You ARE Beautiful.

Asians are very narrow-minded. One of my favorite YouTube bloggers, Jackie Chu, mentioned that in Asia, their products are very uniform. Makeup shades consist of "pale & very pale" & clothing sizes are "one size fits all". I'm Asian (obviously) and proud of it. What I don't understand is why the general Asian society is so convinced that to be the definition of beautiful, you need to be: pale, stick-thin, with big eyes.

What inspired me to write this, was a CBS Philly news segment that came on as I was surfing through the channels on TV. Basically, they were talking about Cosmetic Blepharoplasty, the surgery that has become widely popular in China and other areas in Asia. What is it? Also known as double eyelid surgery, it's when the doctor removes excess skin, fat and muscle with the help of a laser. Then, the doctor adds stitches to create a more defined crease. Now, it's a $16 billion business in China and each surgery ranges from $1,000 - $5,000.

They showed a clip of an eighteen year old girl in China who was given this procedure as a birthday gift from her parents, as well as her nose remolded and her lips reshaped. "I used to look so ordinary. Nobody every noticed me but now I am beautiful and people will pay attention," she said.

Those who wish to undergo surgery proclaim tell their doctors that they want to look less "Chinese" and more "westernized". They say that it is their rite of passage. Teenagers who seek this, claim that they want to be noticed and want to be less dull.

On the other hand, a 27 year old woman from China is embarrassed to show her face because of the many failed cosmetic surgeries she has received. "I've lost everything. My years and my career. No man wants to be with me and I'm alone. Sometimes, I look so frightening that I don't even want to leave my home."

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My Opinion:

Trust me, being Asian, I know that it can be a struggle in the United States. We have to deal with discrimination and judgment, labels and stereotypes. It can be difficult trying to fit in. But isn't diversity something that makes us who we are? Something that sets us apart from our peers? Living in America, Asians, and other ethnicities, sometimes feel the weight of injustice and inequity...but we shouldn't let it bother us. Haters will hate, but it's your job to turn it into motivation.

Beauty is diverse. Beauty is unique. If everyone on earth looked like a carbon copy of each other, how would we be able to determine what is beautiful and what isn't?

Confidence is the most attractive trait to have.

You ARE Beautiful.

All you have to do is believe in yourself. Be happy for who you are.

It's simply unhealthy to stand in front of the mirror and pick out every single thing you think is a flaw. Instead, count the things you LIKE about yourself. Embrace your beauty inside and out.

Being Asian is something you should take pride in. Whether or not you have double lids or monolids, pale or tan skin, short or tall. If you think you're beautiful, then that's all that matters. Do not let anyone tell you regardless.

With love and support to everyone,

Keri

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