I want to be Catwoman when I grow up. Thomas and I found a channel that shows the old Adam West Batman series, and after about two minutes of screen-time, I'd fallen in love with Catwoman. Sure, she's a villain. She purrs lousy puns and disarms superheroes with kittens (really? Kittens? You'd think the "Boy Wonder" could take down a kitty cat, but I digress), but she does so with great style, a smattering of snark, and an abundance of self-confidence. I think it's the latter of the three that I most admire: self-confidence.
You don't have to be the most gorgeous woman on Earth to turn heads. There are actresses who are known for stopping traffic who are not what you would call "classically beautiful". What sets them apart is the confidence they exude. They know themselves, are comfortable with themselves, and that assuredness bursts through from the inside out. They just sparkle. That's why they shine on camera. That's why photographers hound them. That's why men want them and why women want to be them. It's not necessarily that they are beautiful, it's that they feel beautiful.
Another thing: they also know their assets and play them up. You never see Christina Hendricks or Scarlette Johannsen in anything that doesn't show off their amazing curves. Julia Roberts draws attention to her eyes and mega-watt smile. Adorable little Carey Mulligan chopped her hair short to show off her pixie face. Lauren Hutton has made a career off of the gap in her teeth. The list goes on. They know themselves. They know what works for them, and they make the most of it. That's what makes them sexy. That's what makes them stars.
It's not about up-to-there skirts and down-to-there blouses. It's not about showing skin or flirting shamelessly. It's about owning yourself; realizing that you're worth the extra thirty seconds it takes to throw on lipgloss or eyeliner--or not! I know some women who abhor makeup, and are all the more beautiful for it. Catwoman may have been silly, but she owned that silliness and made it look good.
It's not vanity, folks, but confidence that makes a woman breathtaking. No amount of money spent on products, or time spent in front of the mirror can replace that.
What inspired this little lecture? A fascinating article in Elle by "good girl" writer, April Long. She went on a quest to become a bombshell, and learned she'd been one all along. Each of us is, in our own way. The most important step to becoming a bonafide bombshell is not lipstick. It's not the hairstyle. It's confidence. You can read the article here, and I highly recommend it.
PREACH.
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