SHATTERING STANDARDS OF BEAUTY…
…because beauty does not have a type.
Today, I’m beyond happy to soft launch this e-magazine/look book. Its birthing today is a ratification of several inner thoughts and outward actions that have finally culminated in a tangible product.
Women are altogether beautiful; African women are altogether breathtaking, and this magazine intends to provide the platform to celebrate women all over the globe, acknowledging the diversity of their beauty.
It is a collection that captures real, spontaneous images of beautiful African women going about their daily lives.
One of the most powerful tools for empowered leadership in my opinion is acceptance; acceptance of who and how we are in God’s gracious image, and embracing and embodying it fully to our own benefit and to others . Acceptance empowers us with a certain unapologetic confidence that allows us to take up space within our ecosystems and ripples with inspiration, the power for others to do same.
As women, we are sometimes so insecure about parts of our body and worn out by kowtowing to a certain standard of beauty. We lose confidence in ourselves sometimes simply because we feel we do not fit into that pre-defined mould of what beauty should look like. We second guess ourselves a lot and judge ourselves harshly, and that often spirals into disparaging ourselves in other areas of our lives.
But we forget that there is no single-static standard of beauty. It’s not a one-size fits all. There is beauty in diversity; and we should own our diversity.
Beauty is not a one-size-fits-all. So go right ahead and be your own kind of beautiful. There’s so much power in taking charge over your own kind of beautiful. After all, beauty is beyond skin deep…
“If you have the opportunity to pay a compliment, pay it and do not defer it…”
When I get the chance to compliment a woman, I take it. When I get the chance to share a kind word with her that boosts her confidence and makes her feel seen, appreciated and refreshed in a way that empowers her, I take it.
Because every so often, we need it.
We all need compliments and kind words, and we need to get comfortable with ourselves and accepting all of us. It empowers us to be better women and emboldens us to lead better.
So, don’t hold back when you have a compliment or kind word. It’ll take a second to give it, but it’ll leave a lasting impression in the heart of the receiver. Spread love and joy.
I hope this inspires a lot of women to launch deeper into expressing the fullness of themselves and their capabilities in a meaningful way.
And finally, when God places a seed in your heart and hand, take it and run with it. It may not be perfect, but start now, start where you are, with what you have. And do not despise small beginnings such as these. For in the seed, is the capacity of a mighty tree.
I truly want to see more young women hungry, not just hungry, but supported as well (the support is cardinal because there are so many ready, capable young women full of potential who just need a boost, either through mentorship, expanded networks, leadership acumen, referrals, scholarships, financial assistance for their entrepreneurial activities or just a deeper understanding of what it takes to excel as a c-level executive/high level public sector decision maker), to amply occupy spaces within the highest corridors of leadership and governance.
What a world of rippling good that can be acoomplished when good women succeed…
How it works:
1. Photo
Real, spontaneous images of a beautiful African woman going about her daily life.
2. Bio
Name of the muse.
What they do.
Nationality.
Country and city photo was taken in.
3. Three questions
What piece of advice has helped her the most?
What word of encouragement would she give to someone?
What has she been most proud of or grateful for in her life?
Thank you for joining me on this soft launch and I cannot wait to see the beautiful places it’ll soon take us. And if the e-magazine catches on and makes a profit, I intend to give at least 50% away to improving the lives of women and empowering young women in leadership.
Lots of love, Radiant Robbie.
There’s more here. Listen to a short audio on the soft launch by clicking this link. There’s also a short story here and a video here about a time I faced insecurities about my looks and how negligible that issue is today (It’s a little funny too!)
#robbiewrites #radiantrobbie 13.1.2022
