Redheads Can't Wear Red - Life as Mrs. Wilson

24 October, 2017

Redheads Can't Wear Red

Today I did something society always told me not to do: wear red lipstick. I know how strange that sounds, but for as long as I can remember, I was told that redheads aren't supposed to wear red. That redheads can't 'pull off' red. And so for the majority of my life, I just accepted that rule and avoided wearing red at all costs (even though I really wanted to).

And I get how frivolous and superficial something like lipstick is, but I spent most of my life struggling with low self esteem, and so much of it came from the expectations upheld in the media and societal approval.

My whole life I tried so hard to make myself look like the pretty girls I saw, but I always came up short. I hated my red hair and freckles because it meant I couldn't wear what the other girls wore (or at least I thought that's what it meant). I struggled hard with the comparison game and the whole mindset of this is what I should look like, but I'll never look like them.

It was so hard for me to let go of needing the approval of others and the fear of not fitting in. The hardest thing I did was move from self hatred to self love, but it was absolutely the best thing I ever did for myself.

So in case you needed it, here's your reminder that you don't need the approval of society. And you most definitely don't need that approval to be happy.

Here's your reminder that you are beautiful because of your unique qualities (even especially the ones you are self conscious about).

And here's your reminder that you CAN pull off that thing you've been avoiding because society told you to avoid it.

The reason I write this isn't to try and give you fashion advice, or to tell you that redheads can *officially* wear red lipstick now. But I guess I'm really writing this because it's what I wish someone would've told me years ago.

I'm writing this because I wish someone would've told me that happiness doesn't come from the approval of anyone else.

Because I wish someone would've told me that I could still be beautiful even though I didn't have blonde hair or tan skin.

Because I needed to hear that the beauty of someone else didn't take away from my own.

Because I needed to hear that truth for a l o n g time.

Because I'm done seeking societal approval.

And because I'm done with "redheads can't wear red."

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