During my Beyond The B-Word presentations I take time at the end for a Q&A session, allowing the kids to ask any questions about the days activities, about the Miss North Dakota Organization or just about me as an individual. It was in one particular 6th grade class that I received one of the most thought provoking questions I had ever received.
Does lipstick taste bad?
I laughed and replied with a simple "No, fortunately lipstick does not taste like anything at all." This innocent question, however, prompted the teacher to raise her hand. She asked me "We have had a few Miss North Dakotas visit our school over the years. All of whom have been very beautiful, and put together. Always wearing makeup, in a dress and heels and hair done nicely. I'm sure there is a certain image you are expected to uphold. Does that ever become exhausting?"
I smiled back at her as I thought about this. After a moment I answered her truthfully "Being Miss Grand Forks is my job and like with any job there is appropriate work attire. Just like with any job you get up in the morning, shower, fix your hair and maybe even put on makeup and suitable work clothes. Fortunately for me I get to wear a crown to work! More so, I love getting dressed up and looking nice and respectable for appearances. So no, it is not exhausting or a burden at all to uphold a respectful image. After all, I am not only representing myself, but the Miss North Dakota/America organization. (I then turn to the kids) But please know that I do not always look like this! I, Delanie Wiedrich, am not always polished, poised and put together. I am all of those things when I need to be. But I am not all those things all the time. I am like any other person and enjoy spending my casual days in sweatpants and without makeup."
The kids smiled back at me, as did the teacher who gave me a nod of approval at this answer. However, this question left me thinking and I realized that there is a very important message I need to share with all those who are following me.
The message I want to share today is the importance of feeling comfortable in your own skin, with or without makeup. Too often we put more stock into our outer appearance, thinking that if we apply the perfect lipstick it will make us all the more beautiful and therefor happier. This is not true. True beauty and true happiness comes from within us. And as Audrey Hepburn said "I believe the happiest girls are the prettiest". For many years I felt I could not go out in public without at least some concealer and mascara. It was in my later years in high school that I realized just how sad that mindset is! How sad it was that I thought I was not beautiful without makeup! That is when I decided to make a change.
I smiled back at her as I thought about this. After a moment I answered her truthfully "Being Miss Grand Forks is my job and like with any job there is appropriate work attire. Just like with any job you get up in the morning, shower, fix your hair and maybe even put on makeup and suitable work clothes. Fortunately for me I get to wear a crown to work! More so, I love getting dressed up and looking nice and respectable for appearances. So no, it is not exhausting or a burden at all to uphold a respectful image. After all, I am not only representing myself, but the Miss North Dakota/America organization. (I then turn to the kids) But please know that I do not always look like this! I, Delanie Wiedrich, am not always polished, poised and put together. I am all of those things when I need to be. But I am not all those things all the time. I am like any other person and enjoy spending my casual days in sweatpants and without makeup."
The kids smiled back at me, as did the teacher who gave me a nod of approval at this answer. However, this question left me thinking and I realized that there is a very important message I need to share with all those who are following me.
The message I want to share today is the importance of feeling comfortable in your own skin, with or without makeup. Too often we put more stock into our outer appearance, thinking that if we apply the perfect lipstick it will make us all the more beautiful and therefor happier. This is not true. True beauty and true happiness comes from within us. And as Audrey Hepburn said "I believe the happiest girls are the prettiest". For many years I felt I could not go out in public without at least some concealer and mascara. It was in my later years in high school that I realized just how sad that mindset is! How sad it was that I thought I was not beautiful without makeup! That is when I decided to make a change.
I believe the happiest girls are the prettiest - Audrey Hepburn
I began a personal project called "No Makeup Mondays", where I every monday I forced myself to go to school without makeup. At first it was terrifying! But after a while I became more comfortable without makeup and some of my friends even joined in! A few years later after my first day without makeup I feel wonderful! I will go days without a trace of mascara, or go to the grocery store in my sweatpants, cap and fresh faced! I am comfortable enough in my own skin to know that I am just as beautiful with or without makeup. Ladies, artificial goop that we apply to our faces does not make us beautiful, it is when we let our confidence and inner happiness radiate from within us that makes us not beautiful, but STUNNING!
I know that I have a very important job. I am a role model to many young women. Part of that job is to look respectable and represent the Miss ND/America organizations by looking presentable and polished. But another part of my job as a role model is to promote the message of self love and the importance in finding confidence within ourselves. And most importantly, I must lead by example! Here I have posted a picture of myself in my most natural state! You can find more All Natural pictures on my Facebook page as well under my "Hello, My name is Delanie" album.
And I challenge YOU to do the same! Wipe away the foundation, blush, eyeshadow and lipgloss and let your inner beauty shine through. I challenge you to go one entire day without makeup, take a picture and post it either here in the comments, on instagram or on Facebook with the Hashtag #HappyGirlsAreThePrettiest! Tell me how it made you feel. Were you nervous? Was it liberating? Will you do it again?
Good luck, ladies! And have fun! You are beautiful!
Delanie
I know that I have a very important job. I am a role model to many young women. Part of that job is to look respectable and represent the Miss ND/America organizations by looking presentable and polished. But another part of my job as a role model is to promote the message of self love and the importance in finding confidence within ourselves. And most importantly, I must lead by example! Here I have posted a picture of myself in my most natural state! You can find more All Natural pictures on my Facebook page as well under my "Hello, My name is Delanie" album.
And I challenge YOU to do the same! Wipe away the foundation, blush, eyeshadow and lipgloss and let your inner beauty shine through. I challenge you to go one entire day without makeup, take a picture and post it either here in the comments, on instagram or on Facebook with the Hashtag #HappyGirlsAreThePrettiest! Tell me how it made you feel. Were you nervous? Was it liberating? Will you do it again?
Good luck, ladies! And have fun! You are beautiful!
Delanie