It Takes WORK To Own Who You Are
In this interview excerpt, Speaker A praises women who fully own their identities and celebrates Speaker B’s journey toward self‑acceptance. Speaker B recounts how, in college, she stopped wearing red lipstick after reading a magazine warning that men find it unattractive, fearing she would appear unapproachable. She describes how a coach reinforced the idea that she needed to stay “approachable,” leading her to suppress the parts of herself she loved—fashion, bold makeup, and a “sexy” or “extra” presence. It wasn’t until her mid‑to‑late 30s that she consciously reclaimed those preferences, realizing that embracing the “extra” aspects of herself required deliberate work and resistance to societal expectations. The conversation highlights the tension between external pressure to be modest and the internal desire to express one’s true self, emphasizing that owning one’s style is a hard‑won, intentional process.
