What does it mean to face the question of beauty every day, not just personally but professionally? This spring we surveyed models, cosmetic physicians, influencers and artists about their jobs, where they find beauty in their own lives, and what they think it is for. Below you’ll find a selection of their answers.
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Anonymous
Model, 39
Seattle, Washington
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I model for companies that manufacture medical-imaging devices. I have been modeling for seventeen years this year, and it began at the invitation of a family friend who worked at one of the companies.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
For me, the main thing is exercise. Diet too. Medical-imaging devices need to work for folks of all body types—and there are models of all body types—but my employers call me their “glass body.” They want me lean, muscular and hydrated. So, very briefly, that means twice-a-day workouts five days a week and active recovery the other two days (long walks Monday and Thursday). And then gerbil food, basically. Total gym rat diet: lots of lean protein and whole grains and water.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
What isn’t natural? (I’m a Spinozist.)
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
I’ve thought a bit about this. Again, relative to my situation. I’m not myself strikingly beautiful, but I do get more work than other models, on account of my body type. (When any model will do, for whatever it is they’re up to, I get the impression they’re more than happy to use me.) On the other hand, what appeal I have, as a model, is based on work I do to keep my job that other models don’t have to do to keep theirs.
What is beauty for?
That’s a good question. If you’ll indulge me, I happen to believe aesthetics is first philosophy. First philosophy is (more commonly known as) metaphysics. Metaphysics, according to Wilfrid Sellars’s famous definition, is how things, in the broadest possible sense of the term, hang together, in the broadest possible sense of the term. “How things hang together” can be said to characterize aesthetics, in the broadest possible sense of that term. So aesthetics is first philosophy.
So what is beauty for? What is any of this for? I love Alfred North Whitehead’s line, “The teleology of the Universe is directed to the production of Beauty.”
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Parsa P. Salehi, M.D., M.H.S.
Plastic surgeon, thirties
Beverly Hills, California
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I am a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. This means I specialize in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. In particular, I focus my practice on facial rejuvenation (e.g. face/neck lifts, brow lifts, eyelid procedures, etc.). I also have extensive training in rhinoplasty, including complicated revisions. I have offices located in both Beverly Hills, California and Newport, California. I also see patients virtually for consultations from across the world.
As a child, I always knew I wanted to become a surgeon. In fact, I wanted to be the first surgeon to play in the NBA. At some point in high school, I let go of the basketball aspirations and focused on the medical path. In medical school, I discovered my passion for head and neck surgery, and pursued surgical subspecialty training at Yale School of Medicine. During my training, I was exposed to the world of facial plastic surgery and fell in love with the field. I went on to complete a very competitive fellowship in facial plastic surgery with Dr. Paul Nassif (star of the medical television program Botched) and Dr. Babak Azizzadeh in Beverly Hills, California.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
I usually wake up early in the morning and spend sixty to ninety minutes working out. I start with weight lifting, followed by cardiovascular exercise (usually consists of cycling on my Peloton). On the weekends, I swap out the weights for more cross-training and strength-training exercises at the gym.
After showering and washing my face (with CeraVe or Cetaphil gentle face wash), I apply moisturizer, followed by sunscreen. I brush my teeth and use a fluoride-rich, alcohol-free oral rinse (good oral hygiene has been shown to decrease rates of head/neck cancer). Adequate sun protection with clothing and sunscreen is one of the most important things one can do to protect and improve their skin.
Diet is integral to my “beauty” routine. What we put in our body not only impacts our weight, but also impacts our overall health—including the health of our skin. I usually start my day with a protein-rich shake on my way to work.
After work, I repeat my shower/facial moisturizer routine as in the morning. I also apply 0.05 percent tretinoin cream to my face—tretinoin is great for maintaining skin health, and I recommend most of my patients to discuss the therapy with their dermatologist. Prior to bed, I like to spend five to ten minutes stretching, followed by two to five minutes of meditating. I use the Peloton app for guided stretch and meditation classes. I am a spiritual person, so my meditation sessions are often followed by a quick reflection/prayer session before I fall asleep.
I do not bring any electronics with me into bed. Sleep hygiene is critical to beauty. I prioritize sleep, with an aim of around eight hours of sleep per night (but no less than six hours).
