“Who’s that beautiful girrrlll? Could she be any cuter?”
The first time I saw that video, I laughed hysterically.
By the 10th time (thanks to my daughter’s obsession), I started analyzing the words and imagery.
So pretty girls are dressed like princesses and waiting for a suitor?
What about girls like me—who wore safety gear, loved their singleness, and weren’t exactly twirling in ball gowns?
And are the guys with glasses and nerdy jokes not cute?
Needless to say, 18 years ago, when I laid eyes on the tall drink of milky chocolate goodness I now call my husband, I thought: Wow… beautiful.
Then I looked at myself and thought: Hmmm… wonder what he thinks?!
It was the first time I ever questioned my femininity.
Was I girly enough? Pretty enough?
Did he really think I was beautiful?
Fast forward to a few months before our wedding.
In a quest to embody “ultimate beauty,” I decided to do a little makeover of my own.
I changed my diet.
Started going to the gym.
Tried out new hairstyles.
And just before the big day, my good friend Duggy, who agreed to do my makeup, came over for a trial.
By the time she was finished, anyone who knew me before could really sing: “Who’s that beautiful girl?”
My wedding day? Makeover reveal?
Magnificent.
Now, let’s fast forward to 2024.
Two kids.
Two to four dress sizes later (depending on the brand, of course).
And BAM… back to asking myself: Am I still beautiful?
Even with my battle scars—stretch marks, surgery scars, signs of the journey I’ve walked.
So how do I define beauty now?
It’s not in the fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or the latest fashion trends.
Beauty comes from within—the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
After all, charm is deceptive, and external beauty does not last.
But a woman who fears the Lord?
She will be greatly praised.
When I told my daughter I was writing this blog about beauty, she made the most profound comparison.
She said:
“Some people try to cover body odor with fancy body washes and scrubs… but sometimes, what they need is a natural purge—like prune juice!”
Translation?
Real beauty isn’t about constantly scrubbing and covering up. Don’t be so hard on yourself
It’s about working from the inside out.
So, do I wish I could recreate the look I had for my 40th birthday when my makeup was professionally done?
Sometimes, YES.
Will I still take a makeup course to finally learn which brush is for blush and how to apply highlights?
Eventually, YES.
Will I shed some excess weight to feel confident in my summer body (since T&T is basically perpetual summer)?
Most likely, YES.
Will I work on my attitude so I don’t snap at my kids or throw snide remarks at my husband?
ABSOLUTELY.
But am I still beautiful, even if I don’t “get it all together”?
MOST 👏🏽DEFINITELY 👏🏽
My goal is to unreservedly sing:
“I’m that beautiful girrrlll!”
Not because of flawless makeup or the perfect body—
But because I carry the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
Bloom in solitude 🌸