Look deeper before you criticize my make-up

"When I am 18, I'm going to have my first makeup session"

This was said four years ago by Josephine, my very good friend. It was our graduation from secondary school yet her mom had refused her from getting the makeup session she had always dreamt of for graduation.

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"Well, she means well for you. Besides, it's not like you look bad or something so stop making a fuss" I told her that day.

Three years later when we both had our matriculation, I saw Josephine's pictures flying on the internet as she was being reposted by most of the friends we shared.

I was already typing congratulations when I saw the picture for myself. Her face had been carefully molded with cosmetics. She was beautiful, but it was too much in my opinion.

Josephine and I got talking again during the strike. Unfortunately, it affected her school as well so we both lamented to each other about the state of things in the country. I had missed how much she could match my vibe when it came to conversations; besides I had not seen her in forever so I suggested that we did a video call.

"No o, no"

"Why not? It's been so long since I saw you, besides, in all your pictures on Facebook, you have been plastered with heavy cosmetics. I want to see your real face" I said matter-of-factly.

Josephine merely laughed and told me there was nothing she could do especially since the request came impromptu. Sometime during the conversation, I asked where she was at that moment and she said Port Harcourt. I nearly dropped my phone in excitement.

"I'm in Port Harcourt too! How about we hang out sometime?"

"That would be a great idea. What's your weekend like?"

We were both excited to see one another after so many years. Josephine had added weight, building curves in the right places. However, she had gone ahead to coat her face with layers of makeup again.

I would have been silent but seeing how uncomfortable she was and how she made several attempts to fix the eyelash extension which seemed to be coming out, I had to say something.

"So madam, you had to wear makeup to visit your female friend who you've not seen in such a long time? You came all out to oppress me right?" I teased.

She smiled, rather than give a nasty reply like I was expecting, she bowed her head for some minutes then raised it and avoided my eyes almost all through.

If it were to be someone else I would have let it go, but Josephine was my friend and it would be bad of me not to find out what was going on.

"Jojo" I fondly called out to her "how about we discuss some important things. I have a couple of questions for you. You could ask me as well if you have somethings you want to know."

"Please don't ask why I'm always in makeup " her voice was strained, I wanted to believe she had been making effort to maintain her self composure all along so I decided not to press further. Heavy silence hung in the air making both of us really uncomfortable. I could see Josephine fidgeting with the hem of her blouse. Once in a while, she raised her head to catch my gaze but she never held it.

I broke the silence by asking her to walk with me to get some ice cream. It was then she told me.

"I don't think I'm beautiful". I turned to look at her "without makeup, I mean".

I tried to remember what she looked like without makeup but my memory was failing at that point.

"What makes you say so? You're a really beautiful girl"

She dipped her head again then brought it up to stare at me.

"I'm going to tell you a story after we get the ice cream."

I was really happy we had gone for the ice cream because it calmed me down a great deal as Josephine told me how she had impulsively walked into a relationship with a guy who talked down on her natural beauty and insisted that she wore makeup all the time. She was no longer with the guy, but she felt that if she wore makeup most of the time, she would land a better guy and live happily ever after.

I knew immediately that her self esteem has been shattered and she only felt good about herself when she had makeup on.

"So have you seen evident changes? Do you feel satisfied each time you have makeup on?"

She shook her head in the negative.

"I wish everyone would just accept me the way I am"

"Jojo that's the problem. You have to accept yourself first before anyone can conveniently accept you. You have lived to please these people for a long time, now why don't you try putting yourself first?"

She dabbed at her eyes then looked up at me with a smile

"Fall in love with your real face Jojo. Wake up every morning and spend time admiring it in the mirror. You're perfect the way you were created. You don't need to discomfort yourself trying to impress others. Okay?"

She sniffed and nodded then held out her arms for an embrace. As I wrapped my arms around her, I could hear her sob softly. I made a mental note then to never criticize anyone until I wore the shoes that constantly pinched them.