When it comes to my personal beauty, I take a holistic approach. I like to think of mental, physical and cosmetic beauty. I believe all three components are required to unlock one’s inner beauty.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
People are born with certain genetic predispositions that impact their appearance. However, one’s beauty reflects their mental well-being, physical fitness and cosmetics/outward appearance. In other words, beauty is natural in the same way that athleticism and intelligence are “natural.” Yes, professional athletes like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Serena Williams and Dirk Nowitzki are gifted with certain qualities that allowed them to excel in sports. However, what truly makes these players great is their dedication to their craft—countless hours of practice and training. The preparation is just as integral to the success of these players, as is their natural athleticism.
Individuals must take a holistic approach to maximize their natural beauty. This is why celebrities and models are surrounded by an entire team of individuals—from stylists to trainers to dietitians—tasked with maximizing their “beauty.” As a plastic surgeon, I am a small part of that team; I do my best to discuss my beauty philosophy and realistic expectations with my patients.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
To truly answer this question, lengthy discourse is required. I don’t think I have the space to do that here. With that said, while it is hard to attribute injustice to traits an individual is naturally born with, there is of course a nuanced conversation that may be had about potential systemic injustices that may lead to socioeconomic inequalities that may ultimately impact one’s ability to maximize their beauty.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
When I was young, all I wanted was a sibling. When I was nine years old, my wish was finally granted. Seeing my baby sister for the first time is my most beautiful memory.
With that said, being surrounded by nature is the pinnacle of beauty for me. While countless elements of nature come to mind from my travels, the beauty of stargazing in Grand Canyon National Park remains one of the most beautiful images imprinted into my memory.
What is beauty for?
At the end of the day, the “purpose” of beauty is to reflect the self. The popular idiom “look good, feel good” reflects this sentiment. Beauty is as much a reflection of one’s mental and physical wellness as it is outward appearance. One’s inner and outer beauty are intimately linked. In the end, feeling beautiful often allows people to feel confident, motivated and healthy. In doing so, it allows people to actualize their true potential, whether it be in their personal or professional lives. In essence, beauty is an integral component of one’s identity that, when maximized, can help improve one’s quality of life and success.
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Kelly Mittendorf
Model and marketing consultant, 29
Brooklyn, New York
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
These days I do a mix of things. I started modeling full time at sixteen but took a pause in my early twenties, building a career as a marketing specialist for direct-to-consumer beauty brands. Modeling has creeped back into my day-to-day recently, but I maintain what can only be described as a freelance “hustle” and full-time job.
I started modeling after I was scouted at eleven at a pool. My career took off when I landed a Prada campaign at sixteen as my first real booking, and I moved to New York shortly thereafter. When I left modeling, I landed my job at Glossier after begging for an informational interview and explaining that I was excited about beauty because it seemed to be benefiting from the democratization of social media—anyone could be “successful” as a beauty content creator, and at the time, you didn’t need the validation of a publication in the same way you did in fashion.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
After years of trying every trending beauty product I’ve landed on an incredibly pared-down routine. In the mornings I rinse my face with water and use the Deux Skin Instant Angel moisturizer and La Roche-Posay sunscreen. Evenings, I’ll wash with a micellar gentle cleanser like the one from The Outset, or I’m still a fan of Milky Jelly Cleanser by Glossier all these years later. I use the same moisturizer at night, and two to three times a week I use a prescription retinol, which I started a year and a half ago. I’ve noticed keeping my skin hydrated and using “minimal” actives has done more for keeping plump, clear skin than anything else. I have all of this set up on automatic subscriptions and deliveries so I don’t even think about it anymore.
Oh, and Botox. For my 29th birthday I splurged on masseter Botox at the recommendation of a fellow TMJ-suffering friend and it was the best investment, I wish I did it sooner. While I was there I got baby Botox in my forehead and I’m not mad at it either—I deeply enjoy unsuccessfully “raising my eyebrows” at anyone who will let me.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
Yes, I think beauty is natural. I also believe that it is completely human, and beautiful, and “natural” to change how you present to the world based on what is most authentic to you.
I worry that, too often, natural beauty and adornment or expression are put in opposition to one another. Communities around the world have long, rich histories of adornment, which I think is also “natural” and beautiful, which we see across cultures, gender expressions and generations. Changing oneself is not inherently going “against” natural beauty.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
As we are in the thick of Pride as I’m writing this, I am always in awe of my community’s resilience, solidarity and expression. I have learned so much from my peers about self-acceptance, and there is always an example that affirms that it is okay to try new things without expectation of linear change. Seeing queer communities on the streets of New York together is the most beautiful thing.
