Expressions of Beauty
Prison is a setting often characterized by control, uniformity, and deprivation. In this place, the ability to express beauty goes far beyond surface level aesthetics. It becomes an act of resistance, identity, empowerment, and emotional resilience. Here are several ways incarcerated women at CCWF express their beauty.
Hairstyling and Maintenance
“My [hair] style is an expression of where I am from [the Bay] and represents freedom. When I used to play basketball, I couldn’t get dressed up to express my authentic self, so I expressed it with my fly hairstyles. Same in prison. We wear uniforms, so the best way to bring me out as an individual is my hair style. I have a better day when my hair is done.”
Tip: Four flat braids and edge control for baby hairs. Falcon uses Palmer’s growth treatment so her hair stays manageable.
— Adriana Falcon
DIY Makeup
“My makeup is a way for me to show my feelings of the day. I use darker colors to reflect I am not in the best mood and vibrant colors to express feeling happy and joyful. I do not like to express myself verbally. Therefore, I express it with my makeup style and colors I use.”
Tip: Women may create eyeliner, lipstick or eye shadow using things like colored pencils, magazine ink, M&M’s for tin, or floor wax for gloss.
— Elaine Juarez
Fashion by Accessorizing
“I make my prison uniform look jazzy by adding accesso- ries. If I am gonna wear it, I am gonna wear it so it looks good. It makes me feel like I am not incarcerated and it feeds the freedom of my mental state.”
Tip: Strategically layer clothing or use items like scarves or hairbands as accessories.
— Daviena Lashay Cox
Hands and Nails
“I hold the most precious things with my hand, such as my daughter and my mom’s hands. I use my hands a lot when I talk to express myself. It is what you extend to others when you meet them, it is what you use when you embrace them and welcome them with a hug. It is also the place when someone confesses their love and puts a ring on it.”
Tip: File your nails with an emery board and decorate them using crushed colored pencils.
— Boualy Mangsanghanh
Body and Fitness
“If you have a fitness regimen you follow, you can’t help but to feel good when you see results and look good. I also help other women follow fitness routines to feel good and teach them how to love their bodies. No matter the body shape, we are all beautiful.”
Tip: Take at least 15 minutes when you wake up in the morning to do a simple exercise routine, like toe touch- es, jumping jacks, running in place, sit ups and modified push-ups. You can do another 15 minutes before bed. Keep a healthy diet and take one day out of the week as a cheat day to reward yourself.
— Serina Mendoza
Skin Care
“I was eight years old when I started caring for my skin and my grandma’s influence was huge, being a Mark Kay lady. Skin is our biggest organ; it acts like a sponge and protects us. Only a few things are within our control in prison and one of them is practicing self-care. When I nurture my skin, I nurture my inner freedom.”
Tip: Use coconut oil from a quarterly package and infuse it with lavender. It is anti-aging and very relaxing. Babin applies it every night before she goes to bed.
— Terri Babin
Posture and Poise
“When I sit up straight, it infuses me with confidence and radiates strength. And there is nothing more beautiful than a strong, resilient woman. In prison, some authorities focus on stripping you of your confidence and self-worth. Posture and poise are part of my rehabilitation. It means strength, wisdom, a good mom. With posture I display I can do anything and my thought process becomes different.”
Tips: Put your shoulders back against a chair. Don’t worry if you are busty and your chest is sticking out. Our bodies are designed to stay strong. You can place a book on your head to practice keeping your chin up. When you look straight into someone’s eye, you create connections.
— Jennifer Barbero
Art Expression
“I am good with colors. When I go through mental health issues, art is my way of escaping from everyday life. That is the healthiest way I know how to cope with life. Instead of running to drugs, relationships, or violence, I do art. The world is so used to what is on the surface. Art tells a different story. It is a form of fellowship with my peers. When I interact with others through art, it is a form of therapy.”
Tip: All you need is color pencils and paper. Combine the different colors and see what comes out of it.
— Maria Uribe
Tattoos
“It is not only ink. It is scars to represent the things that have I been through in life and the things I have overcome. At a moment you were envisioning and feeling something that you want to remember or that you got through. That is beautiful. You don’t hide your trials in life; you are proud of them. It can be a portrait, name, symbols. The pain I go through is also a strength. I am gonna represent how brave, courageous, and strong I am.”
Tip: Tattoos can be a way to reclaim body autonomy and tell personal stories.
— Yadira Amaya-Cortez
