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Feminism: chat

Make-up free Miss Great Britain

77 replies

FusionChefGeoff · 11/09/2021 08:02

What a great woman!!

Ms Great Britain contestant to compete make-up free www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-58346534

I too have finally given up on makeup - was wearing less and less but completely stopped now even for work. It helps that I'm genetically lucky to have good skin plus I do eat very well and drink gallons of water.

I hope it's giving a body positive message to my DD and the other girls in my life but I'd love to see more high profile women taking the same stance.

OP posts:
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KittenKong · 11/09/2021 08:04

She is really pretty though (nicer without makeup). I just look like a potato.

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AICM · 11/09/2021 19:53

Isn't there something of a mixed message here?

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NiceGerbil · 11/09/2021 20:08

Mixed messages yes get that.

However these things exist and women compete.

So what she's doing and what she has said in the article is brilliant.

Because it's better than not.

Her story about bullying, make up, filters etc was honest and well expressed. I think she's cool tbh.

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Guineapigbridge · 11/09/2021 20:09

Lorde is almost always makeup free. I love her! Feminist role model !!

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AnnunciataZ · 11/09/2021 20:15

Makeup free is all very well when you look like Lorde or Alicia Keys!

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NiceGerbil · 11/09/2021 20:44

Have you read the piece?

She was bullied horribly over her looks at school and used to pile on the make up because she believed she was ugly.

Honestly read it. It's a great piece.

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LobsterNapkin · 12/09/2021 00:06

It is a nice story.

One of the things I really notice with young women like that is that heavy make-up is often quite ageing. She doesn't look bad with it on, by any stretch, but it's not especially flattering either.

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YetAnotherSpartacus · 12/09/2021 11:12

Most men I remember from my younger days who preferred women 'without makeup' really meant that they wanted one naturally 'pretty'.

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KimikosNightmare · 12/09/2021 15:31

What's the difference between Miss Great Britain and Ms Great Britain?

Aren't they both judging her nothing more than her looks?

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lazylinguist · 12/09/2021 15:45

It's great that someone who had been bullied about their appearance gained the confidence to no longer feel she had to wear make-up. But I still don't think that choosing to enter a competition where young women are pitted against each other based on their looks is a good thing. However genuine her motives appear to be, it seems pretty disingenuous to imply that 'everyone is beautiful enough without make-up' when you are as naturally beautiful as she is. This does nothing to convince young girls that happiness and success are nothing to do with how you look, does it?

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KimikosNightmare · 12/09/2021 16:49

@lazylinguist

It's great that someone who had been bullied about their appearance gained the confidence to no longer feel she had to wear make-up. But I still don't think that choosing to enter a competition where young women are pitted against each other based on their looks is a good thing. However genuine her motives appear to be, it seems pretty disingenuous to imply that 'everyone is beautiful enough without make-up' when you are as naturally beautiful as she is. This does nothing to convince young girls that happiness and success are nothing to do with how you look, does it?

I agree. I'm puzzled at the lauding going on here. I don't have strong views on wearing or not wearing make-up (beyond that it would occasionally behove some people to mind their own business)

But I can't see there’s any difference in the acceptability of beauty contests with or without make-up.
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KittenKong · 12/09/2021 16:55

She is very pretty and her school photos show - a pretty teenager. I wonder if the school bullies were just jealous little bisms?

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nettie434 · 12/09/2021 21:08

I agree that it's a positive story. I can't really believe that we still have beauty contests but given we do, it's good that she is planning to enter make up free. I don't think it will help her as I would have thought everyone needed some make up under the lights but I like the way she spoke out about bullying and its effects.

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ColorMagicBarbie · 12/09/2021 21:56

@AICM

Isn't there something of a mixed message here?

I thought the same.

Regardless of make up it’s still a competition assigning worth based on a woman’s attractiveness. Is there even a Mr Great Britain?
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ColorMagicBarbie · 12/09/2021 21:58

Next story: ‘Sex Worker Only Sleeps with Unmarried Customers’.

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42SrauvP · 12/09/2021 21:58

This reads as rather nonsensical. I don’t understand why she is supporting the concept of beauty pageants, it makes no sense if she thinks looks are not important.

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ColorMagicBarbie · 12/09/2021 22:04

To be fair though, I don’t really mind makeup. It’s may be 100% conditioning but I’d defo not find an ungroomed man attractive who was looking like Tom Hanks in Castaway, so it works both ways.

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NiceGerbil · 12/09/2021 23:21

As per my pp.

These competitions exist and women enter them.

It's really good what she has said and is doing. The article was really heartfelt. Good for her speaking openly about the racist bullying and what it did to her.

Given these events happen. Are some saying that they would rather not have said or done this?

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ColorMagicBarbie · 12/09/2021 23:29

Given these events happen. Are some saying that they would rather not have said or done this?

I think she seems like nice individual, but I guess my question is why enter such events in the first place if you're against the stereotypical view of beauty? Perhaps she is trying to 'change it from the inside' but honestly speaking she wouldn't be there in the first place if she wasn't traditionally good looking.

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LobsterNapkin · 12/09/2021 23:55

I find beauty pageants weird, but I think you have to look at this somewhat in the context of being a counterpoint to the more regular sort.

But it's probably unrealistic to think that humans are not going to recognize and appreciate physical beauty. I sometimes get the impression that people feel that finding physically attractive people attractive is shallow.

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NiceGerbil · 13/09/2021 00:00

She's done a brave thing and talked openly about her past.

I don't know if you read it?

Given her past it's possible it's to prove something to herself/ a big fuck you to the bullies.

Or maybe she just wants to.

Who knows.

In the context she is taking a brave stance.

Given its a beauty thing maybe her words and actions will reach/ speak to women/ girls that may not get her messages often.

I find criticism of her a bit off tbh.

She's an individual doing a good thing in that context and I can't understand the criticism.

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NiceGerbil · 13/09/2021 00:01

Have you read the piece, lobster?

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Shehasadiamondinthesky · 13/09/2021 00:03

Pish, I look like i'm dead without makeup, nothing would make me give it up.

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NiceGerbil · 13/09/2021 00:05

No one is asking you to!

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LobsterNapkin · 13/09/2021 01:08

@NiceGerbil

Have you read the piece, lobster?

Did you read my post? I don't understand what you are objecting to.
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