What is beauty for?
Yourself. As a model I have spent so much of my life conveying other people’s ideas of beauty and creativity, and I’m grateful to have been a part of that articulation. While fashion allows you to play different characters with the changing of an outfit, beauty is so much deeper, nuanced and personal. I think beauty is for affirmation of one’s self.
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Shilesh Iyer, M.D.
Dermatologist, 52
New York, New York
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
Professionally, I am a physician and dermatologist, so on a very practical level, I went through extensive medical training to provide patients with beauty, clarity and well-being.
It was a very practical decision, though I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of beauty and beautiful things and living a beautiful life. In medical school it was one area that I was attracted to, in terms of what the specialty did—I liked what dermatologists do on a daily basis.
And then on the theoretical level, I liked the science and the medical aspects of it. It is said that in dermatology, we have the most diagnoses of any specialty, so it’s actually a quite scientifically rigorous discipline. We study the skin on a macroscopic and a microscopic level, that is, on a cellular level and on a molecular level. When I teach residents, sometimes I’ll tell them that you actually can know what’s going on with the skin microscopically just by looking at it. For example, if you’re looking at something like eczema or psoriasis or a particular kind of growth on the skin, you can look at its dimensions, appearance and color, and you’ll already know what it looks like on a cellular level.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
For me, beauty is simplicity, and I am a minimalist at heart. I start my early-morning routine around 4:30 a.m. with a quick but focused two-minute contemplation. I always make my bed, make a cup of coffee, make sure my apartment is tidy, and then sit for about an hour, during which time I meditate and read/contemplate works of higher wisdom and philosophy. Finally, I spend about an hour at the gym or walking before heading into the office. This specific morning routine helps me set the tone so I can be productive and add value to others through my work.
For the record, my morning skin-care routine is quite simple but always includes a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and SPF! I usually tell people that when it comes to skin care, in general less is more.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
I see beauty as having two aspects: 1) beauty as the experiences of life and 2) a transcendent ideal of absolute beauty from where our very conceptions of what is beautiful and ugly, pleasing and displeasing, and even the positive and negative forces of nature emerge. The latter is our experience of the natural world, or what we call “life,” and the former, absolute beauty, is the ground of our well-being and well—everything. So considering both aspects, I do think beauty is natural.
Is beauty subjective?
I have come to conclude that beauty has both subjective and objective components. At first glance, we seem to define objective standards of beauty based on the most superficial of features—height, weight, size, shape and color, for example. But these are often societal standards of beauty that are merely trends and vary from one society to the next or from time to time, so they are not fundamental.
Ultimately, the experience of beauty is primarily a subjective experience. Signals are transmitted to the brain and processed by the mind. Based on how we perceive color, shape and other sensory inputs and how we evaluate them based on our tastes and inclinations, we have a subjective experience of beauty.
To add to the complexity of this question, however, there seems to be a deeper and more objective level of beauty and elegance to the universe—its geometry, math and order, which have always captivated philosophers and scientists alike. For example, the Golden Ratio phi is an objective measure found in nature that humans have used in art, architecture and even sculpting in dermatology to create beauty. Some doctors’ proportions will be informed by those ideas. On a more fundamental level, the idea of proportion and symmetry, and how and where we place fillers and things like that, is going to be pretty objective. I think there are objective parameters around proportion and symmetry and what the human eye considers beautiful.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
As the ultimate philosophical concept, I see absolute beauty as justice itself—perfect and sublime. However, humanity has a tendency to classify experiences and things in the world as “beautiful” and “ugly” or from one side or the other, and at the level of this categorization, binary and often polar, we risk imposing our biases and judgments that can lead to prejudice and injustice. But no, it is my contention that beauty itself is not unjust or just, it is like a sea from which the just and unjust things of life spring. I believe this is why we all want to live the beautiful life, because it is our true nature inside.
What is beauty for?
I suppose the purpose of beauty is to be an educational tool, or perhaps education itself, a teacher that guides us through a process of learning and evolving that brings us ultimately to find the beauty inside. Life is the process of beauty unfolding, and yes, we all make mistakes small and epic, but where we can forgive, learn and grow, we allow more space for beauty to pervade our lives.
