All it took was one ignorant comment

Tiffani Wakefield
Nov 6 · 2 min read

So recently an old male friend for whatever reason decided to text me and ask me how I was and was interested in what I was up to now. I excitedly responded that I’d moved back to the Bay Area, my home, and was now doing what I love - working as an easthetician.

He responds “ cool, that means you wax pussy or something”.

Pause.

Okay sir. okay. First of all fuck you. Second of all no, no that is not all that I am doing. I am doing something I’ve worked really hard to achieve, something I’ve put a lot of time and hard earned money into. Something that now for once in my life gets me excited to wake up in the morning. I have the wonderful opportunity of helping people look and feel their best. Improving their quality of their life and how they show up in the world and so much more.

But that is besides the point here. I kid you not, there were nights I couldnt sleep because I was unsure if this was the path for me, when i knew deep down inside it was. Its a passion I’ve always had and have been drawn to since i could remember. I’m realizing now that my biggest hang-up with working in this industry was a learned judgement after years of centering the conversation around men. It just really pisses me off.

“ I don’t like girls that wear make-up”

“ why don’t you do something better with your time”

For the longest time I thought, for some reason, I would be considered lesser because I was in the beauty industry. That I could be doing more - Which, I can be, if I continue to allow my attention to be pointed that way.

The reality here is that Ive finally found something that Im really good at and finally proud of. It is never okay to down play what a woman, or anyone for that matter, chooses as a career. I am now in a position where I can lead woman and show them just how beautiful and powerful they are. They are underserved throughout history and in the present, in every way . I happen to be part of that demographic and am in a very rare group of people within it who is very determined to execute.

It would be absurd for me not to use this to my advantage. Don’t give up on your dreams kids.

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