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Hello. I want to share a story with you. I was recently talking to a female friend of mine and encouraging her to try to make her own vlog. I told her it was fun and enjoyable and that she would be wonderful at it! But my friend said, “No way! I’m too ugly! I’m not pretty enough! I don’t want many people looking at me! I’m too fat! I don’t look good on camera.”
I was shocked and told her to knock it off! “You’re not ugly! You’re beautiful!” I told her.
But my friend disagreed. She was not able to see her own beauty.
B-E-A-U-T-Y — What does that mean anyway? I thought a lot about it until something popped into my mind. I found myself remembering that famous painting of Mona Lisa.
Mona Lisa was a woman who lived a long time ago. She wasn’t a particularly striking woman, but she looked ok. Her hair was common. Her clothes were appropriate. BUT, Mona Lisa knew she was a beautiful woman! And the famous painter, Leonardo da Vinci, captured that beauty in her dignified eyes and uplifting smile.
Maybe if all women who feel the same as my friend could identify with Mona Lisa, we could recognize we each have our own inner beauty. All we need to do is let our inner beauty come forth and radiate from our being. Then we can show the world how truly beautiful we are!
Beauty doesn’t come from a certain kind of hair style. It doesn’t come from how your face looks, or how you dress. It doesn’t come from your body weight or shape.
Beauty comes from within.
Hmmm, well PERHAPS you have almost talked me into making my first vlog. But I think I will have either my bird or my Bengal Cat with me, just to keep the focus on something else!
Thank you for another uplifting blog from the Lovely LaRonda.
Lantana
Left by Lantana on March 11th, 2007
Thought I’d share my experiences, may help your friend.
I was hesistant to vlog at the start, I didn’t feel comfortable. I thought I’d wait until I have something worthwhile to share, and it was a gulp-go-for-it step.
I guess your friend can wait until she has things she thinks are worthwhile sharing, and perhaps she’ll feel more comfortable in vlogging, as it’ll be the message that she wants to share, not think about how she looks.
I agree with you, it’s the person within that counts, not his or her appearance.
Left by Susan on March 11th, 2007
If Mona was brave enuff to have her picture painted, then she would vlog. This is the Internet, not TV. That is why I did my first vlog wearing dress down yard clothes and a cap to indicate a point that I’m not following norms or expectations from others and I would just be myself. I’m not a card as I used to be.
In my second vlog, I explained whatever I’m saying in my vlog should be of interest, not my appearance. I wanted to see more people vlogging being themselves despite outside societal expectations. Before DeafRead came into play, I was into youtube and what I learned from youtube is to be yourself and keeping it real. People of all kinds of color, size, and weight are allowed to express themselves. Some may advocate for an artificial and enhanced front of self, I disagree with that.
Left by MikeS on March 11th, 2007
Hi LaRonda
I agree with you … No matter what look like but still beauty in Heart come first than ugly,– Where is Self by feel good .. It real Important Need to feel share with peolpe and need to Support . It real important is Beauty . I am still Cute and Beauty Too make me Feel good and I am proud of it . You know ….
Thanks
Sara
Left by Sara on March 11th, 2007
You got that exactly right! Wonderful work!
Left by Jay on March 11th, 2007
You have hit a big bullseye on this!
It’s the self esteem that need to be nutured and show the world you have this same radiant aura that Da Vinci captured from Mona Lisa. Once you made a vlog, people will capture the same aura you radiates.
Keep vlogging! Ciao!
Left by Wacky Taz on March 11th, 2007
Hi LaRonda,
Roger!
Like in my previous post on Crippendales, I updated it saying . . .
IMHO, I think men who have such great personalities and do good deeds, have sense of humor are sexy, no matter how they look! Appearance is not always important. What matters most is the inner beauty — more than the outside appearance of a person… there are some people who are beautiful on the outside but not on the inside, which makes them look ugly. Outer beauty fades away over years and inner beauty stays forever.
Hey, I had discussed blog design on my site last night. It is totally different! Blogs do not have an inner beauty! They do not radiate like humans do. Blog is a constant. It does not fade or stay forever. I do not want to start the fire here!
Stepping back to your entry on inner beauty … In fact, when I first got involved with vlog community, I felt uncomfortable, because I thought I look somewhat chubby– having not lost last ten pounds from the last pregnancy. However it was my confidence that set the light green to vlogging!
All you need is some positive attitude, self confidence, and maybe beauty tips such as brushing hair, wearing some light and neutral color make-up such as lip balm, and your favorite shirt (to boost confidence, be sure it’s solid). It works for me! I reckon you notice I always wear black 3/4 sleeve shirt. That’s my favorite one! I I wear it alllll the time. Hope it helps.
By the way, your header and posts look lovely. I like the idea of embedding images in your posts. It makes posts look so interesting. Nice job!
