I vaguely remember the first time I discovered Alicia Keys, it was probably the summer of 2007 and I was flipping through the various music channels sprawled out relaxing on my couch when I heard the now ever recognizable croon, "NO ONE, NO ONE, NO ONE ONEEEEEEEEE" and I was hooked. I listened to that song over and over again. Whenever I was sprawled out on my couch on a random afternoon, I would be flicking through music channels hoping to find the Alicia Keys song that helped to perfectly showcase my horrendously bad singing voice in a way only a truly emotional pop song can do. Pretty soon, I found out she had other music I could croak along to, and I was just made. Beyonce who? This was my pop icon. I had finally found my Britney. Luckily, this was before fandoms were even a thing, otherwise I would have probably been that cringe 13 year old girl running the Alicia Keys Instagram page.
I say this all to say, I am about to critique her way of thinking, but I think it helps to create the illusion that I wasn't always a die-hard Alicia Keys hater. Its kind of like saying something really nice about someone before you add the but, well here is my BUT:
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Alicia Keys is spearheading a #NoMakeUpMovement. I heard about this a few weeks ago, the story goes, she was shooting a cover for her album (totes excited for that BTW), when the photographer encouraged her to take pictures without any make-up on and it dawned on her. Right there, in the middle of that photography studio, this gorgeous, successful multimillionaire realized that she no longer needed to hide her true, authentic self. Her #NoMakeUpMovement came to the forefront of mainstream media two weeks ago at the VMA's. The VMA's is one of those award shows where all of music comes together, where you can expect to see everything and everyone. This VMA's was as VMA's as you could expect it to be. Celebrities sauntered down the red carpet in outfits that everyone on social media thinks its awesome, but no-one in their right mind would wear out of their bedroom. Kanye was Kanye, Rihanna slayed, Drake looked ecstatic simply to be in her presence and Alicia Keys wore no makeup.
I like Alicia Keys, I really do, shes talented and all, but in actual fact she always struck me as a bit (read: a lot) pretentious. She's the type of person who implores you to help Africa, but she describes the continent as a whole as if we are not individual countries governed by own cultures and traditions. I'm Nigerian. Things like that irk me. Her instagram is filled with 'deep' spiritual thoughts that are probably supposed to push all of us to go out and adopt a child from a third world country.
Beyonce said 'I woke up like this' and Alicia Keys took it a step further by doing the unthinkable and stepping out of the house 'like this'. Alicia Keys is making a statement by going make-up free. My problem is not with her statement, if Alicia Keys feels that getting a couple of wipes and taking off the makeup shows the world her 'true' self that's fine, it's her prerogative. If she feels like it is giving her self-esteem a much needed boost, that's her gravy to slurp on. The issue here is the resounding roar of approval she received. Publications and everyday people alike gave Alicia Keys a round of applause simply for not wearing makeup. A round of applause that I am not sure is justified. For days, I could not scroll through my Facebook page without reading an or another essay about how necessary it was that someone could leave the mascara and foundation at home and just let the face breathe. You know, one small step for womankind and that. I read these essays with the side-eye and all I could think was 'who the hell cares?" She was called 'brave' and inspiring. Soldiers who leave their family to fight in war-torn countries are brave. Scientists working around the clock to find the cure for cancer are inspiring, choosing not to wear make-up is neither brave nor inspiring. Alicia Keys encouraging women to embrace their natural beauty is a nice thought. Wouldn't that be a perfect world, if the world would just stop holding women to these impossible beauty standards and just let us be whatever the hell we want to be!
Wear makeup if you want. Get your eyebrows on fleek. Or don't. Whether you decide to or not shouldn't govern your personality, and it certainly shouldn't get you a resounding 'yaaaaaaaaaas' on social media just because you don't. The most beautiful thing about beauty is that it can be whatever we want it to be. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you feel that your authentic true self is with ruby red lips and your contour perfectly blended, then do that, be beautiful. If your beauty is clean, clear and fresh, then do that, be beautiful. Be beautiful however you want to be beautiful.
Do you.
