I can say, hand on heart, that being a beauty blogger has changed my perception of what beauty actually is. We are a hugely diverse population in blog world and it’s only really by being so immersed in the blog community that I’ve realised that judgement is the very last thing on my beauty agenda. In fact, I’m truly thankful for being part of something that on the whole embraces all comers, regardless of race, age, religion or gender.
When the first pictures of the Caitlyn Jenner MAC Lipstick, Finally Free, emerged, the MAC Instagram comments were pretty shocking. It showed an intolerance for difference and worse, an aggressive attitude towards anything that doesn’t conform to their ‘norm’. Which is rather ironic from followers of a brand that is and always has been for everyone; identity neutral, if you like.
I read a quote from Caitlin Moran a while back about clothes. When we say we have nothing to wear, which we all do, according to Caitlin, what we really mean is that we have nothing to wear for who we need to be today. Our sense of identity fluctuates – it can feel different many days in a row but usually settles back to one place. So, imagine if it never did. If all your days were nothing to wear days and maybe we are somewhere towards the feeling that you’re in the wrong body.
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The things I will be least interested in when meeting someone new is a) income, b) gender and c) sexuality. These have no bearing on whether you’re kind, funny, interesting, witty or a million other personality traits that combine to make a person what they are. Being open to the human state, regardless of gender, is something that most people have to learn. It’s not necessarily a natural place of understanding at first, and understanding can only come from exposure. Which is why the Caitlyn Jenner MAC Lipstick is important. Not because it’s Caitlyn (as you know, I don’t follow celebrities), and not because it’s lipstick, but because it’s making us face up to our perceptions of gender fluidity.
The full RRP less VAT from sales of the Caitlyn Jenner MAC Lipstick (£15.50) in the UK go to supporting transgender communities in the UK and it’s on sale from 12th May at www.maccosmetics.co.uk.
I think many people in the beauty community would say their perceptions of beauty have changed since being immersed in such a diverse area. Beauty is not one thing, it’s many, and the more, the better.
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