Wear makeup, show more skin, lose weight, do this and do that. Our world has become so keen on manipulating girls and women into believing that their beauty is based on superficial reasons, rather than their natural selves in all their forms. So it comes as no surprise that when Alicia Keys – along with other celebrities such as Alessia Cara – went to the VMAs without any makeup on, all hell broke loose.
“I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing”, Alicia Keys
Earlier this summer, Alicia announced in her Lenny Letter that she will be wearing no more makeup. She was also at the forefront of the #NoMakeup movement, “I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing”, Alicia says in her Lenny Letter. And we support her all the way.
Although eventually the support Alicia got in response to her VMA appearance outweighed the negative responses, the initial responses happened to be negative; they shone light on the reality we live in today. Comments like, “Alicia needs to get the f— off the stage”, and “Alicia girl you not setting no trend with this no-makeup s—. Put on concealer and call it a day”, only prove that we have become too dependent on aspects such as makeup to define our beauty.
If anyone wanted to define raw beauty and talent, without the weight of societal classifications, stereotypes and any additional layers, no one could have done it better than Alicia Keys.
This superstar not only went bare-faced to the VMAs, but every inch of her body from neck to toe was covered in a Just Cavalli dress. The song she sang was a cappella, and no props or dancers were used. If anyone wanted to define raw beauty and talent, without the weight of societal classifications, stereotypes and any additional layers, no one could have done it better than Alicia Keys.
If a woman wants to wear makeup, she should not be judged for it. If a woman wants to not wear makeup, she should not be judged for it. If a woman wants to cover up, she should not be judged for it, and if a woman does not want to cover up, she should not be judged for it as well. However, under any of these scenarios, a woman should never make her decision out of the sake of seeking value. On the contrary, whatever decision she makes, it should be sincere – not based on what society wants – and should be what genuinely makes her comfortable.
Those that break through are those that turn a blind eye to the defying judgments of others.
The fact that an extremely accomplished, inspirational, talented and influential woman was judged for not wearing makeup without a single recognition for all that she is, shows that our women are not given the full freedom to embrace their own choices. Those that break through are those that turn a blind eye to the defying judgments of others. Can a woman just be herself without needing to turn a blind eye? Not really. This is why to us Alicia Keys’s No Makeup decision is important and fully supported; it challenges societal issues affecting women. It challenges societal classifications manipulating and defining women, and most importantly, it empowers women.
