We’ve all been there, terrified of leaving the house with no makeup in case we run into friends or an ex at the local shops. In a panic before a night out in case someone else is wearing the same discount dress or throws some shade at last season’s nail colour.
For celebrities like Alicia Keys, these insecurities are amped up a thousand per cent because the world hangs off your every fashion fail, wardrobe malfunction or unflattering holiday snap.
So we’ve no doubt it took enormous courage for Alicia to open up about feeling “misrepresented” by women's mags and current beauty standards in an essay for LennyLetter.
In her open letter on the pressure to be perfect, Alicia admits to feeling out of step with what’s fashionable since her junior high school days when all the ‘pretty girls’ wore lipstick and mascara and she sported big, frizzy hair that left her feeling “uncomfortable”.
Writing about her early days in the music industry, Alicia revealed: “Oh my gawd! Everyone had something to say. ‘She's so hard, she acts like a boy, she must be gay, she should be more feminine!’ But the truth is, I was just from New York, and everyone I knew acted like that.”
“But this wasn't the streets of New York. This was the harsh, judgmental world of entertainment and my biggest test yet. I started, more than ever, to become a chameleon. Never fully being who I was, but constantly changing so all the ‘they's’ would accept me.”
Fast forward a few years and the beautiful songstress is feeling empowered by some personal reflection time that’s been poured into confronting lyrics for a new album that includes a track titled "When A Girl Can’t Be Herself".
In a play on the Dionne Warwick hit “Say A Little Prayer”, Alicia writes about waking up in the morning and not putting on her makeup.
She explains: “The universe was listening to those things I'd promised myself, or maybe I was just finally listening to the universe, but however it goes, that's how this whole #nomakeup thing began.
“Once the photo I took with Paola came out as the artwork for my new song "In Common," it was that truth that resonated with others who posted #nomakeup selfies in response to this real and raw me.”
Alicia has since graced the cover of Vanity Fair and French Grazia wearing no makeup, performed in front of millions and stormed the red carpet at the VMAs.
Her bold move has won tonnes of praise from celebrities and muggles alike, including this tweet from another feminist hero, Patricia Arquette:
“LOVE @aliciakeys letting her beauty shine! The real deal! Thank you for helping girls think about expectations and if they want to opt in.”
And on Instagram: “I feel like society follows people for their looks too much rather than their purpose and that's a problem. I appreciate you for this Alicia!!! You're a true beauty.”
But Alicia’s comments have been misinterpreted by a varied audience of (mainly) women who think she’s either slamming their decision to go large with the makeup or setting a new standard for bare faced beauties.
One tweeted: “Alicia Keys’ anti makeup movement is a good thing for young women’s self esteem but it’s easy for her cause she is attractive.”
Alicia must have known her decision to go au natural at glitzy events like the VMAs would attract some attention, for better or worse. But hubby Swizz Beatz seems incredulous at the response, especially the negativity from some corners.
He posted a video on his Instagram saying: “Somebody sitting home mad because somebody didn’t wear makeup on their face.
“She didn’t tell y’all don’t wear no makeup. She just said that she’s not vibin’ with the makeup all the way and 100% like that. That’s kinda her thing that she wanna do.”
Alicia took to Twitter with a simple statement: “Y'all, me choosing to be makeup free doesn't mean I'm anti-makeup. Do you!”
Wear make and look gorgeous. Go bare faced and look equally gorgeous. We get it. The girl’s on fire either way. Why are people so confused? Or are they ashamed to embrace their own bodies?
What are your thoughts? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter(@CloserOnline).