I Am Beautiful: A Celebration of Women in Their Own Words

W I JxJ_J A, Sunny Valley, OregonWhen I look in the mirror, I see a fairly attractivebutch—one with seductive green eyes, flaming redhair and an elfin face. These externals don't make mefeel beautiful. I know that I am beautiful when I ambeing creative, singing, writing and especially, acting.When I draw a roomful of strangers into my worldand suspend them in a temporary reality, we click intoa single entity, collaborating in an artistic creation. Ishine in that connection, and I am beautiful.OPAL WITHHER GRANDMOTHER,rLLJl 1 LI Oakland, CaliforniaGrowing up in Jamaica, my beauty was pointed outat every turn by women in my community. Mymother was beautiful and everyone said I lookedlike her. By the time I was 3 years old my beauty wassomething I took for granted. However, as I grewolder, I learned that beauty did not merely refer tofacial or physical features, and could be enhanced bya friendly, easy-going disposition. Like my mother, Ienjoyed laughter. You could say laughter found us inevery corner and at all times. Since this laughter, andlove, were a reflection of the community from whichI came, I have never doubted my beauty.