“She's not wearing makeup so her face just looks like skin.” ― Chuck Palahniuk

She climbs out of bed, and walks straight over to the mirror. The somewhat mundane routine. The same old scrutiny, day in, day out.

Pinching and poking her face in an attempt to survey both old and new spots, scars, freckles, and wrinkles. Like unwelcome guests at a party, on her skin, on her body.

A little tighter here, and a little slimmer there, just a few adjustments and she'd feel better, she'd be happy.

Almost instinctively she reaches for the bag. The thick greasy liquid feels cold on her skin as she smears it onto her face. Still unsatisfied, she adds a little more until the mask looks complete. 

The curls in her hair disappear one by one, as the straighteners sizzle on her damp hair, and the room becomes filled with smoke and a distinct burning smell.

She's running late because her hair took too long, and so, as always, breakfast is skipped. Although it doesn't matter. Like her boyfriend mentioned, she needs to lose a few pounds anyway.


This is the sad reality.

We are bombarded with society's notion of size 0, page 3, thigh gapped, 'perfect' images. But take away the photoshop, the makeup team, the hair stylists, and the professional designers, and you will realise that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

And you are beautiful. 

:) x