Left by Teri on March 11th, 2007
Thanks for your “beautiful” comments, my new friends.
Beauty is as beauty does….
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on March 11th, 2007
Tell your friend about the look ain’t worth, Just come on vlog what she might like to telling us about experiences, life, society, travel, etc. I am sure the comments will send her feel better. I always like with my makeup that for something where i can go but not for my video. By the way, I liked your rabbit and turtle story!
Left by Mia on March 11th, 2007
wow! love it ! keep vlogging! it’s a great to share with everyone who thinks in opposite way.
Left by kira on March 12th, 2007
Powerful message, LaRonda!!
I love it!!
I hope you’ll bump this on DR (DeafRead) from time to time in an effort to encourage those who are afraid to come forward with barriers in their minds!
Did you twist Forrest Gump’s quote, “…stupid is as stupid does”?
Love that movie!!
Anyway, I hope your friend will vlog!
She will get a lot of wonderful support from us!
Left by IamMine on March 12th, 2007
You captured the right concept!
Beauty is skin deep!
What a woman like you does not matter in appearance, but skin deep as they say.
There are awesome qualities that are hidden deep down inside, there are awesome beauties down deep, there are awesome stuffs that we do not know would blossom … once that comes out, a “Mona Lisa smile” will show it’s way …
Women have such …qualities … that us men may have overlooked! We men can lern from them in a wonderful way.
If a woman feels she is not beautiful, hey lady, stop for a minute and analize yourself, and say, I have got the beauty within that none can take away!
Very good, LaRonda!
Left by Fred on March 12th, 2007
Beautiful vlog! Thank you for sharing this! You remind me of Mona Lisa!
Left by Lipstick on March 12th, 2007
Good message! Thanks for the encouragement. Hope your friend will find the courage to vlog.
Left by Jessica on March 12th, 2007
I’ve been wanting to get involved with vlogging but feel hestiant to do so due to insecurities like your friend…..you may have just inspired me to try…. Thanks for sharing your vlog. Beautifully done and a great reminder for us all women that often there are others out there feeling the same.
Left by d'shiniz on March 13th, 2007
I hope my friend, as well as anyone else who has been thinking about vlogging, will feel inspired by the comments people have left here. Thank you all for your support!
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on March 13th, 2007
Did it help??!!
Left by IamMine on March 16th, 2007
Thanks everyone for your encouragement. My friend is considering making a vlog, but she has not yet bought a camera to film herself yet. Naturally, I will keep her identity confidential so she doesn’t feel embarrassed. When you see new vlogs pop up in the future, be encouraging. It might be my friend.
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on March 16th, 2007
LaRonda,
Being late by a few days as I found your site, while it may appear to serve as an icon or symbol to mass public; however, I feel obliged to make a few comments on Mona Lisa. I visited the Louvre Museum where Mona Lisa painting is located in the south wing (there are three entrances) and here’s a few art tidbits.
Mona Lisa was a vain noblewoman of such ugliness that disgusted Leonardo to no end. He painted it so subtly, yet not so, in his veiled and insulting portrayal of the woman: in the background, there are two completely opposing and contrasting landscapes. They do not match at all and have come to demonstrate the chaotic and volatile characteristics that Leonardo found of Mona. Her famous smile is due to the painting technique Leonardo had that gave such a faint, not-so-sharp allure (all features of the painting had that, not just the smile). It also was intended to “debase” her smile into something neutral to convey a feeling of simplicity, in an attempt to mock her noblewoman status. The varying interpretations by art historians throughout time lent such insights and added much intricacies to it. Interpretations above, however, are pretty much one of few common denominations.
So it is altogether humorous when you chose her to represent your concept of inner beauty–because she had none!
Perhaps another analogy is in order. Perhaps, for your friend, she needs to realize that the most amazing, fluttery and colorful butterfly would not have happened if the proverbial worm remained in the cocoon.
Left by Eyefang on March 20th, 2007
Dear Eyefang,
Eeek! I have had a good laugh.
Shows you what I know about art! I am humbled by your expertise and chose to go ahead and approve your post. I stand corrected and a bit embarrassed. My story was honest though. It was what I was lead to believe about Mona Lisa. Apparently, I did not know the real story behind that famous painting. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I think my viewers still got the point of my vlog post which was not to worry about appearances. I wanted to encourage my friend and others to live courageously and get out there and vlog!
Again, it’s been a fun chuckle.
~ LaRonda
Left by LaRonda on March 20th, 2007
Beauty has been a gift for women since ancient times. Though it sounds partial, beautiful women have always been given preference over an average looking woman. Every woman is born beautiful in some way or another. What we need to do is focus on our strong triats and enhance them and they will take care of our traits that do not resemble us in a very beautiful manner.
Left by Betty on August 26th, 2009