You are not defined by the circumstances you grow up in, but by the actions that you take to further your own happiness.Growing up in a Korean household with a strong Christian background forced me to behave under an incredibly narrow mindset. During my youth, whenever I would switch on the TV to watch Sailor Moon or dress up as my idol, Britney Spears, my parents would discipline me, drilling in words that crushed my desire to be happy. They would yell, “Boys don’t wear skirts and put on makeup.” As an incredibly sensitive child, I hated causing discord and I preferred being left alone. So, I ran away, in a sense, by going to a boarding school in Korea to further my academic pursuits as an excuse to indulge in my deepest desires.Things became even more difficult when I came out to my parents in sophomore year of high school. My mother became deranged, frightening me with stories of gay men infected with AIDS who died wretchedly because of this “unorthodox lifestyle.” She even tried to consult with multiple psychiatrists, to assure herself that I was going through a phase. Facing all these pressures from home, my high school became a home away from home, a sanctuary where I had friends and teachers who were educated enough to know that there was nothing wrong with me.Everything changed when I met my homeroom teacher in senior year. A NYU alumni, she had such conviction in my abilities and gave me incredible words of advice. Spending time with her, I realized that my sexuality was not a determining factor in any of my decisions or achievements. In fact, there are so many gay people who’ve earned respect and recognition despite their identity. When looking at the accomplishments of Tim Cook, Karl Lagerfeld, Ellen Degeneres, and many more influential LGBT icons, I learned that doing what you love regardless of what anyone says releases a powerful energy that captivates and attracts people.But most importantly, I realized that underneath society’s outer appearance — its insistence on hierarchy and all of its glitz and glam — is a fragile sequence of standards that people frantically try to normalize. Knowing this, it becomes rather easy to not take the unfortunate aspects of life too seriously. In the wise words of RuPaul, a highly esteemed drag queen, “we are all born naked and the rest is drag.” Throughout all this, makeup became somewhat of a coping mechanism and an important medium of expression. A rather controversial element throughout history, makeup has now taken up a large share in both social and economic fields of our world. With unlimited possibilities when it comes to different looks, textures, and pigmentation, makeup is now an indispensable part of daily life. I can relate to the incredible feeling of blurring my imperfections with one swipe of my concealer, or the sense of feeling like Naomi Campbell stomping down the runway with your eyeliner on point and your brows on fleek. But makeup means more to me than just a tool to enhance my appearance. I don’t wear makeup to hide my insecurities, nor to shield my face from the outside world. My face is a canvas for infinite forms of artistic expression. I wake up and do my makeup for at least an hour everyday. This precious moment on my own is the perfect time to meditate on my thoughts. Having a daily routine has really helped with my anxiety and inspired me to try to make a statement whenever I can. Watching famous YouTube gurus like MannyMUA, Jeffree Star, and Bretman Rock has always given me comfort knowing that there is a community of people who share the same interests and have support for one another. However, I know that there are also people who face greater challenges and don’t have access to the same resources that I do.Therefore, I created my YouTube channel as an inclusive space where people can get inspiration and exchange ideas. I am by no means a professional makeup artist but I have learned several tips and tricks throughout my life that have greatly helped not only myself but also others. I take my viewers’ suggestions very seriously so I started off with highly requested makeup tutorials. But I am also eager to share more personal stories. Thus far, I am so grateful for the overwhelmingly positive response that I’ve gotten, and this spirit motivates me to make more content for my lovely viewers. [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="4" gal_title="Eric Shin Photos"] This article was written by Eric Shin. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Konrad Krawczyk