PRETTY HURTS?

Beyonce said it best, "Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts." I still remember the first time I heard Pretty Hurts by Beyonce. I was in the car with my best friend Deanna going to St. Louis and it was as if the words jumped into my heart. I knew that I had to share my opinion and story. I love Pretty Hurts because I can relate and because Beyonce is an amazing artist. The song discusses self image and how perfection is an illusion. Pretty Hurts and a recent event at my school entitled Breaking Pretty Barriers, inspired this post. So let's get things started! Here is the video to the audio version of the song. Forget all of your opinions of Beyonce and just read the lyrics.Watch and discuss! Peep my thoughts and story below.

What are your thoughts on Pretty Hurts? Did it make you feel any type of way? Reflect on the lyrics of this song. Have you ever struggled with feeling pretty? Perfection is a disease of a nation, pretty hurts. My idea of pretty has changed over the course of my 21 years on this Earth. The way that I see myself has changed a lot as well. I often struggle with being sure of my own total beauty. I know that I am pretty, but I don't like my physical shape. I never can seem to get it just right or perfect. I am so hard on myself and nit picky. I hate it, but its real. The question is WHY?

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Your Dreams Are Valid

Dear Fashion Lover,

I was inspired by Ms. Lupita Nyong'o and countless others to write this post. Lupita's speech about beauty and her journey really made me want to do better. Seeing her accomplish so much as a black woman is really exciting and empowering! So here it goes...

Do NOT lose yourself. Do not push your dreams to the back burner to fulfill the needs of other people. You are important and your aspirations are valid! Your dreams do not need to make sense to anyone in your circle. You are beautiful and you can have the life that you dream about no matter how out of the ordinary it may be. It is easy to lose yourself in the crowd at school, at your job, within your group of friends, or even while in a relationship. Trust me, I've been there. We all want to fit in and be well liked, but as people we are not like cookie cutters with built-in shapes, dreams, or knowledge, instead we are more original like snowflakes that sparkle in the sunlight. So how is it that we find ourselves being lost in the crowd? It is because we believe the lies people tell us that prove our dream to be invalid. What if I told you that your dreams are totally valid and much-needed? That is exactly what I am saying. The world needs your dreams and ambition. If you don't, then who will? Lupita's life changing speech is below.

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Stop It With the Selfies!!!

Hello Fashion Lovers!

A few days ago I watched this Selfie video sponsored by Dove and it really got me thinking about my purpose and self-esteem. I was forced to ask myself a tough question: "Why are you always trying to "measure" up to other women that you see in the media?" On top of that I am taking a Media in Society course this semester and it's opened my eyes to the harmful effects of media on society. Watch this video before you continue reading. 

What did you think of the Selfie video? What questions came to your mind after viewing it? Were you touched in anyway? Do you feel beautiful and confident in your own skin? What do you love about your appearance? What is your best feature? What unique aspects of your body are you proud of? Why do you feel inadequate looking at other women/ men in the media?

I know that these are tough questions, but darn it someone needs to ask them! I am sick and tired of people being bullied for being themselves. I am sick of the barriers set by the media that confine society to one standard of beauty. God made everyone different and it's time that we accept that uniqueness is beauty. Who am I to rate the beauty of others? Who are you to call someone else ugly?

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