PITCH PERFECT Budding musician raises funds to help rescue others
KELLY OOSTMAN Homeschool
The idea sprang from No Shave November, during which men and women unite in mutual laziness and agree not to shave beards or legs for an entire month.
That’s when Kelly Oostman learned about No Makeup November, “and how it could be very liberating.” But while “singing in the shower” she had an inspiration about turning No Makup November into a movement with a far greater purpose.
To her church youth group she proposed using No Makeup November as a fundraiser for the international A21 campaign, which raises awareness about human sex trafficking and helps rescue women by placing them in shelters, safe houses and transition homes. Held the past two Novembers, the fundraiser collected about $3,500.
“We rely on makeup way too much,” says Oostman, 17. “Really, it should be easy to go without it for a month as a way to show empathy and support for these girls who can’t see themselves as beautiful because they’ve been defiled and assaulted in so many ways and made to feel worthless.”
Singing in the shower is not Oostman’s only musical outlet. She also writes her own songs and plays multiple instruments including guitar, bass, ukulele and piano. She also plays with the Legacy Church youth group band, Switch, which does musical outreach to economically disadvantaged kids.
Although she is homeschooled, Oostman also takes classes at Central New Mexico Community College, where she indulges her love of history. She plans to attend Asbury University in Kentucky in the fall and study history, music and audio engineering. She eventually hopes to have a career as a recording artist, she says.