Kambua

African hair is the most beautiful thing in the world to me. Hair has always occupied a sacred position in my life. It's an unapologetic assertion of pride in my African ancestry. My hair is a source of personal and spiritual power and connects me to the divine. African hair has a unique beauty and I love that it can tell a story whilst reflecting my culture's rich history.

Chi Chi

I'm a kidney patient who was on dialysis for 10 years before getting a transplant. I know what I should look like but when I look at myself in the mirror, I don't see the ravages of years on dialysis but a beautiful woman who has weathered a lot of battles and still came through looking like I do. Beauty is how you see yourself, call it vanity or whatever but I'm BEAUTIFUL!

Thandiwe

Beauty can be found in the moments in which we are reminded what matters most to us. Like when a flower opens for the first time and you remember how you love them. When you see a new mother with her baby and you are reminded of how you love your children. Beauty is all around us; we just need to be humble.

Nia

Beauty is the summation of every feature, every small gesture, every flaw, every peculiarity and every trait that provides a window into someone’s inner being, their soul. It’s never the appearance of someone that sticks with you, but rather how they make you feel that lingers in the mind even in their absence. Beauty is an amalgamation of the mundane, the profound, the perfect and the imperfect details that make every person unique.

Fatima

I am consumed with it, I notice beauty everywhere, in nature, in other people, but I cant seem to locate it within myself.

Anu

It is something I will never be and I actively stopped pursuing it years ago. I feel free.

Nandi

Sometimes I wish I was prettier, I struggle with how I look a lot, I know I will never become beautiful and that sucks sometimes.

Khadija

Im struggling to find beauty in anything right now.

Amina

I left social media because the emphasis on aesthetics was too overwhelming, it was messing up my mental health as I was constantly comparing myself to others, I think we focus on beauty too much.

Ava

Beauty to me comes from within. It’s not the hairstyle, the wardrobe or the makeup. It’s being confident in the person you are today no matter what shape, size, colour, etc. Always being the best person you can be. A beautiful personality = beautiful person.

Janet

I believe that real beauty is acceptance of yourself, perceived flaws and all and to realise that they are a part of what makes you, you. It's a radiance of spirit, having character, kindness to ourselves and to others, it's strength and self-confidence to know that with or without makeup the real beauty is you.

Malika

It’s anything from lounging at home with my hair up in a bun minus the makeup, to a compliment from a stranger when I'm not even trying, to wearing an amazing new outfit combined with a bright red lipstick.

Kia

Beauty is deeper than what is on the outside. Beauty is believing in yourself every day and knowing that you are worthy of all things.

Mel

God's definition of beauty is so very different from our world's standards, and it never changes. It doesn't make sense that we look ourselves in the mirror and hate what we see when God says to look at the heart.

Kaya

Its not something I ever think about, it doesn’t affect my day to day life and I don’t think I am treated any different because of the way I look.

Sade

I say beauty comes from within - you are beauty and beauty is you. You are a masterpiece - a work of art. There is only one you, made up of your genes and life experiences. And there will never be another.