Does This Fig Leaf Make My Butt Look Big?

I’m convinced that since the beginning of time women have had self-image issues and have worried needlessly about the way they look.  I envision that the moment Eve slipped on her first fig leaf, she turned to Adam and said “Hun, does this fig leaf make my butt look big?”  And, it was probably the first time a guy ever lied.

A few weeks ago, in an effort to find our own personal style, my sisters, my mom, my niece and I spent an afternoon with an image consultant who promised to give us all a Supreme Makeover.  We were all looking forward to finding out ways we could improve our look, after all, what woman doesn’t want to learn a few tricks of the trade and bring her sexy back?  We didn’t really know what made the makeover “supreme” though. 

Our image consultant, Catrina Welch (catrina@catrinawelch.com) explained the concept in her book Know Who You Are, that: “A makeover accentuates your beauty for the day; a Supreme Makeover reveals the beauty you were designed for and sets you free to walk in the confidence of knowing who you are.”  Catrina uses scripture to teach people to understand and feel comfortable with their inner beauty.  “Genesis 3:1 The temptation was not a delicious apple, but ‘Do you know who you are?’ A poor self-image reflects a poor image of God.”

My family and I, if you don’t already know, are spiritual people but not religious per se.  We all believe in God (ladies correct me if I am wrong) but we don’t live by the word of the Bible.  I would say that we follow the Golden Rule and the other rules too for the most part.  I don’t think any of us ever thought of makeovers in terms of religion.  We all know the axiom that “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” but there’s not a saying that I know of that says “Thou shalt apply a second coat of mascara.”  

Although I enjoyed Catrina’s personality and knowledge, the session itself felt awkward because her approach to a makeover was through allowing the Creator to bring out the beauty.  She was very adamant that loving God is “the plan.”  Since we are not really very observant, but did want to get the most out of the makeover, my sister Kalliope asked if she (Catrina) had a Plan B?  Catrina did not.  In her opinion God was the only way to true beauty.

Religion and outer beauty are not two subjects that I would think of that go together naturally.  I can think of no religious group that focuses on personal outer beauty.  In fact, they seem to strive for the opposite.  Think of monks with their odd bowl haircuts; Hassidic Jews with their bushy beards, devout Muslims who ask their women to wear burkas to hide their beauty.

I do agree that to be truly beautiful, you must feel beautiful inside.  I have met many a stunning man or woman who I thought at first was the epitome of what I thought of as beautiful only to find that their vanity, their cockiness, their entitled behavior made them some of the ugliest people I’d ever met.  And, I’d also met some people who were not all that attractive at first glance but after getting to speak with them and know them a little, they became some of the most beautiful people I’d ever met.

True beauty comes from the inside, regardless of religious beliefs, and cannot be hidden… however bad a haircut, however bulky a burka, or however ill-fitting a fig leaf.