by Monica A.
The past couple of years has seen rise in communities that were once shrouded and secluded. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Vine (RIP), and TikTok (formerly musical.ly) made finding people interested in the same things a TON easier. Thus the gaming community, cosplay community, and makeup community saw a HUGE spike in content and collaboration.
With such an explosive presence, it should come as no surprise that each person may begin to gravitate toward these communities. Within the last year for me personally, I dove head first into what I believe to be the fastest growing and most accepting community, the beauty community. With artists like Jaclyn Hill, James Charles, and Jeffree Star being some of my biggest influencers today. I went as far as purchasing over $600 in makeup products in a 3 month span in order to really get some time and materials to play around with makeup. I fell in love with the creativity of makeup, and the way it oddly enough made me comfortable in my own skin. Even though the base intent for makeup is to cover up flaws, I really felt like I could actually be more comfortable in my own.
I have experimented with colors and items that I never even thought to put on my face. I have even begun thinking about beginning separate social media to create a MUA (MakeUp Artist) in training page that can be a springboard for me as a creator. I have experienced nothing but love and encouragement for my looks and creativity, which makes me feel all the more inspired.
While exploring the makeup community in all of its highs and lows I have also noticed the strange and unrealistic expectations we put on beauty gurus. We stalk their 12+ year old social media for the slightest hint of drama, we assume that they have to be the same person they were three, four and five years ago. While the beauty community itself is very accepting, there are those who find ways to try and tear the community apart.
But this has been the par for the course in all the growing communities. So the one thing I have noticed, is that those who understand that time and experiences can change people and their outlooks, will stay within their communities to help rebuild and grow from dramatic experiences. Being a part of a community like this has been an uplifting and all around gratifying experience, because while there will always be people who support you.
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