“
“
There are all these images , expectations and particular pressures that are made to make
us think this is what beauty is ,
this is what a women is , or this is what a successful women is .
ON WEARING NO MAKE-UP
What happened with you and the decision you made not to wear make-up any more ? I was aware of becoming overly concerned with other people ’ s opinions of me . It got to the point where I ’ d be freaked out leaving the house without make-up on . I was realising that there was so much that I had learned and that we all learn , especially as women and girls , from the second we are born . There are all these images , expectations and particular pressures that are made to make us think this is what beauty is , this is what a women is , or this is what a successful women is .
What do you think we as women can do to push against that ? What can we be telling our daughters ? I ’ m one for variety . I just want myself and my daughter ( if I had one ) and my sons to see a variety of what people look like . We look a vast array of ways . It ’ s not about make-up or no make-up , it ’ s about what makes you comfortable and about also being able to explore different versions of what makes you comfortable . Even for myself , when I want to wear make-up that ’ s my choice . I can totally wear make-up and no one should be able to say “ Didn ’ t you say you were never going to wear make-up ?” No , that ’ s not what I have said .
ON THE US ELECTION
We ’ ve gone through one of the most bitterly fought elections in America ’ s history . You ’ ve said in the past that you don ’ t listen to what Donald Trump says and you said he doesn ’ t care about women . He ’ s the next President of the United
States . How do you feel about that ? I ’ m disappointed . I ’ m disappointed that so much hateful , rhetoric , sexism , bigotry , racial slurring and intolerance would be rewarded with a presidency .
ON WHY GIRLS CAN ’ T BE THEMSELVES
It ’ s sad that girls can ’ t be themselves . It ’ s sad that through this whole election process in America , because Hilary was so strong and tough , how many unnecessary comments were said about her being a woman . We as women , can be any way we want ! It is sad when you can ’ t be yourself . That ’ s the problem with girls all over the world . There ’ s so much oppression towards women and there ’ s so much unequal opportunity .
Alicia Keys 6th studio album ‘ Here ’ is out now .
21