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Shiloh Davies (Sugar Darling)
Textile artist, costume designer and drag performer, 30
Seattle, Washington
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I design one-of-a-kind costumes for local drag artists from secondhand materials. I also use textile art to make immersive backdrops and installations.
I got into drag as a fan. Because I was attending so many shows I decided I wanted to dress the part and started creating themed outfits to match the events I was going to. Members of the community noticed me and encouraged me to try drag. So I slowly taught myself to sew while I was coming up as a performer, and eventually shifted to designing things for others instead of just myself.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
My friend who works in the skin-care industry set me up with a morning and nighttime skin-care routine, and I’m very grateful for that because I have no idea what I’m doing, but it is one of those self-care rituals that I appreciate even if I don’t quite know what’s happening dermatologically.
Probably my most high-maintenance beauty thing is my hair. I’ve had brightly colored hair (first yellow, now pink) for five-plus years now, and I bleach and dye it myself, so every couple months I have to put a night aside for that whole process. I often feel like my faded hair is a sign of my energy burning out—I neglect it when I’m too busy and overwhelmed—and once it’s refreshed again I feel like my energy has been restored.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
I think it can be but certainly doesn’t have to be. I see a lot of beauty in nature, but I also find beauty in a good polyester print.
What is beauty for?
Enjoyment. To add meaning to life. To hit some particular, vital part in our brains that makes everything seem a little more worthwhile.
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India Baldwin Sachi
Painter and model, 23
West Hurley, New York
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
My painting practice currently centers around photographing myself. Previous to this, I used photographs that my father had taken of me as a child. Now I use my own body to map compositions for my paintings, photographing myself in private and often using the Photo Booth app on my computer. My desire for this stemmed from wanting to picture myself in the work I make, and the easiest route to visualizing my body was through photography. To picture a body is to make it seen. When I look at paintings that hold a figure, I am grasped by the visibility of the body, ideas around who makes the body visible, and under what lens. When I paint on top of the image, I have control over the visibility of the figure: I can camouflage, adorn and define different parts of the body. I spend a long time in front of the camera, imagining as I pose myself the future of the painting, using different outfits, fabrics or nudity. There is immense vulnerability in allowing yourself to be seen, and power in controlling the seeing.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
I have routines I do every day almost without thinking—I shower and brush my hair every morning. I have different bottles of potions I use, rosemary water for hair and moisturizer for my face, and Vaseline on my lips. Sometimes I put a little red lipstick on my lips and cheeks. I wear the same jewelry every day, and I don’t take it off in the shower. I only change it when the seasons change or when I feel superstitious. Beauty for me is very akin to ritual.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
Yes, I think usually when I don’t find something beautiful it is because it is not itself, and instead wearing a costume of imagined beauty. However, if your costume of beauty is genuine to yourself, I would say that it is natural. Everything is so beautiful when it is just itself! A good example of this are the telephone poles that are disguised as trees. They would be better as telephone poles.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
A gravestone of a woman who was born in 1923. Someone had inscribed it with “my strawberry.” I imagine she was very beautiful and loved.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
There are many ways that being perceived by others can cause injustice, but this is based on societal standards around beauty. It is just to feel beautiful and to make yourself beautiful in whatever context that is, or to whichever audience you desire to perform beauty for.
What is beauty for?
Beauty is for adorning your body, for love, for transformation and for heritage, for nature and for joy!
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Caroline Calloway
Writer and influencer, 31
Sarasota, Florida
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I’m a writer and I started doing it by spending my entire twenties doing anything and everything but actually writing. I do not recommend this. At thirty, I finally began my book and retired from the plot.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
Photos of Emily Ratajkowski. I’m entranced.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
Hahahahaha what poor word choice. I think you mean “unfair”? “Unjust” implies criminality, morality. Is it immoral to be born into a privileged body? No. Is it unfair? Of course. But life isn’t fair, although justice can be had sometimes.
What is beauty for?
I don’t know, but if God fills out your questionnaire I am dying to find out.
Art credit: George Marks, Woman applying make-up at vanity table. George Marks, Man shaving.
