Recently, I have decided to embrace my natural side more often and it has been one of the best changes since. I have never been one to overload my face with make up, but like many girls. I put it on to feel more beautiful. I started applying make up in 7th grade and lord knows, once you start you cannot stop. I don't know where this idea started that "I look prettier with it," but I would imagine it started with the pressure young women feel from their peers, media, and society's expectations. The older I get and the more comfortable I am in in my own skin has made me question if I really need to spend an hour on my hair and make up everyday.

A big part of this epiphany was the one, the only: Alicia Keys. She has recently made a statement and has stopped wearing make up because she simply doesn't want to. "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." This statement has truly stuck with me. I watch her on The Voice and I feel like she is inspiring to all. She has the confidence on national TV in her bare skin. This is a huge statement to all women, young or old, I don't need to cover up who I am, I am pretty with or without make up, inside and out.

See, what is on my face doesn't define me, and if I don't do my hair, it doesn't mean I'm lazy. You've heard your Mom say it since you were born, but what matters is what is inside. The media and social pressures often make women feel like the right thing to do is to be perfect. Perfect highlight and contour, perfect long hair, perfect skin, with a perfect body to match. I don't want to be perfect, I want to be me, I want to be healthy, and most importantly I want to be happy. If I don't feel like spending 10 minutes perfecting the wings of my eye liner, then I shouldn't do it. Or if I don't want to take the time to do my hair before I go out in public, why should I have to? Alicia states, "It would be so amazing to just embrace each other how we are... I think the most important thing is you do what feels good for you." She couldn't be more correct.

Now, this doesn't mean I'm going to throw out my hundreds of dollars of make up, this just means I am going to do what makes me happy, and I am going to only let me define myself. I am living life more simply. Be yourself and don't feel like you have to do something just because everyone else is doing it. Since I have started this movement, I have actually had several people compliment me on my decision, which has only boosted my self esteem. So overall: love yourself, however you look.