At an awards ceremony known for its extreme aesthetic, sequins are everywhere, it takes a lot to stand out. Swarovski crystal eyeliners like Vanessa Hudgens’ do the trick, or you can go the exact opposite direction and hit the red carpet and VMAs stage with absolutely no makeup on. Last year, Alicia Keys and Alessia Cara chose the latter route and broke the VMAs framework for self-acceptance. And while Keys wasn’t on the show this year, Cara just arrived at the VMAs bare-faced for the second year in a row — and accentuated the move by literally removing her makeup on stage.
The gesture is definitely a standout from the rest of the looks we’ve seen tonight, but for Cara, it’s a pretty casual business. Here’s the story that started this year’s no-makeup look: after receiving fierce criticism for not dressing appropriately for Dick Clark’s New Year 2016 performance, Cara ducked her face in her look. its own nature.
According to Cara, it goes back to the honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity at the core of her music. Last summer, she said, “We decided that for every performance of my ‘Scars to Your Beautiful’, every interview I did about it, I wouldn’t wear makeup, because how could I have any makeup on me? could preach a song about yourself and be beautiful and perfect just the way you are — and have a full face of makeup? I wanted to show people that I’m comfortable enough to be on national television and be yourself
Alessia Cara removes makeup on stage while singing “Scars to Your Beautiful,” a powerful message of self-acceptance at the VMAs.
She’s remained committed ever since, expanding her makeup-free mission to every gig — and allowing her to sing “Scars” on stage tonight, which means appearing in front of millions of people. make up. If you missed the performance, it’s awesome: she started with red lips, a bob wig, and a red cape, and throughout the performance her backup dancers stripped it all down.
A strand of hair and a tissue smeared her lips, and Cara transformed back into the self she used to perform – her voice and the message that you’re beautiful no matter what, throughout.
Apparently, she looks amazing (celebrity skin-care routines tend to help). But whatever the final effect, the massive props for Cara to show that a star doesn’t have to be one-way and that the best look — red carpet or not — is the one you love. like. As she tells Glamor, “You can be Natural. You can have a full face of makeup. You can be skinny or fat or short or tall. There’s no definition of beautiful. There’s no right or wrong way. wrong. Be yourself.”
