Oh, hi internet. Here's my bare face.
I'm not usually that keen on plastering pictures of myself everywhere, but today this is the face that spawned the following completely uninvited comments.
"You look unwell."
"Gosh, did you have a rough night?"
I'm not a massive fan of makeup. Sure, I wear it because I have to, but prior to working at Newshub I owned a shamefully old tube of mascara and a bb cream, neither of which I applied all that often.
Now it's full face every day.
This morning, I decided to give the old pores a break and let my skin breathe.
I have a reasonable sense of self-esteem; you have to around this place. It's one of the things they should teach at journalism school. Develop a thick skin, and fast.
But that thick skin was pierced today, completely unnecessarily.
Two men thought it was okay to walk into my office in the press gallery at Parliament and effectively tell me I look like crap.
First up, a minister's press secretary.
"You look unwell".
No, I'm not.
Shortly after, Labour MP Stuart Nash walked in trying to sell some bloody story about cops.
He looked shocked, almost offended at my face.
"Gosh, did you have a rough night?"
No I didn't. Unless you call being curled on the couch watching a movie with my partner a "rough night".
Let's just say he was quick to bolt from the office.
My colleague took this pic just after Stuart Nash bolted from our office. #nomakeup #nofilter (Newshub.)
My question is: what right do you have to walk into my office and spout that?
Would you ever walk in and ask my male colleagues the same thing?
It's quite frankly rude and disgraceful.
Just last month Alicia Keys was called a "f***ing mess" for ditching the war paint in favour of just wearing her face for the VMAs.
Cue the following headlines:
"Alicia Keys STUNS with no make up"
"Swizz Beatz defends Alicia Keys over no make-up stance" was another headline. Oh great we really needed her husband to jump in and ‘defend’ her.
And hilariously, there was this: "How to achieve Alicia Keys no makeup look"... with tips from her make up artist.
Women not wearing make-up shouldn't shock people. Just as women wearing makeup shouldn't shock people. Wear whatever the hell you like.
But more importantly, even if it does shock you, don't announce it. Don't belittle someone and rain all over their self esteem for the hell of it.
Shame on you Stuart Nash, I feel sorry for the women you work with on a day-to-day basis if you hold them to the same standard.
And for the record. I'm fine with my face. If you can't accept it, you know where the door is. Show yourself out.
