The Illusion of Perfection — Are We Really Who We Pretend to Be?
How many layers do we wear before we feel seen? A wig, lashes, shapewear… is it beauty, or is it performance? Let’s be real: women today are playing a role. Not in a Broadway musical, but in everyday life, trying to fit a mold that’s been photoshopped, filtered, and fabricated.
From the time we could hold a Barbie, we were taught to fit in. Not stand out. But here’s the million-dollar question: Who are we really doing it for?
The Mask We Wear: Makeup, Shapewear & Social Armor
Let’s unpack the glam kit. Wigs, lashes, fajas – once tools of choice, now tools of survival. And no, this isn’t about dissing beauty. Beauty is art. Beauty is play. But when our everyday look starts to feel like cosplay for societal validation? That’s when we need to check our reflection.
We’re not just contouring cheekbones anymore – we’re contouring our identity.
Natural coquetry is fun, even empowering. But performance-based femininity? That’s the ego whispering, “You’re not enough.”
The Ego’s Whisper: “You’re Not Enough”
The ego is a slick operator. It watches your IG feed, sees that influencer with the perfect jawline, and whispers, “Fix your face.”
Comparison is the new addiction. And social media? The needle.
But let’s spill some truth tea. Those curated lives? They’re highlight reels, not documentaries. We’re comparing our behind-the-scenes to someone else’s Oscars moment.
The Cost of Conformity: Burnout, Anxiety & Lost Identity
Here’s what society won’t tell you: pretending is exhausting.
You wake up tired, even after 8 hours. You doubt your worth, even with compliments. You look in the mirror and don’t recognize her.
That’s the tax of fitting in. And it’s not worth the price.
Experts like Brené Brown and Bell Hooks remind us that vulnerability and self-love are radical acts. Maybe it’s time we start rebelling.
Returning to Authenticity: The Gentle (But Fierce) Revolution
No, you don’t have to throw your lashes in the trash. But what if you chose them for fun, not approval?
Here’s how to start your glow-up-from-within:
- Check your motives: Is this for me or for “them”?
- Radical self-acceptance: Not just mantras, but belief. (Speaking of which, you need these Affirmation Cards)
- Beauty as self-expression: Wear glitter, or wear none. But let you choose it.
Your Power Is You — Unfiltered, Unapologetic, Unstoppable
Truth bomb: Being yourself in a world that wants you to be someone else? That’s gangster.
So, what’s next?
Start with one thing you wore for others. Take it off. See who you are beneath it.
Then celebrate her. Because that woman? She’s the V Power.