Learning to wear confidence as a second skin.

I came across a video on Instagram featuring a small girl who responded to the question, “What’s on your face?” with, “It’s my beauty.” This made me wonder, “Can we, as grown-ups, respond that way, or are we too self-conscious to do so?”

I believe we can, but not everyone feels comfortable. That childlike innocence tends to fade as we grow up. I can relate to this because I was quite insecure as a child and could never have imagined answering in such a confident manner.

As a teenager, my bashfulness and modesty accompanied me regarding my appearance, even though I was a leader in the scouts. I didn’t consider myself beautiful at all and felt uncomfortable discussing beauty, which felt like a taboo subject for me.

I could easily discuss topics related to scouts and social life, encouraging my classmates to get involved in activities. Some of them were supportive, telling me, “You are great, Olga.” However, none of them ever said, “You are beautiful,” and that affected me deeply.

During that time, I began to lose my confidence gradually.

As I grew older, I often felt embarrassed when people complimented my outfit or appearance. My typical response was, “No, it can’t be. It’s just the color that suits me.”

Years have passed, and now I respond to compliments with a smile and a simple, “Thank you.” If someone asks me, “What’s on your face?” I will confidently reply, “It’s my beauty.”

Now I can say that confidence is the best accessory—and I’m finally learning to wear it proudly.