KARI | THIS IS ME

One of the questions I asked the participants of the “This Is Me” Series is what they remember learning about beauty from a young age, and if they carried these ideas with them into adulthood. This was Kari’s reply:

“I was always told I was pretty when I was younger, but I always struggled with confidence, never thinking I was as pretty as all the other girls. When I was a young adult with my first job as a waitress, a beautiful lady pulled me aside and said, “you have the most beautiful smile. If you keep smiling the way you do, that smile will get you through life’s journey.” I have never forgotten that advice, and have later realised that beauty shines from the inside out, and a smile can brighten even the dullest of days. When I smile I feel confident, even when I’m not the prettiest girl in the room.”

And what now is her idea of beauty? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is not only what you see physically, but how a person makes you feel and the energy and strength they show. Beauty can be seen in all things. I think I am a beautiful mother, a beautiful sister, a beautiful daughter and a beautiful friend. ...But sometimes I struggle to appreciate myself. 

Recently separated, Kari embraced this opportunity to celebrate her new found strength in herself. 

“Beauty is more than how you look, it’s about how you feel and how you see the world. You are unique.”