What does it mean to face the question of beauty every day, not just personally but professionally? This spring we surveyed models, cosmetic physicians, influencers and artists about their jobs, where they find beauty in their own lives, and what they think it is for. Below you’ll find a selection of their answers.
●
Anonymous
Model, 39
Seattle, Washington
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I model for companies that manufacture medical-imaging devices. I have been modeling for seventeen years this year, and it began at the invitation of a family friend who worked at one of the companies.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
For me, the main thing is exercise. Diet too. Medical-imaging devices need to work for folks of all body types—and there are models of all body types—but my employers call me their “glass body.” They want me lean, muscular and hydrated. So, very briefly, that means twice-a-day workouts five days a week and active recovery the other two days (long walks Monday and Thursday). And then gerbil food, basically. Total gym rat diet: lots of lean protein and whole grains and water.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
What isn’t natural? (I’m a Spinozist.)
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
I’ve thought a bit about this. Again, relative to my situation. I’m not myself strikingly beautiful, but I do get more work than other models, on account of my body type. (When any model will do, for whatever it is they’re up to, I get the impression they’re more than happy to use me.) On the other hand, what appeal I have, as a model, is based on work I do to keep my job that other models don’t have to do to keep theirs.
What is beauty for?
That’s a good question. If you’ll indulge me, I happen to believe aesthetics is first philosophy. First philosophy is (more commonly known as) metaphysics. Metaphysics, according to Wilfrid Sellars’s famous definition, is how things, in the broadest possible sense of the term, hang together, in the broadest possible sense of the term. “How things hang together” can be said to characterize aesthetics, in the broadest possible sense of that term. So aesthetics is first philosophy.
So what is beauty for? What is any of this for? I love Alfred North Whitehead’s line, “The teleology of the Universe is directed to the production of Beauty.”
●
Parsa P. Salehi, M.D., M.H.S.
Plastic surgeon, thirties
Beverly Hills, California
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I am a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. This means I specialize in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. In particular, I focus my practice on facial rejuvenation (e.g. face/neck lifts, brow lifts, eyelid procedures, etc.). I also have extensive training in rhinoplasty, including complicated revisions. I have offices located in both Beverly Hills, California and Newport, California. I also see patients virtually for consultations from across the world.
As a child, I always knew I wanted to become a surgeon. In fact, I wanted to be the first surgeon to play in the NBA. At some point in high school, I let go of the basketball aspirations and focused on the medical path. In medical school, I discovered my passion for head and neck surgery, and pursued surgical subspecialty training at Yale School of Medicine. During my training, I was exposed to the world of facial plastic surgery and fell in love with the field. I went on to complete a very competitive fellowship in facial plastic surgery with Dr. Paul Nassif (star of the medical television program Botched) and Dr. Babak Azizzadeh in Beverly Hills, California.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
I usually wake up early in the morning and spend sixty to ninety minutes working out. I start with weight lifting, followed by cardiovascular exercise (usually consists of cycling on my Peloton). On the weekends, I swap out the weights for more cross-training and strength-training exercises at the gym.
After showering and washing my face (with CeraVe or Cetaphil gentle face wash), I apply moisturizer, followed by sunscreen. I brush my teeth and use a fluoride-rich, alcohol-free oral rinse (good oral hygiene has been shown to decrease rates of head/neck cancer). Adequate sun protection with clothing and sunscreen is one of the most important things one can do to protect and improve their skin.
Diet is integral to my “beauty” routine. What we put in our body not only impacts our weight, but also impacts our overall health—including the health of our skin. I usually start my day with a protein-rich shake on my way to work.
After work, I repeat my shower/facial moisturizer routine as in the morning. I also apply 0.05 percent tretinoin cream to my face—tretinoin is great for maintaining skin health, and I recommend most of my patients to discuss the therapy with their dermatologist. Prior to bed, I like to spend five to ten minutes stretching, followed by two to five minutes of meditating. I use the Peloton app for guided stretch and meditation classes. I am a spiritual person, so my meditation sessions are often followed by a quick reflection/prayer session before I fall asleep.
I do not bring any electronics with me into bed. Sleep hygiene is critical to beauty. I prioritize sleep, with an aim of around eight hours of sleep per night (but no less than six hours).
