Why Am I Nonetheless Insecure For Having Full Lips As an Grownup?

I’ve at all times been self-conscious about my lips. They’ve been the topic of debate since childhood. Regardless of my efforts to make them seem smaller, I used to be consistently picked on and teased by my friends in class. Even once I tried to tuck them inside, my classmates would nonetheless mimic my look every time I spoke, making me really feel much more embarrassed and insecure.

Though I had girlfriends who at all times supported me when bullies made enjoyable of me, their actions didn’t cease me from feeling inferior. I can nonetheless keep in mind the day at school once we had been watching a film about animals, and a shark appeared on the display. Certainly one of my classmates screamed “That’s Larry,” referring to me due to my massive lips. I attempted many issues to make my lips smaller, like making use of sugar cubes to them, however the consequence was at all times the identical – my lips remained massive and full. 

This and several other incidents led me to plead with my mother to permit me to overlook college so as to keep away from any bullying. Nevertheless, my mother refused and suggested me that God had given me these lips for a function, and I shouldn’t take note of the bullies and as an alternative give attention to my training. I used to be fed up with being teased by my classmates and was keen to do something to make them cease. As I grew older, males made undesirable feedback and objectified my lips, which induced me discomfort and made it tough for me to exit or pursue any romantic relationships.

Moreover, I had to make use of a whole small tub of Vaseline on my lips, nevertheless it nonetheless didn’t appear to be sufficient to moisturize and canopy them correctly. Whereas I did see some celebrities who appeared like me on the purple carpet, there was an absence of illustration within the media. The sweetness requirements portrayed within the media had been typically eccentric and unrealistic, and though I noticed my favourite celebrities like Brandy, Diana Ross, and Beyoncé embracing their full lips, I couldn’t love myself sufficient to do the identical.

It dawned on me that my lips are an ongoing magnificence pattern– celebrities and TikTok content material creators have popularized lip fillers for a fuller pout. There’s a Lip Filter on TikTok that has over 76 million views, displaying movies of creators utilizing the filter to see what they may seem like with plump lips. There have been a majority who noticed an enormous significance on their pouts, however some solely seen small particulars. To me, it’s a mockery as a result of I, together with many individuals, had been chastised for having massive full lips, which makes me query society’s notion of magnificence requirements. 

A number of months in the past, I used to be at a press journey in Upstate NY and whereas I used to be having a dialog with a visitor, one man walked up and interrupted our dialog, asking if my lips had been actual. I instantly stayed silent and saved staring on the man who had the nerve to ask me that query. However I needed to keep in mind, we dwell in a society the place we frequently settle for pretend over pure magnificence. 

There’s additionally a rising bar within the plastic cosmetics trade, pursuing many ladies, even a number of males, to inject fillers or botox to reinforce their options. I learn numerous articles about individuals sharing their insecurities round having massive, full lips and the way some are being accused of copying celebrities. In the meantime, there are a number of people who find themselves paying hundreds and hundreds of {dollars} to get two or three syringes to make them look good for Instagram or TikTok. Or, simply to look good generally. 

As magnificence requirements come and go, my lips will stay the identical and whereas I’ve my days of being insecure, I’ve to be grateful that God gave me these full lips for a motive.