Are UV Ugly?

Cancer Research have launched a campaign to stop models using sunbeds and they have succeeded – ‘Directors of leading agencies, Storm, Elite, Next, Premier Model Management, Models 1, FM, Nevs, Oxygen, Union, First and D1 have all agreed to a zero tolerance policy on sunbed use for all models on their books or those wishing to join.’

Hurray!

Now, as a Scottish woman of 33, I have had my share of burning and hiding from the sun. As children we would burn on holiday because we just weren’t encouraged to wear much sunscreen. It just wasn’t given much thought. My own baby daughter, last summer, resembled a ghost with the layers of cream on her beautiful skin.

I burned as a child, not through fault of my parents (it just wasn’t such an issue then), but seriously enough that I daren’t bare my shoulders now and I monitor my moles like nobody’s business. I live in Essex, land of reality TV, ‘The Only Way Is Essex’. These people are brown or orange and would not walk outside the door without it.

This to me, is bonkers. A few weeks before I got married, a few people asked me when I would be having my ‘fake tan done’. “WHAT?” ‘Why on earth would I, as a pale Scottish lady, walk down the aisle towards my husband, with the complexion of a creosoted fence?’

“Oh, but you want to look your best?”

And, THAT is my problem. My ‘best’ is seen nowadays as tanned? Orange? God help you if you are PALE!! YUCK!! Well, why is that? I am not built to be tanned and I never will be.

The ladies that I admire aesthetically are all pale, not because they are pale but because I like natural beauty.

I truly wish that prior to my daughter reaching the age where this ‘matters’, it will be cool to be pale. No fake tan, no sunbeds, none of this nonsense.

My legs will never be brown, even if I sat in the sun for six months, I am just not built that way. And I love being pale blue.

Embrace it. PLEASE. Sunbeds are not cool. And they are not hot. Just don’t do it.

Please. For our skin and for our daughter’s.

http://www.sunsmart.org.uk/advice-and-prevention/sunbeds/r-uv-ugly/