Personal Essay: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all? Day in and day out, I would ponder and contemplate this question. I would stand in the mirror, my reflection glaring back at me. I scoured every inch of my face, doting on big pores or an oily patch. I was consciously aware of my stance, my face, and the way I looked at each given moment. Instead of pondering the meaning of life, I was busy pondering the importance of a skinny face, big eyes, slim nose, and pouty lips. I didn’t appreciate the freckles speckled across my nose like stars lining the night sky. I didn’t appreciate my raw and resounding laugh. I didn’t appreciate the crinkles at the corners of my eyes or the way my face flushes a deep berry red when embarrassed. This notion of beauty and acceptance swirled in my head at every waking moment, and I …show more content…
Playing at a friend’s house one day I discovered makeup. Something I had seen my mom put on for special occasions, but something that I knew most children did not use or wear. Naturally, I was intrigued. I put some on, and looked into the mirror. Who I saw staring back at me felt beauteous, confident, and strong. I felt prettier and I thought I looked more like the girls on TV and in the magazines. I knew my mom had a strict no makeup rule, but once I tried it I was obsessed. I would convince my friend to give it to me, and every day I would get to school early, slathering it on sloppily in the school mirrors before my fifth grade “classes”. Each and every day I would religiously run into the bathroom before pickup to vigorously scrub off the makeup that had been applied in the morning. One day, my mom came to school to see my sister’s speech. I did not know that she was at school, so when I ran into her while wearing makeup, she was livid. Even after the scolding, embarrassment, and shame that had come with being caught, I continued with my daily ritual, not sensing that I was becoming infatuated with my