Posting my No Makeup Acne Photo for my Pageant

It’s really hard for me to take selfies by myself. Honestly, I can barely look at myself in a public bathroom mirror. If there’s a misplaced flyaway, mascara running off my eyes, or food still on my teeth, I’d never notice unless someone told me.

I usually feel the need to take a selfie when I feel like my hair and makeup is on fleek. But then when I capture the photo I hate it and do five or six more attempts until I decide it’s silly to post anyways.

Oh man, and what a nightmare it would be to do a selfie pout. I look ridiculous. I can barely hold up a smirk, I’m just too awkward to pull it off.

I woke up one day after a pageant to wash my face in the morning. I’m not gonna lie, I thought I looked pretty cute, so I went ahead and took some bathroom selfies. I couldn’t believe I actually liked the way I looked even without makeup on. It was almost refreshing, even with the pimples on my face. I saw the smile in my eyes and decided to share it on my personal Facebook and Instagram.

With that photo, I shared how I felt pressured at a young age to look a certain way. As if I was obligated to increase the size of my eyes and push my nose bridge forward because no one in a CosmoGirl or Seventeen Magazine looked like that. The feedback I received was so uplifting.

Of all my glamorous modeling photos, I decided to share that selfie in my Miss Florida USA program page. After I did not place, I was asked why did I even share that picture? I shouldn’t show my acne in a pageant program book.

I know the question was asked with good intention. In the grand scheme of things, it is a beauty pageant and not everyone is going to want to see you with acne and no makeup.

But truth be told, I still think I looked great pimples and all. It’s only when they get real big I feel I should cover them. And yes, I liked that photo so much I wanted to share it.

I’ve been urging to get back into pageants, and I know this time, more than ever, I want to be real. No riff raff. No world peace. No feeling obligated to hide selfies of me with acne or freaking out that I ate a chocolate chip cookie before the swimsuit competition. My goal is to stop worrying about how other people think of me, not let my accolades overtake who I am, and feel comfortable with myself.

This post was originally from misselizabethtran.wordpress.com and transferred over to Lashes and Sashes