When it comes to my personal beauty, I take a holistic approach. I like to think of mental, physical and cosmetic beauty. I believe all three components are required to unlock one’s inner beauty.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
People are born with certain genetic predispositions that impact their appearance. However, one’s beauty reflects their mental well-being, physical fitness and cosmetics/outward appearance. In other words, beauty is natural in the same way that athleticism and intelligence are “natural.” Yes, professional athletes like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Serena Williams and Dirk Nowitzki are gifted with certain qualities that allowed them to excel in sports. However, what truly makes these players great is their dedication to their craft—countless hours of practice and training. The preparation is just as integral to the success of these players, as is their natural athleticism.
Individuals must take a holistic approach to maximize their natural beauty. This is why celebrities and models are surrounded by an entire team of individuals—from stylists to trainers to dietitians—tasked with maximizing their “beauty.” As a plastic surgeon, I am a small part of that team; I do my best to discuss my beauty philosophy and realistic expectations with my patients.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
To truly answer this question, lengthy discourse is required. I don’t think I have the space to do that here. With that said, while it is hard to attribute injustice to traits an individual is naturally born with, there is of course a nuanced conversation that may be had about potential systemic injustices that may lead to socioeconomic inequalities that may ultimately impact one’s ability to maximize their beauty.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
When I was young, all I wanted was a sibling. When I was nine years old, my wish was finally granted. Seeing my baby sister for the first time is my most beautiful memory.
With that said, being surrounded by nature is the pinnacle of beauty for me. While countless elements of nature come to mind from my travels, the beauty of stargazing in Grand Canyon National Park remains one of the most beautiful images imprinted into my memory.
What is beauty for?
At the end of the day, the “purpose” of beauty is to reflect the self. The popular idiom “look good, feel good” reflects this sentiment. Beauty is as much a reflection of one’s mental and physical wellness as it is outward appearance. One’s inner and outer beauty are intimately linked. In the end, feeling beautiful often allows people to feel confident, motivated and healthy. In doing so, it allows people to actualize their true potential, whether it be in their personal or professional lives. In essence, beauty is an integral component of one’s identity that, when maximized, can help improve one’s quality of life and success.
●
Kelly Mittendorf
Model and marketing consultant, 29
Brooklyn, New York
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
These days I do a mix of things. I started modeling full time at sixteen but took a pause in my early twenties, building a career as a marketing specialist for direct-to-consumer beauty brands. Modeling has creeped back into my day-to-day recently, but I maintain what can only be described as a freelance “hustle” and full-time job.
I started modeling after I was scouted at eleven at a pool. My career took off when I landed a Prada campaign at sixteen as my first real booking, and I moved to New York shortly thereafter. When I left modeling, I landed my job at Glossier after begging for an informational interview and explaining that I was excited about beauty because it seemed to be benefiting from the democratization of social media—anyone could be “successful” as a beauty content creator, and at the time, you didn’t need the validation of a publication in the same way you did in fashion.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
After years of trying every trending beauty product I’ve landed on an incredibly pared-down routine. In the mornings I rinse my face with water and use the Deux Skin Instant Angel moisturizer and La Roche-Posay sunscreen. Evenings, I’ll wash with a micellar gentle cleanser like the one from The Outset, or I’m still a fan of Milky Jelly Cleanser by Glossier all these years later. I use the same moisturizer at night, and two to three times a week I use a prescription retinol, which I started a year and a half ago. I’ve noticed keeping my skin hydrated and using “minimal” actives has done more for keeping plump, clear skin than anything else. I have all of this set up on automatic subscriptions and deliveries so I don’t even think about it anymore.
Oh, and Botox. For my 29th birthday I splurged on masseter Botox at the recommendation of a fellow TMJ-suffering friend and it was the best investment, I wish I did it sooner. While I was there I got baby Botox in my forehead and I’m not mad at it either—I deeply enjoy unsuccessfully “raising my eyebrows” at anyone who will let me.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
Yes, I think beauty is natural. I also believe that it is completely human, and beautiful, and “natural” to change how you present to the world based on what is most authentic to you.
I worry that, too often, natural beauty and adornment or expression are put in opposition to one another. Communities around the world have long, rich histories of adornment, which I think is also “natural” and beautiful, which we see across cultures, gender expressions and generations. Changing oneself is not inherently going “against” natural beauty.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
As we are in the thick of Pride as I’m writing this, I am always in awe of my community’s resilience, solidarity and expression. I have learned so much from my peers about self-acceptance, and there is always an example that affirms that it is okay to try new things without expectation of linear change. Seeing queer communities on the streets of New York together is the most beautiful thing.
