Contest - December 2007 - New You with New Beauty - Part 3

entered in your email!!! thank you! :)

I’m 21 now, which means I’m not far away from the time when I was in puberty, which wasn’t a nice time for me.

I was a bit depressed, shy, insecure and fatty girl who hated shopping and thought nothing looked good on her, despite mother’s tries and convincing. She was the one who taught the me basics of make-up: first mascara, first concealer, first eyeshadow, making a line on the lid…She said woman must look good for herself not others and enjoy in making herself even more pretty. And as much as I was always liked colors, playing with make-up, I didn’t use it through puberty as much as I wanted to, or could. I would buy something and put it in the locker and use it once-twice.

But after finishing school and pausing one year before fnally going to uni, some things started to change.

In this past year, I lost some weight, I could buy better clothes for me, my tan became better, hair grew even longer and healthier, and I generally started feeling better. I got the urge to experiment and play with colors and looks, exploring possibilities with make-up. What colors, shapes and accents suit me the best and reflect my personality.

I don’t think my process of finding myself is over yet. I just started. I like so many things and want to try them all! And maybe my Moon in Gemini just needs to be satisfied and looks for changes every now and then, you never know. :D

I started this year a bit weary from all the therapy, questioning, exploring, and learning in 2006. I thought this year might be a bit quieter, what with all my I’m-28-turning-29-and-this-is-Saturn-Returns changes the year before. But no.

I’m a little speechless from how much I’ve changed this year, and this is after so many changes the year before. But wow, the difference a year makes.

One of the things I discovered this year had to do with my femininity. I came out as a lesbian three years ago and never could quite resolve being feminine and being THE GAY. But I had an opportunity to attend a conference with a gaggle of other feminine dykes (who identify as “femme”). And walking into a hotel ballroom where at least 50 people oohed and ahhed and photographed my shoes–fabulous shoes, by the way: 7″ red wood platforms with black glitter, black satin, and zebra print uppers–was so validating and exhilarating I can’t even tell you! I’ve always been rediculously feminine, something my mother, who didn’t wear makeup until she was 30 and just bought her first strapless bra this year, couldn’t comprehend.

My great aunt Mary died this year, and she was like my femme saint. She made it to 90, with old men chasing her after her til the end. She could rock a taffeta dress at 85 and had the most amazing collection of costume jewelry you could imagine. She is my model of femininity, at least the brand that fits me best.

I’ll be 30 in January, and this year seems like preparation for my 30s. I’ll be going into them with more confidence than I’ve ever had. My sense of self is beautifully strong, and I love the unshakable-unchangable me that I am.

I hope that this confidence and joy in being myself somehow rubs off on my son–both for himself and in his appreciation for women and femininity in the future.

Wow, what an amazing prize! I’m going to enter via email. :)

Thats a great prize! Your awesome for doing this. I cant wait to see who wins, I wont be entering though..Im too shy to share everything thats happened. The past 4 years have been aweful.

i’ll join! i’ll join! :-)

I am a girl just shy of 21. I’m in the middle of figuring out who I am, and what I want. I’ve been through a lot, but it’s brought me to where I am today.

In high school I was a very pretty, thin, happy, social butterfly. Today I’m the complete opposite. I took a vow to make 2008 the year I become myself again. I enrolled in Paul Mitchell the School, because I love cosmetology, and know it’s what I want to do with my life. I’ve began a lifestyle change to include healthy eating and daily exercise to become more confident and happy. I work two jobs to pay for bills and things from my past. I’ve become a wonderful person with a big heart. I’m happy with who I am on the inside.. I just want to be happy with who I am on the outside. The prize will help me do that among other things. I want to make myself over.. new looks, fresh colors, healthy skin and hair, and a happy body! I changed in two ways from 2007 to 2008. Now I just need to change back one of those ways. I’m a beautiful woman, I just don’t feel it anymore. I want to feel beautiful and pretty and sexy. I want to make people stop and stare. I want to inspire other women to be happy with who they are, and how beautiful they are! This will help me be who I want to be.. and go on to help other women!

Then

& Now!

Is it possible to enter if you’re Canadian??!

