THE BEAUTY C H R O N I C L E S
Interviewed By Sasha Frank
Photographed By Nat Sin
Interviewee Morgan Ryan
What does beauty mean to you?
I think beauty is entirely a state of mind. To me, beauty is finding comfort and strength in your individuality. It’s an acceptance of who you are, quirks and all, and a celebration of that. I feel most beautiful when I’m my authentic self because I’m instantly aligned with my truth. This allows my beauty to shine through.
As a child did you hate a certain feature, if so, did you begin to embrace is later on?
As a child, I disliked my fair skin, auburn hair and freckles. Growing up, a majority of my friends had beautiful olive-toned skin. I felt like an outcast and at a very young age. The last thing you want to feel is like you don’t belong.
I spent many years trying to alter my looks as a means to fit in. As I grew older, I began to embrace my hair color. I noticed that the red undertones made my green eyes pop. I switched over to tinted moisturizers to allow my freckles to show through. I stopped tanning and realized how much beauty there was to be found in a porcelain complexion.
As a result of these insecurities, I learned that it’s okay to stand out. I began to understand the importance of individuality and how to embrace the “weird.” This made me more accepting towards myself and others. It’s amazing how the features I tried to alter have now become my most powerful attributes, not to mention my favorite. This goes to show that making peace with the external can help influence internal peace.
Do you feel that inner beauty is just as important as the outer beauty?
I’m a big believer that your outer beauty is reflection of what’s going on inside. That’s not to say that the most attractive women physically are truly beautiful on the inside. Concealing is easy, but shining your truth is what takes strength and courage.
I think coming to accept the external is a huge hurdle for most and is an important part of the healing journey. Regardless, I definitely believe internal beauty reigns supreme. I say this because the external is temporary and subject to change. The only everlasting beauty is that of a good heart. Some of the most beautiful women I’ve met are those with a beautiful soul and that can only be achieved through inner work.
As women who are constantly working on our inner beauty: Do you feel that once you began to not care about what others thought about you everything began to fall into place? Did you find your calling in that?
Growing up, I was insecure but never showed it. I was a late bloomer, who had yet to reap the rewards of her external beauty. As a result, I had this “fake it till you make it” attitude. I searched, observed and learned by spending time with myself to better understand beauty. This was the time when the experimentation began.
I began to find my personal beauty when I took fashion risks and pushed myself to constantly create someone new and improved from the day prior. Although these were all external practices, it came from a deep-rooted place of “I am an artist.” I became fearless. I also began to grow a thick skin so that no external force could change me.
I remember one morning before leaving for school my dad asked, “Who are you trying to impress?” I said with conviction, “myself.” Ever since that day, I’ve realized the importance of intent and that we should never do something for the approval of others. I would say once I let the opinions of the outside world fade, I was able to make peace with my wounds and came into my own creative beauty.
What do you think the world is missing in the scope of women role models? How can we change that?
I think the current landscape we live in is crying out for unwavering compassion. For this reason, we need women who can stand up and be both strong and empathetic.
I think society as a whole is partially to blame for our current role models. We add fuel to the fire by continuing to support and make the trivial important. I think the first step in making positive shifts in the scope of positive women role models is to create a new ideal and stand up for that by supporting the right women.
What advice would you give younger girls coming into their own?
Be gentle with yourself. Understand that beauty is something you grow into; give yourself time to develop. Know that everyone’s journey is unique so don’t compare yours to others. You were born to stand out; never apologize for who you are! Embrace your unique quirks, they make you, you.
Are there any upcoming projects of projects you are working on now that you can speak about?
At the end of 2015, I teamed up with Paul Mitchell as a brand influencer. I recently produced and starred in my first project for them as THE M A V E R I C K MUSE. It’s still currently under wraps so I can’t dish; however, I am excited to see how the future unfolds with this partnership!
For more empowering stories and inspiration head over to Sasha Frank’s blog. For more Beauty Chronicles, subscribe HERE!