What is beauty for?
Yourself. As a model I have spent so much of my life conveying other people’s ideas of beauty and creativity, and I’m grateful to have been a part of that articulation. While fashion allows you to play different characters with the changing of an outfit, beauty is so much deeper, nuanced and personal. I think beauty is for affirmation of one’s self.
●
Shilesh Iyer, M.D.
Dermatologist, 52
New York, New York
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
Professionally, I am a physician and dermatologist, so on a very practical level, I went through extensive medical training to provide patients with beauty, clarity and well-being.
It was a very practical decision, though I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of beauty and beautiful things and living a beautiful life. In medical school it was one area that I was attracted to, in terms of what the specialty did—I liked what dermatologists do on a daily basis.
And then on the theoretical level, I liked the science and the medical aspects of it. It is said that in dermatology, we have the most diagnoses of any specialty, so it’s actually a quite scientifically rigorous discipline. We study the skin on a macroscopic and a microscopic level, that is, on a cellular level and on a molecular level. When I teach residents, sometimes I’ll tell them that you actually can know what’s going on with the skin microscopically just by looking at it. For example, if you’re looking at something like eczema or psoriasis or a particular kind of growth on the skin, you can look at its dimensions, appearance and color, and you’ll already know what it looks like on a cellular level.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
For me, beauty is simplicity, and I am a minimalist at heart. I start my early-morning routine around 4:30 a.m. with a quick but focused two-minute contemplation. I always make my bed, make a cup of coffee, make sure my apartment is tidy, and then sit for about an hour, during which time I meditate and read/contemplate works of higher wisdom and philosophy. Finally, I spend about an hour at the gym or walking before heading into the office. This specific morning routine helps me set the tone so I can be productive and add value to others through my work.
For the record, my morning skin-care routine is quite simple but always includes a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and SPF! I usually tell people that when it comes to skin care, in general less is more.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
I see beauty as having two aspects: 1) beauty as the experiences of life and 2) a transcendent ideal of absolute beauty from where our very conceptions of what is beautiful and ugly, pleasing and displeasing, and even the positive and negative forces of nature emerge. The latter is our experience of the natural world, or what we call “life,” and the former, absolute beauty, is the ground of our well-being and well—everything. So considering both aspects, I do think beauty is natural.
Is beauty subjective?
I have come to conclude that beauty has both subjective and objective components. At first glance, we seem to define objective standards of beauty based on the most superficial of features—height, weight, size, shape and color, for example. But these are often societal standards of beauty that are merely trends and vary from one society to the next or from time to time, so they are not fundamental.
Ultimately, the experience of beauty is primarily a subjective experience. Signals are transmitted to the brain and processed by the mind. Based on how we perceive color, shape and other sensory inputs and how we evaluate them based on our tastes and inclinations, we have a subjective experience of beauty.
To add to the complexity of this question, however, there seems to be a deeper and more objective level of beauty and elegance to the universe—its geometry, math and order, which have always captivated philosophers and scientists alike. For example, the Golden Ratio phi is an objective measure found in nature that humans have used in art, architecture and even sculpting in dermatology to create beauty. Some doctors’ proportions will be informed by those ideas. On a more fundamental level, the idea of proportion and symmetry, and how and where we place fillers and things like that, is going to be pretty objective. I think there are objective parameters around proportion and symmetry and what the human eye considers beautiful.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
As the ultimate philosophical concept, I see absolute beauty as justice itself—perfect and sublime. However, humanity has a tendency to classify experiences and things in the world as “beautiful” and “ugly” or from one side or the other, and at the level of this categorization, binary and often polar, we risk imposing our biases and judgments that can lead to prejudice and injustice. But no, it is my contention that beauty itself is not unjust or just, it is like a sea from which the just and unjust things of life spring. I believe this is why we all want to live the beautiful life, because it is our true nature inside.
What is beauty for?
I suppose the purpose of beauty is to be an educational tool, or perhaps education itself, a teacher that guides us through a process of learning and evolving that brings us ultimately to find the beauty inside. Life is the process of beauty unfolding, and yes, we all make mistakes small and epic, but where we can forgive, learn and grow, we allow more space for beauty to pervade our lives.