2007 has been a big year for me. I had struggled with my weight since I was in high school, I’m in my thirties now. I’m 130lbs over weight and I had always hid under baggy clothes, stringy long bleached blonde hair and no make-up. How could someone my size even begin to look attractive especially since my youth is gone?

On top of all my seemingly shallow issues, I was fighting a spiritual battle up until June of this year. My husband and his family practices Christianity and I was being forced into their world, I was really *letting* myself be forced. They made me ashamed of my Vedic heritage, they made me hide even more. The more I pushed it all away, the more I dug my own grave.

I stopped caring about everything until I was cleaning in the attic and came across a picture of my grandmother who was a large woman, in full dress. She looked so happy and healthy, all made up and adorned with jewels, smiling, and beautiful.

I decided to change my life before it was too late. I lost 75lbs, enough to be healthy, dyed my hair back black and donated my clothes, and started over. I let my husband know, this was with, or without him. I even got my first tattoo, a trishula to proclaim my found again heritage. I wear full make-up everday, and wear bright colors and fitting clothes.

In 2007, I got my life back.

Hello.
I sent an e-mail entry. I think this contest is a fantastic idea. :)

im ellie,i joined livejournal 6 years ago because i spend quite a lot of time ill as i have a blood disorder and also asthma,i figured it would be a good way to meet new people and have some fun when i was confined indoors!lol!anyway this year it has become invaluable to me as in november 06 i suffered a bleed in my head,due to my blood condition which meant ive been poorly most of this year on and off,ive been back and forth to the hospital for scans,tests,medication and im now on such strong medication that a lot of my hair has fallen out.i feel my looks have altered this year and somedays i get so fustrated ive actually punched walls!i laugh about this now but at the time ive felt very alone and ugly :( my weight has been up and down,due to the medication and my skin has really suffered,worst my partial hair loss.anyway,i dont want this to be a feel sorry for ellie post,lol!i want you all to know that ive discovered i really love doing my eyes recently and ive really started to experiment,i have just been bought my first set of mac brushes for christmas and a couple of shadows as they are so expensive,i love to experiment and the joy i get from someone telling me my eyes look good is priceless.i dont have much in my collection at the moment but i hope to add to it in 2008 :) even if i dont win this competition its helped me to type this out as i often just laugh it off to people i see in everyday life because its hard to face :) i know people say “beauty is skin deep” and “looks dont matter” but i think every girl likes to feel they look their best and now i hope i can do the same,more importantly i really enjoy experimenting and sometimes actually achieving a look that i have watched a tutorial on!lol!
anyway,thats the my story of my looks for 2007 :) i didnt want it to be a “pity entry” lol! but that really is my year :) and im thouroughly enjoying discovering the beauty of mac and the inspirational girls in this community :)

In High School I was an immature tomboy. I never wore makeup. It was a miracle if I brushed my hair :/. My body developed early and I think I tried hide it by wearing baggy clothes and no make-up (wouldn’t want draw more attention to myself) I only wanted to blend in.

I turned 21 in 2007. I feel like a grown up now. I know some people consider 18 to be an adult but I was just way too immature. I feel comfortable in my skin, comfortable with my body, and overall comfortable being a woman that can pursue anything. I did a lot of growing in 2007 and I hope 2008 is only better. Through 2007 I re-discovered make-up. I love it…it’s one of my outlets. It allows me to be creative and stand out from the crowd while still staying sophisticated and classy. It’s not just to make you look pretty or cover blemishes it truly is an artform to me. It can be feminine, flirty, outrageous or just natural.

If I won the contest I would be able to put my best face forward :) into the new year. While I have a good idea of who I am…growing up is a constant work in progress and there is always room for improvement.

