honest, I have never thought of these issues to be big enough for me to want to fix them. I had braces on for a while and that’s about it that I do to have straighter and neater teeth. I’m not saying that I would say no to aesthetic treatments, invasive or non-invasive, but there’s no great pushing factor for me to surgically enhance how I look at this moment. Simply because, I didn’t see anything wrong with how I look and how I am.
This security and love for myself frankly only came two years ago during a beauty pageant that I was in. At that time, I was told I was not skinny enough (because I wasn’t size zero), not tall enough (because I fall short of 1.70m) and I had an ugly gummy smile. It bothered me a bit then, but I also realized I had a great personality that I should be proud of and no one can make you feel bad unless you allow him or her to.
Some of the girls I’ve met (although not all) are so proud of the number of gifts different guys bought them, or how big their surgically enhanced nose or boobs are, and how always how great their figures are. To be honest, beneath these fronts, I saw insecurity from their eyes and speech and I don’t blame them. With the proliferation of media images, the idea of beauty seems to be thwarted. Even my own daddy doesn’t think I am beautiful.
The only reason I feel great about myself – is because I readily embrace my imperfections and I hope you can too. Always always, just be yourself.
With love,
Jacelyn