Beauty for All: Why Beauty Needs to Be Universal

Pretty Woman | Instagram

In a Pretty Woman kind of moment, Shefali Karani shares that we should never let discrimination stop us from being unapologetically beautiful

When you think of beauty, you might think of the famous plus-size model like Ashley Graham or the supermodel of color like Naomi Campbell. But the fashion world hasn’t always been big on inclusivity. A few years ago, Dolce & Gabbana ran a blatantly racist ad featuring an Asian model eating pizza with chopsticks. Gucci also faced controversy soon after with its notorious “blackface” knitwear, that caused some serious backlash. No matter where a person is from or what their gender is, he or she should feel beautiful when buying something. No one should feel unworthy because of their size, ethnicity, or skin tone. That’s how beauty can radiate from within.

Back home in the United States recently, I happened to visit a new store selling beauty products. As I walked into the store, the sales associate rushed to assist me. Everything was going smoothly until it was time to pay for what I had gotten. As she started insisting that I buy an “inexpensive” item, her attitude changed. As I kindly dismissed that, she then asked for my name. When I mentioned that, her helpful attitude transformed into a more disdainful one. She then handed me a few samples. When I asked her for some other samples instead that I had seen in a box nearby, she quickly ran there and said, “Not for you!” Taken aback, I ignored what had just happened and got some other samples.

Once everything was paid for and I went home, it soon dawned upon me that this was an act of discrimination. A few days later, I walked by the store and went inside. I asked the salesperson if that lady was there that day and when she said that she wasn’t, I demanded to see the manager. I told her everything and mentioned that it was a strange incident that had taken place and that this had never happened to me in any of the stores there. She apologized, gave me a few free products and a discount on what I bought. She also promised to tell that lady [who had been discriminatory towards me] that an “anonymous” customer had come in and given feedback.

Ironically, I even ended up buying that “inexpensive” item from a few days before. The manager told me that the lady had probably meant to say that those items in the box were meant for other promotions and that people have randomly taken items from there. But even so, I told her that the way the saleslady had told me off, was as if I couldn’t afford that “inexpensive” item. I didn’t feel the need to tell the manager that I was also dressed nicely during my original visit, and that I had quite a few shopping bags with me since I felt within my gut that this was racism, as I was a person of color.

Although, I wouldn’t mind going back to that store again, I won’t let that situation happen again. Never let anyone make you feel terrible for being unapologetically and beautifully you.