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Shiloh Davies (Sugar Darling)
Textile artist, costume designer and drag performer, 30
Seattle, Washington
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I design one-of-a-kind costumes for local drag artists from secondhand materials. I also use textile art to make immersive backdrops and installations.
I got into drag as a fan. Because I was attending so many shows I decided I wanted to dress the part and started creating themed outfits to match the events I was going to. Members of the community noticed me and encouraged me to try drag. So I slowly taught myself to sew while I was coming up as a performer, and eventually shifted to designing things for others instead of just myself.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
My friend who works in the skin-care industry set me up with a morning and nighttime skin-care routine, and I’m very grateful for that because I have no idea what I’m doing, but it is one of those self-care rituals that I appreciate even if I don’t quite know what’s happening dermatologically.
Probably my most high-maintenance beauty thing is my hair. I’ve had brightly colored hair (first yellow, now pink) for five-plus years now, and I bleach and dye it myself, so every couple months I have to put a night aside for that whole process. I often feel like my faded hair is a sign of my energy burning out—I neglect it when I’m too busy and overwhelmed—and once it’s refreshed again I feel like my energy has been restored.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
I think it can be but certainly doesn’t have to be. I see a lot of beauty in nature, but I also find beauty in a good polyester print.
What is beauty for?
Enjoyment. To add meaning to life. To hit some particular, vital part in our brains that makes everything seem a little more worthwhile.
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India Baldwin Sachi
Painter and model, 23
West Hurley, New York
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
My painting practice currently centers around photographing myself. Previous to this, I used photographs that my father had taken of me as a child. Now I use my own body to map compositions for my paintings, photographing myself in private and often using the Photo Booth app on my computer. My desire for this stemmed from wanting to picture myself in the work I make, and the easiest route to visualizing my body was through photography. To picture a body is to make it seen. When I look at paintings that hold a figure, I am grasped by the visibility of the body, ideas around who makes the body visible, and under what lens. When I paint on top of the image, I have control over the visibility of the figure: I can camouflage, adorn and define different parts of the body. I spend a long time in front of the camera, imagining as I pose myself the future of the painting, using different outfits, fabrics or nudity. There is immense vulnerability in allowing yourself to be seen, and power in controlling the seeing.
What do you do to maintain your beauty?
I have routines I do every day almost without thinking—I shower and brush my hair every morning. I have different bottles of potions I use, rosemary water for hair and moisturizer for my face, and Vaseline on my lips. Sometimes I put a little red lipstick on my lips and cheeks. I wear the same jewelry every day, and I don’t take it off in the shower. I only change it when the seasons change or when I feel superstitious. Beauty for me is very akin to ritual.
Do you think beauty is natural? Why or why not?
Yes, I think usually when I don’t find something beautiful it is because it is not itself, and instead wearing a costume of imagined beauty. However, if your costume of beauty is genuine to yourself, I would say that it is natural. Everything is so beautiful when it is just itself! A good example of this are the telephone poles that are disguised as trees. They would be better as telephone poles.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
A gravestone of a woman who was born in 1923. Someone had inscribed it with “my strawberry.” I imagine she was very beautiful and loved.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
There are many ways that being perceived by others can cause injustice, but this is based on societal standards around beauty. It is just to feel beautiful and to make yourself beautiful in whatever context that is, or to whichever audience you desire to perform beauty for.
What is beauty for?
Beauty is for adorning your body, for love, for transformation and for heritage, for nature and for joy!
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Caroline Calloway
Writer and influencer, 31
Sarasota, Florida
What kind of work do you do, and how did you start doing it?
I’m a writer and I started doing it by spending my entire twenties doing anything and everything but actually writing. I do not recommend this. At thirty, I finally began my book and retired from the plot.
What’s the most beautiful thing (or person) you’ve encountered recently?
Photos of Emily Ratajkowski. I’m entranced.
Is it unjust to be beautiful?
Hahahahaha what poor word choice. I think you mean “unfair”? “Unjust” implies criminality, morality. Is it immoral to be born into a privileged body? No. Is it unfair? Of course. But life isn’t fair, although justice can be had sometimes.
What is beauty for?
I don’t know, but if God fills out your questionnaire I am dying to find out.
If you liked this essay, you’ll love reading The Point in print.