Transformation craze
"Put your make-up on. Get your nails done. Curl your hair. Run the extra mile. Keep it slip so they like you. Do they like you?"
That is the question that Colbie Calliat has been challenging to all the women in the world in her new song "try". The video of this particular song has taken the world by storm when the singer herself voluntarily stripped of her make-up to reveal her true face without the glamour. Along with her were several other girls who also did the same. This has become the new epitome of beauty. Like she said, you do not have to try so hard in order to be beautiful.
Meanwhile, a new phenomenon called "makeup transformation" blazed the internet landscape. The said trend is a four grid frame. The first three photos are photos of the person putting on cosmetics while the fourth one is a photo of his/her celebrity look alike. Some transformation photos have been very convincing while some are also very funny.
While it may be entertaining at the same time, the makeup transformation craze has a different approach to me. Despite it being instantly picked up by the youth because of the sensation on the internet, it made me question the bandwagon effect on our people of today. Are we really that clingy to what the trend is that we follow? To me, the makeup transformation is a way of gathering likes to gain popularity.
What is there in a face? Why the need for cosmetics? Or maybe, just maybe, there is a narcissistic spirit in our generation today. The kids of today are selfie babies. They stick to their cellphones every once in a while to take photos of themselves and what they are doing. Missing the opportunity to do such would result in a series of tantrums. Because of the easy visibility that the internet offers, people would also want to look tip-top through cosmetics.
As a woman, I do use makeup whenever the need arises such as attending events, going out and the like. Yet, what is seen on the outside is not the yardstick for beauty. It is simply an add-on factor to what the inside soul projects. When you emanate love and care to others, you are beautiful for all the good things done.
When I was in college, I did a study on a Filipino's perception of beauty.
I used skin tone as a ground basis for so-called beauty on senior high school students. It resulted to students being in favor of those being fair-skinned as being convincing and credible against someone who is morena or dark toned. I found that finding very discriminating. On the other hand, we can say that there is indeed a strong influence of what the media is portraying. The norms developed in a community are fostered by the agenda that the media sets. If the media always praises women who are dark skinned, then there might be a shift on who's beautiful and not.
Out from the two opposing sides on the concept of beauty, there is only one denominator: The media plays a big role on the influence of the basis of beauty. Without the media showing celebrities and personalities, then there is nothing that the ordinary people could follow. That being said, we should be extra careful of what we do.
Now that the call to equality to all sectors has been strengthened then so is the evolving of the concept of beauty. But as for me, I would rather go with what Colbie Calliat said in her song about men and women who mask their identity with makeup.
No matter how you look or where you go, Calliat was correct when she said: "Take your makeup off. Let your down. Take a breath. Look into the mirror, at yourself. Don't they like you? Cause I like you." At the end of the day, you will be accepted for who you are and not by your looks.
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