In a world full of glitz and glam, being yourself is often looked down upon. The definition of beauty is one that is subjective, yet Hollywood and those in the spotlight tend to shape society's views. People feel so pressured by this ever-changing definition of beauty that they go to extreme measures to fix themselves. It can be hard to accept yourself in a society that offers you an "easy" fix to all your beauty issues with a payment, and even harder when those in the spotlight endorse this type of service.
Fortunately, someone in the limelight is fighting against society's beauty ideals both on-stage and off. Twenty-year-old, Alessia Cara who is known for her smash-hits Here and Scars To Your Beautiful -- is embracing her natural look. After receiving many negative comments about her appearance on stage during a performance, Alessia decided to fight back. Her song Scars To Your Beautiful is about embracing your flaws and realizing your beautiful despite what you (and others) may think.
"But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark"
"You should know you're beautiful just the way you are, and you don't have to change a thing, the world could change its heart "
- Lyrics from Scars To Your Beautiful
When Alessia performs this song live she chooses to be herself. She wears her own clothes instead of wearing flashy designer brands provided by someone else, she wears her hair natural and goes completely makeup free. She has received backlash from others but this only fuels her fire to continue being herself.
Alessia stated in an interview with Music.Mic,
"All I've ever wanted to do is just sing my songs and get my message out there, but all people can care about is what I'm wearing ... people have been so brainwashed into believing that's what matters."
Alessia is truly doing something amazing. She has the platform and voice to speak out to millions, and she chooses to preach about self-love and acceptance. Not only that but anyone who watches her can see she's completely focused on her music versus the superficial things some artists get distracted by.
For me, it is overwhelming being bombarded by perfection, seemingly twenty-four-seven. I find solace in her music because it feels real to me, her music and her personality are genuine and that is something the music industry desperately needs. Alessia Cara is a fresh-faced, talented, and down-to-earth girl who wears the pop star title with grace.
Keep an eye out for her, she's sure to continue taking the world by storm.
