Alicia Keys Performs Makeup-Free at the DNC—And Makes a Powerful Beauty Statement

It’s hard to imagine a more iconic feminist moment than Hillary Clinton “breaking through” the proverbial glass ceiling at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia last night—and reminding young girls who stayed up late to watch that “I may become the first woman president, but one of you is next.” Opening up for Clinton’s surprise appearance via live feed was Alicia Keys, who sang a medley of her power anthems, “Superwoman” and “Girl on Fire.” But perhaps her most empowering statement was delivered without saying a word.

Taking the stage barefaced—not a dab of concealer or a swipe of mascara in sight—with her natural curls bound by a scarf into a frothy cloud, Keys’s unvarnished, come-as-you-are beauty resonated with her raw, emotional performance. It also erased any doubt that her recent essay for Lenny Letter, in which she railed against the cult of physical perfection and vowed to go makeup-free, was anything less than than a sincere rallying cry for self-acceptance. With more than 10 million people watching, what better—or bolder—way to walk the talk?

 

The post Alicia Keys Performs Makeup-Free at the DNC—And Makes a Powerful Beauty Statement appeared first on Vogue.