Raouf is a 20-year-old college student from south London and she entered into the pageant's semifinals on Monday after opting for a barefaced look. Now, she will compete in the finals for the crown in October this year.

presenting yourself to the outside world in your own skin is the challenge only a few women would take, but Melisa Raouf has done it and that too at a beauty pageant. "It means a lot to me as I feel many girls of different ages wear makeup because they feel pressured to do so She said, "If one is happy in their own skin we should not be made to cover up our face with makeup. Our flaws make us who we are and that's what makes every individual unique." Although she started wearing makeup at a young age, she said, she decided to eschew tradition for the pageant. "I never felt I met beauty standards. I have recently accepted that I am beautiful in my own skin and that's why I decided to compete with no makeup.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 30 2022

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