Is it wrong to look like Asian?

Every morning, the first thing I do is looking at the mirror to find out how I look like (to make sure I don’t look too scary to my husband). During the day, I still look at myself through the mirror countlessly. I used to check to find out how I look like but nowadays, I check if there is anything stuck on my face. Hahaha… 

 

Okay, let’s talk about how I look like.

 

I am short.

I have got shorter and thicker legs.

My hair colour is black and eyes are dark brown.

I have a very flat and round face.

I have small and low nose and wider cheek bones.

My skin is yellowish.

I have got a small breast (sorry, too much detail).

I have slanted eyes.

 

Can you guess where I come from?

 

‘BINGO!’ Yes, I am Asian and I come from Korea.

 

This is not the first time I have heard about ‘cosmetic surgery boom in Asia’ but I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears when I read an article, ‘Is it wrong to look too Asian?’ (http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/health/womens-health/article/-/21139817/south-korean-reporter-deforms-her-face-with-plastic-surgery/). The article was about Asian-Australian women (especially Korean women) who live in Australia want to change their faces not to look too Asian in order to have common Caucasian features like Miranda Kerr. What The H…!

 

As I mentioned, I am Korean-Australian. I spent most of my youth in Korea so I absolutely know how ‘outer beauty’ is important in Korea and why many women (even men nowadays) try to change their face and body look like TV stars. I know this would sound bizarre but I witnessed many people have chosen to change their features to look like someone else to get better jobs and more opportunities in Korea. According to a 2009 survey by Trend Monitor, one in five women in Seoul have had some type of procedure. This sounds absolutely unreal, doesn’t it? However, it is real in Korea. Many people in Korea want to have the same look: Light skin, tiny nose, wide eyes with double lids, and a small face with a V-shaped chin. It's commonly accepted in Korea that beautiful women will do better in life: They'll find a husband, get the job they desire, and have people treat them better.

 

I can clearly imagine that my European husband would shake his head sidewise widely and give me very harsh comments on this craziness. As a Korean woman who was grown up in Korea, I do understand why they choose to do that and how much they are pressed by social perceptions/circumstances . However, I have to say that this ridiculous trend must be stopped. It is vigorously depressing to see when people cannot accept  who they are and how they look like and try to change themselves, and society is encouraging them.

 

I am Asian, so what is the problem to look like Asian? I truly don’t know.

 

These are some of my opinions why I don’t agree with using cosmetic surgeries to change their Asian features to Caucasian features. 

 

I love myself as who I am. I am far from perfect or beautiful but I am living my best life as I am with what I have. I believe no one is perfect and every single person wants to have something they don’t have. I can’t have blue eyes, light skin, long legs and a small face with a V-shaped chin but I have healthy and smooth skin, petite body, short but very strong legs and friendly looking O-shaped chin. I believe that we have to focus on what we have rather than what we don’t have. If we don’t respect and love our own body and mind, who can love them more. Be yourself and respect who you are and what you have.

 

I refuse to discriminate myself. I am Asian. I don’t believe there is any reason to be discriminated by how we look like. I don’t want to say there is no one discriminate or judge others by how they look like or where they are from. However I take it as people’s natural reaction to something different. People can have their own opinions on anything but I don’t want to be swung by anyone’s unreasonable and inappropriate opinions. I can ignore other people’s foolish comments but I cannot accept that I discriminate myself because of my race. It seems to me people discriminate themselves by disrespecting their origin and trying to change their appearances to be like other race. Be proud of who you are and where you are from as there is nothing to be shame about.   

 

Chasing beauty is endless. How easy to see people who are totally addicted on cosmetic surgeries to get more beautiful and younger faces and ended up with weird looks? I admire people who try hard to keep their youth and beauty but sometimes it is quite pity to look at them not to accept the natural changes. I choose to old naturally. I prefer to focusing on getting fitter and healthier than making better looking. I have seen many matured people work out at the gym who look fit and healthy and I believe that they are truly more beautiful than who tries to change their appearances only.

 

I know my opinion will not change anything but I hope one day I don’t have to repeatedly hear that Korea is the most famous cosmetic hub and all Korean women are looking like clones.

 

Why don’t you look at the mirror and tell yourself how much you love yourself. Be confident with yourself. Don’t you feel better?

 

Miss Korea clones