Passports and Eyebrows

A strange title I know but the month of September brought with it the 2 most longed for items, that I most desired, Ghanaian citizen and eyebrows. Both of which were common long-time themes in my everyday conversation, to the extent that I was starting to think that they defined me. Not healthy I know, but if you talk about something enough the power of manifestation takes over.

Not having distinct eyebrows made me feel less confident about my looks and my natural beauty, as stupid as that sounds, as I like to believe that overall, I am a confident individual. Yet I never really felt 100% comfortable with a “bare face” or “tiny bush eyebrows”.

Being a specky all my life allowed me to hide behind my poor vision. Yet when wearing contact lenses, displaying my full face for all to see always made me feel less beautiful as folk close to me would highlight my imperfections.  Although many did not notice, I was always aware. Therefore, I continuously did my best to the hide behind my glasses, which I have always done, but shall do no more.

All my life as black Scottish female I was always aware of my looks, my body and how it failed to fit in with the Caucasian female stereotype. This was made particularly apparent during the period of me transitioning from a girl into a young woman. Where I was made aware of my big ass, big lips, strange curly afro hair, big thighs all of which opposed the modern-day beauty trends of that era.

Things are different now thank god, as we realise and embrace that beauty comes in many different shapes and sizes. We are aware of the subconscious and conscious impact influencing trends has on the confidence of those who do not fit them at that time. Subsequently as a reaction to the need to fit in, I would relax my hair from intensely curly to poker dead straight, burning my scalp in the process. Exercising profusely so that I could look thinner and essentially work against everything mother nature had bestowed upon me, to be me. Thank god I’ve now seen the light and shine in my beauty as a dreadlock queen!!

It is important to highlight how trends especially in female beauty can have an impact on how individuals view themselves in relation to their environment and the opposite sex. It is imperative that we drive the need and focus for self-love, self -acceptance, and self-care no matter what you look like and no matter what trend is currently in fashion. It is essential to understand and be aware of the societal pressures placed upon us, to look and act a certain way, and to acknowledge that, it affects us all. What benefit is it to man kind for all of us to strive to look and be the same?

Being a Black Scottish female with a weak connection to my heritage, was the catalyst for me to create the bond between who I am and where I am from. The cancellation of my plans to travel to Ghana this year thwarted by the pandemic, was the motivation for me to apply for Ghana citizenship. The process was stressful, cumbersome and not without its struggles, yet the outcome was one of pure joy, elation and a great sense of belonging.

It’s strange to say that the older I get the greater the connection I feel to my blackness, heritage and ultimately myself. I love how look , I love who I am and who I work towards being as I mature and age, as it is not only through divine guidance that I seek my truth as a human being , but also through self-love and acceptance of who I am , who I want to be and what I want to emulate as a human being.

It is vital that we learn to love ourselves and show gratitude for what has been given to us and work towards perfecting the beauty that we are.