I’ll start out honestly, my 2007 basically blew, even compared to my awful 2006. I had spent all of 2006 trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle and was upset to find in early 2007, that all the weight I lost in adopting that lifestyle was creeping back. At first it was slow. I incorporated more exercise in my routine thinking it would help and it only got worse. To try and make myself feel better, I spent my tax return in June to enroll at the Brio Academy (a local beauty school) for their make up artistry program. I learned nothing new in 6 weeks and that made me even more upset because I was hoping it would help get my foot in the door in the MUA profession and instead left me $700 poorer. Giving up on that, I went back to my regular job and progressed with life. The problem is I started gaining weight at an alarming rate. At almost 40lbs heavier at the end of this year then last, I went to the doctor and found out I have a thyroid problem which not only has caused my weight gain, but also my intolerance to cold, my dry skin, my panic attacks… so many things. I guess it’s a blessing in disguise. For 2008 my plan is to get a specialist to help me treat my thyroid problem so that I can be back on my way to making me be who I want to be. I’m hoping that once I have more confidence in myself, I will be able to continue pursuing my dream job. If I won the contest I would actually use the products to make over other people and help build my portfolio. Well, maybe I’ll make myself over too. A girl can’t resist…

I am soon to be 27, I am still young but I feel that I have aged a lot in the last year. My birthday is right after the new year, so it really is a time of reflection for me.

I was a bit of a tomboy growing up, but once I had my son I finally became interested in makeup and taking care of my appearance. In fact, 2006 was the year my interest in makeup really took off.

I am a stay at home mom. My son is 3 years old and in the last 6 months he has been diagnosed with both Autism and Type 1 Diabetes. Both things are very tough to deal with and have really put my patience, sanity, and courage to the test this year. I have grown so much in these areas. But this growth has also come with stress and depression. I definitely have a lot more grey hair. ;)

I have several therapists coming into my home every day for my son. He has no concept of danger, so I have to keep constant watch over him. I also have a back injury that prevents me from getting out and about much. Because of these things, I feel that experimenting with cosmetics and pampering myself is the only true “me time” that I get. It’s the one time where I can actually focus on myself. As it is, just getting a shower to myself each day is a luxury.

I have a thyroid condition that has caused me to struggle with my weight and lose a lot of hair. It effects my skin and basically every part of my system. When I look in the mirror I don’t see the me that I was used to. I have lost a lot of confidence in myself, thanks to this and anxiety problems. I want to make myself over because I want to feel good about my appearance again. Using beauty products such as the ones in the prize would give me a much needed boost. Feeling that I look good would do a lot for putting that bounce back into my step that I seem to have lost this year. Knowing I had the luck of winning such a prize would help, too!
Before

After

When u say “randomly selected”, wat exactly do you mean? Are u just gonna “randomly” pick an entry (it’s not really based on content)?

I don’t have a long story….PLEASE PICK ME!!!!

Hey Christine,

I entered through email!

xoxo
i♥make-up

p.s. u finally get to see who you’ve been communicating with!!!

Through out the course of this past year I have changed in so many ways. I’m young, 15 to be exact, but I’ve always like to think that I was wise for my years, and this year has turned out to be the most maturing year I’ve ever had.

At the start of this year I was involved in an emotionally abusive relationship that left me so completely insecure, which is saying a lot. I’ve been to therapy before for my insecurities, my issues with men because of my lack of male dependance growing up, the emotional trauma of being the sibling of a severely autistic girl, and the eating disorders that bred of a result of these many stresses. And this guy definitely didn’t make me feel very positive about myself.

But I was attached you see, I saw him as the one man who had stuck around for me, who had been there for me. Though he was near me physically he was only hurting me, and it took me so long to realize this.

This year, I left him. And though this may seem to be juvinile and so high school, this was a very adult like relationship to me that should not be looked upon as immature and naive. It was so difficult for me, and he was awful to me in response, telling me disgusting, hurtful things, but finally I knew it was for the best.

In place of him, I found the people who define me, my three best friends, the girls who helped me though this mess. They’re the reason I was able to cope through all of this while still eating, they’re the reason I was able to cope with this at all. They’re my sisters, my companions. He was never the love of my life, but these three girls, I know they are. In 2008 I know I’ll have the best year, simply for the fact that I’ll spend it with the three girls who saved me. <3

thank you so much for allowing me to write this.
it really helps me to put things in perspective. :]

and here are my before and after pictures :]

then:
then!
ha pink hair :]

now:
now!

now2!

thanks!

is this only for US residents?

I’ll submit my entry asap! Thank you Christine!

