Seriously. There are some moments from the past summer, and even recently but involving people from the summer camp I worked at, that just make me so happy. There are these tiny little moments that make me feel like living my fucking life and being visible has some sort of impact. These are small changes but they mean a lot to me.

For example: There were challenges given for meal times during the summer - twin dinner (dress the same as someone else), or mingle dinner (sit with people from other cabins). One banquet the challenge was set by a boy’s cabin for a ‘no makeup banquet’.

Let’s be clear. So much fucked up stuff happens at summer camp. This is not even the tip of the iceburg. But this was still something that rubbed me the wrong way. As if you are going to shame me and imply that I am vain or foolish for conforming to some sort of female beauty standard when you are just trying to impose another. I showed up to banquet with the brightest pink lipstick that I owned (In Vogue by Rimmel - it’s fab). One of the girl’s cabins asked me why I was wearing lipstick. ‘You look pretty without it’ they said. ‘I know’ I responded. They giggled. And I tried to explain that even though I am beautiful without makeup, I am also beautiful with makeup. My beauty was just as valid either way. I didn’t like someone else telling me how to present myself.  I think some of them got it. They smiled at me and said that they thought makeup was fun too and they pointed out their lipgloss in pride, despite it going against the banquet challenge.