In late 2016, Bangladeshi bride Dr Tasnim Jara was like any other bride- to-be; looking forward celebrating her Big Day, and beginning a new chapter with fiancé, Khaled Saifullah.
However, there’s one way she was very different. Tasnim made the conscious (and some would say, brave) decision to say her vows without a scrap of makeup or bridal jewellery. Literally nothing.
Why? These days, it takes a strong woman to do the food shop barefaced, never mind the biggest day of her life! Since her wedding reception photo went viral, Tasnim outlined her reasons to go makeup and jewel-free on her Facebook page.
The Med-school graduate wanted to make a stand against societal BS and double standards, where a bride (and her family) is judged by the amount of gold she wears.
She wanted to rebel against the intense pressure a bride can feel to mask herself in makeup, even if that means she “ends up looking nothing like herself”. Because this “gives a message that the authentic look of a girl isn’t good enough for her own wedding.”
She wanted to show that a bride - on her own - is good enough for her wedding day. She doesn’t need a heavy lehenga or hefty bridal sets to feel ‘complete’.
Tasnim is right, of course. No bride should feel forced to look a certain way, just because of expectations. It’s your day, your way.
Ultimately what Tasnim is saying is that it’s about individual choice. Uncomfortable in a traditional heavy lehenga? Pick an outfit that’s more your style. Think the earrings, necklace and jhoomer are too much? There’s no rule that says you have to wear it all. Wear makeup; a little, or a lot, or even none at all, if that’s what you want.
1. “I’m with Tasnim, two fingers up to stupid pressure and expectations! It’s my wedding, I’ll wear what I like.”
2. “I totally get her reasons why, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable getting hitched makeup-free.”
3. “There’s no way I’m showing up without any gold or contour. It’d be humiliating, for all concerned.”
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Main image: From Tasnim Jara, all others Unsplash