Amazing contest. I entered via email :)

2007 has been the biggest year ever. I have become an entirely new person. At the end of last year I lived in a motel room with my husband. I didn’t work. I was an active alcoholic. I drank all day, every day. It had ceased to be a choice for me; it was something I had to do. I was in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. I wasn’t any good at applying makeup and certainly didn’t have the money for it, but I’ve always had a passion for it. In this last year, I have gotten into recovery and haven’t taken a drink in a little more than a year. I am currently divorcing the man I once thought I’d never have the strength to leave. I just got a great job with the County where I live. I still live with my family, but I’m working on that next. I’m learning to live life. And my passion for makeup has only intensified in this last year. I’ve learned a WHOLE lot about technique and products from this website and LJ. I’m getting pretty good and I’m so excited. I want to go to school in the next few years to become a professional.

winning this prize would be fantastic(!!!!!!!) but i was even more intrigued by your topic. Thank you for asking :)

Hi again and Merry Christmas to you and all your readers!
WOW,Some great sharing going on above!Hats off to all of you on your accomplishments…
My change is not just about this year,it is a work in progress i guess.Over the last 5 years (i’m 44 now) i have mostly raised my grandkids,age 2 and 5 now,from my daughter,She has some issues that keep her from being a very good mom,she loves them but not in a way to full time care for them.So that has been up to me .This past yearhas been full time raising the baby and part time the 5 year old.I also have a stepson now 15 i have raised with my hubby since he was 4 with my kids age 25 and 27 now.
I never pictured 44 like this.I thought by this time i would have me time.(selfish huh)..lol..But that is not the way life fell.At times it has been very hard,mentally and physically,but i have come to the point now that i am happy & content with the way it is and have come to the conclusion that this is the best for my grandson’s and me.This has been done by many tears and prayers to my father above.He strenghtened me in ways i did not think possible.The toll over the past few years on my appearance bothers me though.Stress will rip you apart and honey it shows!I at times honestly do not recognize the lady i see.Gray hairs(lots) and wrinkles (bad) that i had not looked for so early on in life.But i will continue to earn them as gracefully as i can for this is not short term i know..lol
I do not want to win this for myself,i want to win this my daughter in law julie..She is a godsend.She loves children and loves my son.She helps me with kolby all she can as well as housekeeping when needed.She moved here to alabama from arizona to begin her life with my son darrell.She is now 6 months pregnant and so very happy.She has renewed my hope for loving young moms& wives again that put their family first. She gave up all her family and life in arizona to come and make a new one here ,even though that hurt her badly.Her spirit and smile lights up a room and i see her one day with a house full smiling kids.She is so giving and you will find no vanity or selfishness on her.This would be for julie…
thanks for a wonderful contest and you are all inspiring…
merry christmas and god bless you all…

I’m afraid I cannot say how I changed in the past year.

I came to Canada very fearful. I was twelve and scared of this new world. I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and the worlds are completely different especially coming from a country so traditional and so different. I certainly do not think my process of finding myself is over, because life is all about the journey and not the destination. I was very shy and aloof when I started grade school. Everyone taunted me because I was the ‘new kid’ and I had weird clothes. Nonetheless I worked hard to be a valedictorian.

For high school, we moved to a different borough and it allowed me to get to know different people. I participated more in school activities and be more social. I think meeting people, being open, sociable, and open-minded about everything else opens your eyes to a whole new perspective. I started getting into fashion, accessories and makeup and I think it builds one’s character. I have been experimenting with MAC since January 2007 and I have been loving every step.

If I had to describe how I changed in the past year, I would have to say I have become more loving, patient and understanding towards my loved ones. I have always been fighting with my parents, being rebellious. I have been in relationships but it would not last for more than 6 months. I am proud to say that all this changed in a year. My parents and I have a wonderful relationship and I am with my boyfriend for more than a year now, serious and contemplating over our future endeavours.

There are no ways I can tell you how valuable it is to me to win this prize. I have not win any prizes as grand as this. I am very new in the cosmetics world. I have been slowly collecting MAC items in my traincase (which is slowly growing at a snail’s pace). I would be honoured to receive this prize as it would truly represent my serious interest to learn more about makeup and how to apply it myself.

Thank you Christine and Happy Holidays!