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So, everyone is calling Kim Kardashian brave for going make-up free for Vogue Spain. But, is she really "brave"? Or is the mere fact that this is considered to be brave actually ludicrous?
The Huffington Post reported that Kim K shared Instagram pics of her editorial and cover shoot by Theo Wenner, showing the reality TV star with no make-up on (I'm sure she dabbed a bit of primer or blush on, or something). Also, in most of the pictures (even on the cover) her hand, or a tea cup or a piece of her garment covers parts of her face. By accident? I think not.
She captioned the pictures with a simple, "capture me being me."
Dressed in her pajamas, a simple Mickey Mouse tee and some white undies, the beauty looks gorgeous in her "natural state". She looks real, stripped away from all her designer clothes and perfectly contoured and highlighted face.
Kim also told The Huffington Post that this was in fact her favourite shoot of all time.
I have a bit of an issue with this though.
When we call women who go without make-up (um, once), or who step out for a workout at the gym in dirty, oily hair "brave", we basically give a big old finger to women everywhere.
Why? Because being in your natural state, be it an au natural face or presenting yourself slightly less manicured than usual according to general standards of beauty, is hardly courageous. It is something every women should be able to do, without thinking twice about it.
Last year, comedian Mindy Kaling was called courageous for wearing a crop top on the red carpet. Basically, because women her size normally refrain from wearing this popular fashionable item. Because the world calls it inappropriate. They call these women fat.
I don't find Kaling's actions courageous. And neither did Mindy herself, according to Refinery29.
Calling women brave who veer slightly from mainstream ideals and practices of beauty "brave" is just another way to reinforce the notion that the real you should in some sense be something that you as a woman should be ashamed of.
You are brave for working your ass off to get that degree, that business up and running, or raising that child to become a decent-as-can-be human. You are not brave for not wearing make-up.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
