Beauty is in the eye of the �beer holder�

I was reminded of this last week when there was a hullabaloo over South Africa’s Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s looks, particularly her huge “African” nose, in the media in that country. Madonsela is educated, smart, well-read and graceful but she’s not a conventionally good looking woman. I believe she knows that she’s not pretty. I have read several interviews of hers the latest in one magazine where she was asked to write a letter to her 16 year old self. She touched on being mocked about her looks. Her forehead is too wide and her nose too large. She’s also darker skinned.

It doesn’t help that in African communities being dark skinned is considered less beautiful in comparison to a lighter complexion. However, Madonsela didn’t let her being supposedly “ugly” hold her back from living her life; achieving her dreams and climbing the career ladder. Does it matter that she’s not pretty? No. I mean, she’s not a beauty queen...