US pop star Alicia Keys says she is tired of hiding behind "masks" and has joined the #NoMakeUp revolution.
The singing sensation shocked fans last month when she posted a picture of herself with no make up on for the artwork of a single from her new album.
Since then the star has been involved in several shoots where she has been featured with no make up.
While many fans applauded her decision, almost all wondered what has brought about the move.
In a lengthy and emotional essay written by the artist this week, Alicia addressed the cover and opened up about the reasons for her decision to stop wearing make up.
"Before I started my new album, I wrote a list of all the things that I was sick of. And one was how much women are brainwashed into feeling like we have to be skinny, or sexy, or desirable, or perfect," she wrote.
She says that it took the shoot for her new album to awaken her to the sense of self.
"It wasn't until I walked into one of my first shoots for my new album recently that the issue was front and center again. I'd just come from the gym, had a scarf under my baseball cap, and the beautiful photographer Paola (never met a Paola I didn't like) said, 'I have to shoot you right now, like this! The music is raw and real, and these photos have to be too!'" she wrote.
She said the shoot made her feel "powerful" and made her want to listen to her inner-self and tear down the walls she had built around herself.
"The universe was listening to those things I'd promised myself, or maybe I was just finally listening to the universe, but however it goes, that's how this whole #nomakeup thing began," she added.
Source: timeslive
