Letters From The Closet: January 2012

"What I have learned throughout the years as an admirer of beauty before even starting this blog is that you need to just follow your gut and heart and trust your own eyes. The idea of beauty is just an idea. Beauty is diverse; beauty is ambiguous. For me, beauty cannot be defined. You must see and feel it yourself in your own way. It has to relate to and touch you in an individualized way to fully be memorable.

I recently had drinks with a childhood friend, and we had a good conversation about our perceptions of beauty and what captivates our eyes. In the end, we both agreed to disagree. What I find otherwordly beautiful is what he finds plain, too weird, or just ugly. What he finds extremely attractive through his vision is nothing at all special to me. We both respected each other, so It was all good laughs.

Images in the magazines and TV screen have for a long time dictate most people’s taste. And now even more, those same images from only a small group of people continue to dictate most people’s idea of beauty via the Internet. Trends come and go as everyone tries to outbeat each other as taste makers.

Personally for me, I don’t care for trends in beauty. Those things are so unstable. My concentration is on moments and the ranges of beauty that I can push for and capture to share - which sometimes can be understood by many while other times only a few people see the beauty that I am trying to explain in images.

Through the blog, I want you all to know that this is a space to showcase as much diverse beauty that can be organically recorded in the high fashion modeling world of the catwalkers of the major shows. All the beauty that I capture and choose to share are not everything available in the world.

Take a turn to a road that is not model-related. For me, when I need pure inspiration, I go back to my experience in a small river village in Southeast Asia a decade ago, where I met this young girl who gave me a colorful drawing on lined notebook paper of the river village as a parting gift. It was her vision of world peace and happiness. I don’t think I have ever personally seen any work of art more beautiful!

There is beauty in all people, in all women, men, and those who prefer to not be classified. There is beauty, even in the desolateness of corrupted systems. There is beauty in things that are conventionally ugly, as well as there are flaws in things that are conventionally pretty or acceptable - which at the end of the day has a beauty about it!

It is cliche, but I will say it anyway. True beauty comes from within - from the uncalculated heart at the purest moments of kindness, acceptance, and embrace.

I am always sad to hear a young woman, who has yet to taste the sweetness and bitterness of the world, says that she feels ugly and that she needs makeup and photoshop to feel beautiful. While it is pretty much a dead road to try to unbrainwash young women who live in a culture that continues to negatively affect their self esteems, I won’t give up.

I believe everyone is beautiful. I hope you all can find beauty in yourself. And remember that beauty does not have to be obvious or even visible. Don’t ever sell your beauty short, and never let someone take advantage of your insecurities about your beauty. Most of all, remember that your true beauty is not physical because those things fade and are never-lasting. Your true beauty is you the individual.

I hope the year will end on a good note for everyone, and as always, I welcome your thoughts and opinions, so feel free to comment and share your thoughts on beauty. =)"

Damian

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Damian Bao is a photographer who has been my inspiration for almost a year and a half. He mostly captures photographs of of the world’s top agency-represented high fashion models in the streets and has been doing a great job with it. Still coping with the death of his love, Damian finds courage and strength in his blog Bonae L' amour. Damian, a man who believes in true beauty who has forever captured my heart.

Words by: Damian Bao

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