Alicia Keys, a fifteen time Grammy Award winner, has taken a large step to help extend the message of women empowerment. She is ditching make up…permanently!
It all began last month when she posted her new single cover for her track ‘In Common’ on her Instagram account, which flaunted her flawless make up free face. (Honestly, she looks so incredible!) She stated how all of these photo shoots made her feel “powerful” and that she was tired of the high standards that have been held for women to uphold.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BE-KIJKwFuo/?taken-by=aliciakeys
While explaining her decision on Lenny Letter, she said;
“Women are brainwashed into feeling like we have to be skinny, or sexy, or desirable, or perfect. One of the many things I was tired of was the constant judgement of women. The constant stereotyping through every medium that makes us feel like being a normal size is not normal, and heaven forbid if you’re plus-size. Or the constant message that being sexy means being naked. Every time I left the house, I would be worried if I didn’t put on make up: What if someone wanted a picture?? What if they POSTED it??? These were the insecure, superficial, but honest thoughts I was thinking. And all of it, one way or another, was based too much on what other people thought of me.”
We here at CelebMix greatly admire Alicia’s brave decision to break the stereotype that suggests that women need make up to be beautiful. She is embracing her natural beauty and is not allowing herself to hide behind a full face of make up for any longer. She wants other women to feel encouraged by her new campaign and follow in her footsteps.
She finished off her essay by writing,
“I felt powerful because my initial intentions realized themselves. My desire to listen to myself, to tear down the walls I built over all those years, to be full of purpose, and to be myself! The universe was listening to those things I’d promised myself, or maybe I was just finally listening to the universe, but however it goes, that’s how this whole #nomakeup thing began. Once the photo I took with Paola came out as the artwork for my new song “In Common,” it was that truth that resonated with others who posted #nomakeup selfies in response to this real and raw me.”
You can read the full essay here and see her full make up free photo shoot with FAULT magazine here.
What are your thoughts on Alicia Keys’ big decision? Tweet us your comments at @CelebMix!