From the Inside Out: Krisann, Brenda and Hannah

For those who are just joining in on the natural beauty project blog posts, I’m going to be sharing the same words from my previous blog posts so you can catch up! ;)
 
Welcome back to the Natural Beauty Project: From the Inside Out! I am BEYOND excited to share photos of absolutely BEAUTIFUL girls from the inside out! These girls are choosing to embrace their natural beauty and find their confidence in WHO they are! I’m so thankful to have so many BRAVE girls who wanted to be a part of this project of mine! :)
 
One of my favorite things about taking these photos was the fact that I saw each and every girl for who they are. I honestly look at every single photo that I took and think to myself how BEAUTIFUL these girls are! Because you will find what you look for. Look for the beauty in these girls, in yourself, in your neighbor… in LIFE and you will find it! :) And if you look at these photos and the photos of the rest of the girls and look for their flaws instead of their beauty… then I feel sorry for you. But I still want you to know that you are beautiful! And I hope that someday you choose to not focus on your flaws and the flaws of others, but to embrace them, knowing that YOU ARE ENOUGH exactly the way that you are! :)
 
With each blog post and set of photos, I’ll also be sharing some words from the girls with their NATURAL beauty photos! These girls are makeup free with their natural hair, unless stated otherwise! :) Some had long answers for my questions and some had answers with just a few words. And it’s all okay, because there is no right way to do this, there is no right way to be vulnerable. There is only your way! :) *The only reoccurring thing that most likely is not natural in most of the girls you will be seeing is an unnatural hair color. But the way the hair dries, that is natural unless sated otherwise! :)
 
Week 1: natural beauty project: from the inside out
Week 2: from the inside out: mary, nicole and samantha
Week 3: from the inside out: courtney, perla and kristen
Week 4: from the inside out: dorothy, hailey, leah and giuliana
Week 5: from the inside out: danica, ireena and chelsea
Week 6: from the inside out: hannah, charity and suzy
 
And now… ENJOY! :) And check back next week for MORE!! :)

Q: Full name?
A: Krisann Valdez

Q: Who is the most beautiful person you know and why?
A: I can’t possibly narrow it to one particular person. Beautiful is my Sunday school teacher when I was little who embraced her long white hair in a time when women her age were told it was proper to keep hair short. It was the way she walked confidently in her long flowing skirts, fully accepting herself in a manner that was contagious & appealing. It’s the older women I meet now who are willing to age with grace and celebrate the journey of their skin. And when I think of beautiful people, I always think of  the women in my life now who have this captivating ability to laugh at themselves, embrace their quirks, and admit both their shortcomings and their successes. It’s women who are attentive and advocate for the cause of others, women who’s presence you never want to leave. Women who make you feel more comfortable in your own skin because they emulate what that looks like. It’s women who celebrate life.

Q: What makes you beautiful?
A: I am beautiful when I embrace who I am, quirks and all, without self-criticism. It’s when I am brave enough to face my faults and admit that there is room for growth. It’s when the best parts of me shine through organically, without trying. It’s when I put others before myself, or, in contrast, take quiet time for myself. It’s knowing that I have the choice to choose how I want to live life, and my attitude towards life deeply matters. I am most beautiful when I can love without pride or rudeness or inconsiderateness.

Q: Describe what a beautiful act is to you?
A:  I really love being in the presence of women. My favorite thing is when a woman opens up about a fear/insecurity/hard place in her life, and another woman comes alongside her and says, “Me too, I’ve been there” or simply holds her and tells her that where she’s at in life is ok. Community loving community- that’s beautiful.

Q: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
A: The people I’ve chosen to surround myself around.

Q: Full name?
A: Brenda Lee Zeigler

Q: Who is the most beautiful person you know and why?
A: My mother, Betty Bradford. She raised 3 kids mostly by herself on a teachers salary, and today at 86 she is still the kindest, most generous person I know. She loves the Lord Jesus, trusts Him, and generously serves others while she doesn’t buy for herself.

Q: What is beauty to you?
A: My handsome husband and his selfless humble life. My 5 darling grandchildren. My friend’s faces after more than 30 years of friendship. Humanity in all its various forms of skin, eye, hair color, shapes and sizes. Generosity. Love. Commitment. Faithfulness.

Q: If you could go back and tell your 12 year old self one thing, what would you tell her?
A: Don’t ever worry about what people think about you – ever.

Q: What is something that the world might see as a flaw on you, but you find it beautiful?
A: Letting my hair go gray naturally and not coloring it.

Q: Full name?
A: Hannah Joy Gibbs

Q: When do you feel most beautiful?
A: I feel most beautiful when I look in the mirror and I see the person that I want to be.

Q: What is beauty to you?
A: Beauty to me comes from within.

Q: Describe what a beautiful act is to you?
A: One example of a beautiful act to me is when someone helps someone less fortunate than themselves.

Q: When did you start truly loving yourself?
A: I truly started to love myself when I was realized that beauty truly does come from within.

Q: What do people compliment you most on?
A: My smile