"A Look Through a New Lens"

My skin has dark spots, acne, and discoloration.

A rare skin disease produces tumors on my back and chest.

So I dab on a little magic with Cover Girl foundation,

And let Maybelline and Revlon do the rest.

My eyelashes are not even half an inch long,

And if you think my lips are this pink, you are absolutely wrong.

My cheekbones are not defined, my eyebrows not naturally aligned.

This blonde and red hair came from a box. Yes, it’s dyed.

But if you take all of that away, who am I?

When you find yourself on Tinder swiping right and left,

It's no secret that you're looking for beauty, not depth

Because this generation has become obsessed with appearance

And the bragging rights that come with it.

So we've adopted the idea that filters are a necessity

If we want to find the man or woman of our dreams.

But if filters have taught me anything about authenticity,

It's that nothing is really what it seems.

You see, when a person uses a filter, they are doing more than changing how they look,

They are putting restrictions on their lives.

Filters are about more than looking good for the camera,

They’re keeping the tears from filling our eyes.

It’s how I keep tears from filling my own eyes.

It’s no secret that society has become cruel and ruthless.

It’s evident on every Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feed.

They criticize your weight, your shape, and the way you dress,

Maybe to fill some sort of void or a need.

But when it comes down to it, the only angle that matters is the one from which your perspective is developed.

So try taking a look through a new lens.

When you wipe off the make-up and do away with the Photoshop,

That’s when you really allow others to see within.

From now on I refuse to filter my face and my pictures,

I refuse to filter my voice.

Because when it comes to filtering who I am,

Like you, I have a choice.