Beauty is Beauty Beauty is is original original
Have you ever noticed how people gravitate towards those who are unapologetically themselves? Not only does confidence attract people like moths to a flame, but it’s also a trait that’ll take you far in life.
it took me a long time to fall in love with my skin tone, having grown up in a household where I was the only brown-skinned girl. I used to relax my hair because wearing it long and silky made me feel beautiful. I aspired to an ideal based on images I’d seen in the media and went to great lengths to live up to these impossible standards, as did many other women around the world. Women still grapple with the idea of beauty. The skin-lightening industry continues to grow, satisfying our pursuit of fairer skin. We relax our hair, straighten it and use keratin treatments because we believe we’ll be able to manage it more easily if it’s not kinky. But the crowning of Zozibini Tunzi as Miss Universe is set to change all that. She represents a generation of women who refuse to conform to societal norms. It reminds me of a quote from Marianne Williamson’s poem Our Deepest Fear: ‘And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.’ Her words have never been truer than in this era of representation and inclusivity. You’ll also notice that most of the women who’ve earned themselves a seat at the table have done so authentically. In 2019, brands cottoned on to this. Dove launched its Project #Showus campaign in collaboration with Getty Images and Girlgaze, to shatter unrealistic beauty ideals and promote authentic representation. The project challenges the media and advertising industries to show women as
they are and has garnered support from women all over the world. There’s also been a shift in the makeup industry. Girls with darker skin tones can choose from a wider variety of concealers and foundations, thanks to makeup brands such as Black Opal, MAC and Black Up.
Influencer marketing has given women like Thick Leeyonce a platform to champion the body positivity movement, and challenge the perception that only women of a certain size should be considered sexy or appealing. A growing number of women are shifting away from tradition and gravitating towards being true to themselves. I had to cut my hair because my scalp couldn’t handle any more chemicals, but the natural-hair movement gave me the confidence to leave it that way. Nationwide events that celebrate
“The crowning of zozibini as miss universe is set to change all that”
natural hair such as Clicks Curls, have helped to elevate the conversation about hair care for women of colour. Clicks have an aisle dedicated to natural-hair products, with leading brands such as Carol’s Daughter, Afrobotanics, Cantu, As I Am, and Afri True on the shelves. Musician and businesswoman Nandi Madida has also played an instrumental role in the natural-hair movement by delivering a consistent message, wearing her natural hair with pride. She makes it seem so cool and plays with different colours. Who said a black girl can’t have fun with colour and look beautiful at the same time? Musician Sho Madjozi infuses her heritage into her music, and her colourful braids started a movement. Kids copied her hairstyle over the festive season, asking stylists for ‘Sho Madjozi’ braids. Her Tsonga lyrics have captured the attention of a global audience and earned her two international awards. Seeing black girls sprinkle magic everywhere has given me the confidence to navigate life unapologetically, just like international filmmaker and actress Lupita Nyong’o, who admitted to Glamour US that she didn’t always feel beautiful growing up. She said the trajectory of her life changed after she saw the critically acclaimed film, The Color Purple. “Until I saw people who looked like me doing the things I wanted to do, I wasn’t sure it was a possibility. Seeing Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah in the movie, it dawned on me that I could be an actress too. We plant the seed of possibility.” Then there’s Canadian model Winnie Harlow, who broke barriers by becoming the first model with Vitiligo to model for Victoria’s Secret, confirming that each of us has a place in society. It starts with looking in the mirror and recognising that you’re enough. When Alicia Keys decided to stop wearing makeup in 2016, reactions were mixed. But she wasn’t asking for permission and she continues to live her truth. As we’ve seen with Zozibini, the world will adjust. Let’s face it: we’ve seen beauty trends come and go, but confidence is always in season. The era of inclusivity and representation calls on you to come as you are.
I’m part of a generation of women who’re relentless in pursuing their dreams. Our daughters will read our stories, and they’ll know that we made it OK for them to take up space and cement themselves in society.