Nikki Yeager

I cut my hair, I didn't kill a baby animal. Yet by the reaction of some people you'd think I did much worse. 

But you know what? I don't care. 

It's not a statement of rebellion or any particular statement in general. I did not chop off my chin length locks to impress anyone or to promote an increasingly popular androgynous image. I didn't do it in protest, nor as a vague statement of feminism. 

I did it for me. 

I went in and said "as short as you want" because I wanted to. Because when I face life I do it looking forward and without fear. Why have bangs and messy strands falling in front of my eyes? Why hide behind a full head of hair when I'd rather have my face out there- without shadow. Ready to take whatever comes my way. 

I did it because I'm beautiful.

Maybe not model beautiful and maybe not obvious beautiful. But because I love my features. I love my mother's cheeks and the fact I can see my dad in my bone structure. I love the way my face shows every thought or feeling I have no matter how hard I resist. The way any simple joy in life makes my eyes light up and my face explode with uninhibited happiness. It's silly and it shows how unguarded I am - but why hide the things that make me me? 

I did it because it makes me feel more like a woman. 

Not in the conventional sense. Not in the demure, fifties sense of a woman but in the confident, collected and independent sense of today's 'woman'. The fact that my hair may be harsh but my features remain undeniably feminine proves that I am a girl. It sits on my head as a testament to my individuality -  which every woman has. It expresses who I am and who I want to be similar to a person's fashion sense. The way my hair is makes me different, it makes me an individual, it makes me a female. 

I did it for me. 

Despite the fact some people say I look too old. Despite the fact boys have a natural aversion for all girls with less than chest-length locks. Despite the fact I'm not what everyone wants me to be. 

Because honestly, it doesn't matter what you think. 

It matter what I think, and I think it's fabulous.