This is the second part of a cozy bedroom beauty session with my eldest daughter before treading back to the somatic laments and cinematic reviews and beyond. So, you can watch this was a ‘‘one off’ or you can also watch and read this first
I used to work in fashion and beauty, and I’m here now to say that we need more multi-disabled examples of "beauty" in the world.
Can you be “beautiful” and have scars all over your body?
Show me the examples that don’t just happen once.
That aren’t just a one time hire to say, “Hey we can be inclusive too!”
Show me the name or the person that someone can actually say off the tip of their tongue or midst of their palm. The models who mean change.
I want to say something like “share this if you care”…
But it used to be that we just made things happen if we wanted to make things happen.
We traveled in buses to big cities and knocked on editors doors. We wandered through the waterfalls of Condé Nast and pinched ourselves when we became a Redbook beauty award panelist as a new mom in a tiny town some time later.
The day of the award brunch, my bus broke down en route and I arrived many states later, in a state, to an empty hall being cleaned by assistants. One of them kindly tossed me a lipstick and said “here”, as I’d missed my big moment to be in the room with the people I’d long since admired. NOT the “celebrities” or supermodels, as one might imagine at my (then) tender age of 20 or so, but the chemists. The scientists who made the beauty breakthroughs possible. The people I wanted to witness in all their intellectual brilliance.
The needle has moved forward thanks to brands and bosses like Danessa Myricks (who sent the products my eldest and I are opening) who said to me: “You make the world beautiful! I can’t wait to see the magic you create my love.”
Now, we just need more in the industry. More ways to say and see “beauty”. But not just the once. A 'Target ad and then it’s gone.
Can you be “beautiful” and have scars all over your body?
Danessa…
You…
Some child with wide eyes and a wondrous heart still makes me believe.
PS: I don’t do ads, but Danessa Myricks gifted me the products shown in this video which I will now use in every video here forward so…. apologies if you wanted variety. No dice. I’m a ride or die loyalist for brands that care. BUT full transparency on the product origins.
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Scars or no scars I know you are more than beautiful, or gorgeous all around. I accept you for WHO you are, and all I truly care for is that you and I will always be friends and I promise. Love you. 💖
I'm pretty sure I've talked myself blue in the face about beauty, scars, stories connected with said scars, determination, etc, etc. Each scar is a witness to your strength and determination, dear friend. Not that my opinion really matters, but I'll say again, you are one of the most beautiful, and precious women on the planet! If I could see nothing but your eyes, or your face, I could read your story in my mind. Your body is beautiful, the way you use it, how you talk and share, the passion you exude is breathtaking! I may be a bit biased because of my never-ending love for you, but that is tempered with unending respect and admiration. You, sweet Bailey, are important, worthy, inspirational, and so much more, and I love you. My prayers always include you and your family, they always will. I hope you don't mind, but I'm afraid you're stuck with me.