Opinion/2 mins/Lagos

Who Set These Beauty Standards You're Trying So Hard to Meet?

Why must I wear frontal wigs as a bride and not all back braids? Why must I wear makeup to feel beautiful?

By ForKulture • May 13, 2026

Who? I need a name. Anybody. Anything. Who the hell set these beauty standards? I did not deliberately choose to not be your usual girly girl. I just liked my simplicity too much and didn't realise I was paying attention to beauty standards all along.

Lashes. Heavy makeup. Wigs. Polished Nails. They never really meant anything to me and why should they? As someone is easily overwhelmed, these processes meant torture, one I wasn't ready to subject myself to. This is not an anti-beauty attempt, it is an attempt to remind women that they can be complete in themselves without trying so hard to meet these beauty standards.

/uploads/stories/stories-image-ad543dde.jpg

If you feel beautiful without enhancements, it’s absolutely okay. Stop trying to fit in but reclaim your individuality by defining what beauty means to you.

Why must I wear makeup to feel beautiful?