Isang Miss England 2022 candidate ang gumagamit ng pageant platform para hamunin ang beauty standards.
Nakapasok sa finals ng Miss England ang dalawampung taong gulang na estudyante ng Political Science na si Melisa Raouf, at gumawa ng kasaysayan bilang unang kalahok na lumaban nang walang makeup.
Nauna nang naglunsad ang mga organizer ng makeup-free modelling round noong 2019, kung saan kailangang mag-post ang mga contestant nang walang make-up at mag-selfie sa social media.
Gayunpaman, si Melisa ang unang kandidata sa 94-taong kasaysayan ng pageant na ganap na makipagkumpetensya nang hindi gumagamit ng mga pampaganda.
Sinabi ng taga-London sa isang panayam ng Independent na gusto niyang hamunin ang beauty standards at isulong ang tunay na kagandahan mula sa loob.
“It means a lot to me as I feel many girls of different ages wear makeup because they feel pressured to do so,” sinabi ni Melisa sa publikasyon.
“If one is happy in their own skin, we should not be made to cover up our face with makeup. Our flaws make us who we are and that’s what makes every individual unique. I think people should love and embrace their flaws and blemishes, as we know real beauty lies within simplicity,” dagdag pa niya.
Sinabi rin ng aspiring beauty queen na nagsimula siyang mag-makeup sa murang edad ngunit “never feel (to have) meet beauty standards.”
Aniya, “I have recently accepted that I am beautiful in my own skin and that’s why I decided to compete with no make-up. I still feel confident in myself, with makeup I’m all concealed. This is who I am, I’m not afraid to share who I am. I wanted to show who Melisa truly is.”
Idinagdag ni Melisa na nagpapasalamat siya sa pagmamahal at suporta mula sa ibang mga kababaihan na nagsasabing nakatulong siya sa kanila na maging mas may kumpiyansa sa kanilang sarili.
“With mental health being such a big topic, I want to make all girls feel good. I just want to remove all the beauty standards. I feel like all girls are beautiful in their own way. I feel like I’ve done it for all girls.”
Kasama ang 40 pang beauty queens, sasabak si Melisa para sa titulong Miss England, kung saan ang koronasyon ay magaganap sa Oktubre.
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