We meet an amazingly inspiring chick based in LA, who is working to inspire girls to believe in their own true beauty and selves. Meet Gabrielle Thomas, a skin therapist with a passion to empower teen girls. In five years she has reached out and changed the lives of some 3,000 teen girls. We love her work so much we wanted to share her story and we hope to do some good work with her toward our common goal of helping girls feel good and be beautiful
What is My Beauty?
My Beauty is a program that is redefining beauty and empowering teen girls to be happy, healthy and wealthy.
How did you start it?
We started as a one day workshop which grew into us being invited to make appearances at various girl groups. Then we got lots of requests to do parties, then we got lots of requests to have a camp. We have always met the demands of what girls told us they wanted. Now we do everything: appearances, camps, workshops, parties and retreats. And we're also mobile …. with our very own very cool beauty bus, so we can meet girls where they are in the community.
What were you doing before My Beauty?
I am a licensed skin therapist and make-up artist. I have travelled far and wide, working in spas and doing make-up for print and video shoots. I am also a huge nerd - I love to learn and I am always in a class or reading a book. I am writing my own book now.
What is that you are trying to achieve?
We are trying to change the way girls think of "Beauty". We want girls to define beauty on their own terms. It sounds so cliché, but true beauty lies within. It's having the confidence to be yourself, to set goals and accomplish them, to go after your dreams and leave dream killers in the dust. My Beauty is empowering the new generation of women by giving them the tools they need to succeed combined with fun, interactive things they like.
What do you think is the most important thing girls get out of participating in My Beauty?
They have fun learning how to take care of themselves from the inside-out. The most important thing though is that they dare to dream and start taking steps toward making those dreams come true....."if you believe it, you can achieve it"
There’s a lot of pressure on girls to look a certain way – what would you say to girls about being beautiful?
There is not much to discuss really - every girl IS beautiful. That's why our program is called My Beauty - it's meant for you to own it. Say it with me.....: "My Beauty"- lol :) Seriously, what we like to do is dispel the false standards of beauty that society sets up with lessons from my UCLA professor, Dr. Hammer's media literacy class. All girls need to see is a picture of a model before and after photo shop- enough said!
The media portrays a one dimensional view of beauty and in the process can destroy self confidence. Do you agree and what are you thoughts around this?
I absolutely do believe that the media is to blame for a lot of the one dimensional views of beauty we see. As a matter of fact, I am going to be bold and give a specific example: Urban Outfitters - I used to shop there ALL the time...until I realised every time (and I am talking years here) I flipped through their catalogue or website there was not one person of colour. The models all look the same - Caucasian. If we're really depicting "urban" there should be a melting pot of cultures, so much so that every issue would be unique. They, like many, have failed to embrace diversity and continue to perpetuate the stereotype that beauty is one dimensional. The race issue is just one aspect. I am very sensitive when I watch media - it's almost as if I am seeing through the lenses of all the girls I work with. I want to see more curvy girls, I want to see broad noses, larger ears, freckles, braces, glasses, whatever - just more realness. Healthy is beautiful, smart is beautiful...convey some of these images.
Have you ever thought about My Beauty Australia?
Heck yeah- especially now that we are friends with Bellaboo!
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I really like making a difference in girls' lives - making that connection and building the relationship and being able to guide girls on a path to success by empowering them and giving them the confidence to dream big...I also really like watching my own dreams come true:)
What would you say to girls about pursuing their dreams?
lol- that's funny. I just answered that above, but I'll say it again: DREAM BIG. The only thing stopping you is yourself. If there is a will there is a way. I am living proof. I did not come from money. My mom had $5 in her pocket for a whole week one time as a single mum trying to raise 3 girls. We struggled. She couldn't afford to send me to college. I worked hard and with God on my side got a full college scholarship. My advice is to make connections with positive people and surround yourself with people who support you and want you to succeed. Avoid negative people like sex without a condom! Education really is the key to success. Knowledge is power even if you are self-taught...the more you know, the more you can accomplish. I always say I'm smart enough to know I have a lot to learn.
