If you don’t have a skin condition or facial difference, please don’t apologise for your appearance. Don’t apologise for having a red face, or for not wearing makeup, or for your greasy hair or dandruff.
No, you don’t look shit (as I hear so many people describe themselves).
You have beauty privilege. I expect it would be very rare for strangers to comment negatively on your appearance. Yet for me and others with skin conditions and facial differences, our appearances are commented on frequently, we are discriminated against regularly, and we feel the need to apologise and hide away.
When you apologise for your appearance, it’s telling us that we need to apologise for ours. We don’t. We deserve to be seen and exist unapologetically.
Please be good allies – not just in Face Equality Week but always.
Image above: a woman with a red face, short dark curly hair tied back, wearing a teal jacket over a pastel striped jumper and bright pink floral pants. She’s standing near a maroon wall, hands in pockets, smiling. To the left is white text that says “stop apologising for your appearance.”
Has this post made you think? Will you use it in your work or school? Please consider buying me a drink.
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