Everyone had their own insecurities growing up – ears that stuck out a little too much, hairy limbs, a high forehead, etc. In our superficial media-saturated world, it’s hard to ignore the airbrushed cover girls, the gorgeous social media influencers and the perfectly proportioned models. It’s painful to admit, but looks do sell. We’ve heard and read of multiple studies that conclude that people who are more attractive are more likely to get hired, promoted, and enjoy more benefits than others. Life is unfair, isn’t it?
But in recent years, some celebrities and artists have started preaching about self-love. Yeah, it is easy to talk about loving yourself when you are already seen as beautiful but we must also remember that these are the people who have personally been subjected to photo editing and criticisms to uphold such beauty standards.
When speaking about embracing insecurities, one will certainly think of Winnie Harlow (aka Chantelle Brown-Young), the Canadian that shot to top model status after being scouted on Instagram to compete in Cycle 21 of America’s Next Top Model. She became the face of Desigual and Diesel, despite having vitiligo (the same condition that Michael Jackson had). Diagnosed at 4, the skin condition caused Harlow to lose pigmentation in her skin, leaving white patches all over her body.
Strutting down runways, gracing magazine covers, and becoming the face of large brands, companies fawn over her spirit and attitude. Once bullied and even “moo-ed” at when she was young, Harlow has taken on the role of spreading awareness of vitiligo and has shared about learning to embrace the “imperfections” that have made her a truly unique and beautiful model.
Up-and-coming model, Salem Mitchell, is another example of “flaws” becoming beauty features. The 19-year-old, uploaded selfies posing with bananas, laughing at the people who once bullied and made fun of her freckles – the feature that helped her get signed to top modelling agencies like Ford Models, LA Models and New York Model Management.
people making fun of my banana freckles turned into a modeling career, thanks if you've ever said anything good or bad it worked in my favor pic.twitter.com/N1z2BdaXWG
— salem (@salemmitchell) February 3, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaZyTogFCjA/?hl=en&taken-by=salemmitchell
Pop culture has also embraced freckles, with many celebrities and online influencers drawing on “fake freckles” for a more natural look. Some even go as far as micro-blading and tattooing some freckles on! (I actually see a contradiction in embracing natural beauty and trying to create a beauty that seems natural, but that’s for another day.) Beauty marks have become features that make one unique and quirky, and are finally seeing the light of day rather than being covered with multiple layers of foundation and concealer. Coupled with the rise of makeup brands, like Glossier and Milk, that advocate subtle makeup looks, perhaps we would see the freckles that our friends have been hiding from us all this while.
Some artists have also stepped forward to create pieces that showcase beauty within our very own flaws.
For example, Pakistani artist, Sara Shakeel creates abstract and hypnotic art pieces by transforming photos using glitter, rainbow and holographic overlays. Her most raved about series was GlitterMarks – an Instagram series which featured photos with glitter-covered stretch marks.
The photos (which include photos contributed by her Instagram followers) highlight and glorify the marks that are a result of one’s changing and developing body. Instead of hiding them, Shakeel turns them into beautiful, sparkly, and bright patterns that hug the curves and contours of our beautiful bodies.
At the end of the day, these are our bodies and no one can take better care of it than ourselves. Of course, beauty standards change over time but we will only truly be happy with our bodies if we embrace our unique features. Like Harlow said in an interview, “you can’t let someone else lower your self-esteem because that’s what it is—self-esteem, you need to first love yourself before you have anybody else love you.”
Header image: Winnie Harlow
