This is the best thing I’ve read in a long time. I had to stop myself from restacking almost every paragraph because I relate so much. Every girl deserves to feel like the most beautiful person in the world and this validated that. This was such a beautiful read.
It took me a long time (way too long) to realize that vanity is beautiful. I'm a mixed race kid (dad is Latino, mom is white), and I was taught that nobody would take me seriously if I was pretty. It's one of the major reasons why I insist on rocking a red lip and gold hoops as a Latina sommelier. Thank you for this beautiful, cheeky, multi-faceted article that proves beauty and brains have never been mutually exclusive.
ever since i was little, i watched myself in the mirror, sometimes for hours. my grandma gave me a compact mirror that i took to school and hid behind my book so i can gaze at myself while the teacher explains whatever equation i did not care to learn. thank you for writing this. we love vain women ❤️
“to be vain is to care, and i refuse to apologize for that.” Your words are so beautiful to read and internalise, thank you for your writing. This was in my saved for WEEKS out of excitement to read with intention and focus, and I’m so glad I waited. Growing up is such a privelege. How much more of a privelege it is to do it with love not only for others, but yourself. You captured this perfectly and as a black, African girl who grew up with a smilar reality to you I so appreciate your words casting light on the beauty of self-discovery turned into self love. You are a star! Here’s to loving ourselves, dressing, art in every form, and the beauty of life forevermore! Xx
I didn't realise I needed this. Actually reading a piece on the journey I'm slowing finding myself on, has really made something click. I'm definitely going to have to come back and reread this whenever I need a reminder.
beautiful. Absolutely stunning work. I remember when I was younger and started seeing myself as a pretty thing. The way my parents sensed me slipping away from the need to be under their lock and key because I believed the good things that my friends said about me. Now I'm ready to reclaim my life. Thank you.
LOVE this. One thing i've learned to do is treat myself like a main character (with obvious self awareness). Also- i instantly thought of one of my fav young thug songs when you said you are a dresser.... "Since a kid, I been a dresser, Thousand Island"
omg thank you for reading it 🫶🏿 also yes to treating yourself as the main character. we spend so much yearning to get somewhere, be someone else that we abandon our present selves. also not me unwittingly quoting thug?? wheeling the song up as we speak x
growing up without self-confidence was weird, i would admire my friends for posting their selfies but i was too shy to do so myself. would spend time trying out clothes and doing my makeup just to keep the photos in my gallery. now that im trying to gain that confidence back albeit awkward and still shy, i feel happy posting my fits and videos of me on the internet. i still feel shy like the urge to delete it and silence my notifications, but then I realize the biggest hater I have was myself not other people. so im now trying to reframe my thoughts. i feel the urge to “humble” myself all the time—is it wrong to not want it anymore? to stand up for myself and not take negative comments?
i resonated with every word even though i grew up socially anxious and lacked the training for looking my best. it's only been one or two years since i started being more conscious of my choices and it feels amazing! also, did you change your substack colours? I LOVE how it looks in pink!
This is the best thing I’ve read in a long time. I had to stop myself from restacking almost every paragraph because I relate so much. Every girl deserves to feel like the most beautiful person in the world and this validated that. This was such a beautiful read.
thank you for reading my love 🥹❤️❤️
felt that.
- a fellow aesthete & mirror gazer.
haute piece, the flow of your thoughts was so soothing to read.
my darling thank you 🥹 what a privilege to know another black girl is loving herself as she deserves 💗
wow! punched and instigated me in ways I didn’t know I need it! absolutely marvelous piece, Ayan.
after I read it, I remembered a quote from Fariha Róisín’s book “Like a Bird”: “I believe in myself like a religion”.
this means so much to me my love, thank you 🥹❤️
“To be vain or to be miserable!!” - GIVE ME PRADA OR GIVE ME DEATH! Haha I loved this piece ! - signed a girl who’d live in a house of mirrors.
thank you for reading it and for existing as you are. currently crying tears into my hot chocolate lol 🥹🫶🏿🫶🏿
It took me a long time (way too long) to realize that vanity is beautiful. I'm a mixed race kid (dad is Latino, mom is white), and I was taught that nobody would take me seriously if I was pretty. It's one of the major reasons why I insist on rocking a red lip and gold hoops as a Latina sommelier. Thank you for this beautiful, cheeky, multi-faceted article that proves beauty and brains have never been mutually exclusive.
ever since i was little, i watched myself in the mirror, sometimes for hours. my grandma gave me a compact mirror that i took to school and hid behind my book so i can gaze at myself while the teacher explains whatever equation i did not care to learn. thank you for writing this. we love vain women ❤️
“to be vain is to care, and i refuse to apologize for that.” Your words are so beautiful to read and internalise, thank you for your writing. This was in my saved for WEEKS out of excitement to read with intention and focus, and I’m so glad I waited. Growing up is such a privelege. How much more of a privelege it is to do it with love not only for others, but yourself. You captured this perfectly and as a black, African girl who grew up with a smilar reality to you I so appreciate your words casting light on the beauty of self-discovery turned into self love. You are a star! Here’s to loving ourselves, dressing, art in every form, and the beauty of life forevermore! Xx
I didn't realise I needed this. Actually reading a piece on the journey I'm slowing finding myself on, has really made something click. I'm definitely going to have to come back and reread this whenever I need a reminder.
beautiful. Absolutely stunning work. I remember when I was younger and started seeing myself as a pretty thing. The way my parents sensed me slipping away from the need to be under their lock and key because I believed the good things that my friends said about me. Now I'm ready to reclaim my life. Thank you.
my pleasure love 🥹💗
Every effing word💯❤️
yes to all of this!!! spent so long disliking the way that i look that i will now make up for lost time by being shamelessly vain and loving myself
LOVE this. One thing i've learned to do is treat myself like a main character (with obvious self awareness). Also- i instantly thought of one of my fav young thug songs when you said you are a dresser.... "Since a kid, I been a dresser, Thousand Island"
omg thank you for reading it 🫶🏿 also yes to treating yourself as the main character. we spend so much yearning to get somewhere, be someone else that we abandon our present selves. also not me unwittingly quoting thug?? wheeling the song up as we speak x
growing up without self-confidence was weird, i would admire my friends for posting their selfies but i was too shy to do so myself. would spend time trying out clothes and doing my makeup just to keep the photos in my gallery. now that im trying to gain that confidence back albeit awkward and still shy, i feel happy posting my fits and videos of me on the internet. i still feel shy like the urge to delete it and silence my notifications, but then I realize the biggest hater I have was myself not other people. so im now trying to reframe my thoughts. i feel the urge to “humble” myself all the time—is it wrong to not want it anymore? to stand up for myself and not take negative comments?
i just recently learned that im beautiful. i still struggle with compliments, but im quite enjoying catching myself in mirrors everywhere
i resonated with every word even though i grew up socially anxious and lacked the training for looking my best. it's only been one or two years since i started being more conscious of my choices and it feels amazing! also, did you change your substack colours? I LOVE how it looks in pink!