First impressions and appearances can be important, but Bethany Talbot reminds us that there’s power in holding fast to what’s inside you.
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Social media is truly a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be a source of information and inspiration – showing us ways of thinking and being that would have never occurred to us otherwise. On the other hand, it’s like stepping into a funhouse of mirrors, except there’s nothing fun about emerging with a warped sense of self from the illusions of perfection we are bombarded with.
The need to appear happy and thriving on our social accounts is a phenomenon that should be explored all on its own. For the majority of us, the choice to opt out is as easy as signing off. So what happens if we enjoy the sense of power and control that having a fully-customizable curated outer image gives us? And what if that was your job?
Athlete and model Bethany Talbot knows a thing or two about what it means to have to be judged based on what’s on the outside. But this 23-year-old multi-hyphenate queen demonstrates how it’s possible to feel confident in having a strong sense of self, in spite of that self not being fully put-together yet.
ACCEPTING YOURSELF
“It is important that I am able to live openly and authentically to who I am and to the rest of society,” Bethany firmly announces. This is the dream – to be able to be yourself and show that off to the world without fear. But how does one get to that point? How does one find the courage to be even if it goes against societal norms?
Cut-out dress by @ellasunga, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
On a personal level, being yourself is easier when you’re surrounded by those who support you. “I knew within myself that my family and friends would always love me no matter what, and that was a really big factor in always feeling peace within my own identity. I always felt that I had a safe environment to be able to fully express myself, and my loved ones are an important part of helping me reach this point,” Bethany shares.
On a larger scale, it’s important to realize that not everyone has the privilege of having such an accepting support system in their immediate vicinity. As an evolved society, we as individuals can and should aim to create a sense of safety for everyone around us. When it comes to acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community, of which Bethany is a proud member, she expresses optimistically that “everyone has the potential to fully accept the LGBTQIA+ community and make them feel like a normal part of society. These people who aren’t there yet, no matter what generation, just need to make a better effort at learning more about the community and also getting to know individuals who are a part of the community.”
High slit dress by @famii_edison, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
ACCEPTING THE TRUTH OF OTHERS
Living in the age of a highly interconnected society means dealing with people. A lot. And those people, whether we like it or not, will have opinions about who we are and what we do. Not all of them are nice to hear, either. As a model and social media content creator, Bethany definitely has to deal with more than her fair share of commentary. “Because this type of career involves us putting a lot of ourselves out there, we are very susceptible to feedback from the audience, whether that may be positive or negative.”
Cut-out dress by @ellasunga, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
The high levels of input from strangers and peers can be daunting. But Bethany powers through it by sticking to what she knows to be true about herself. As she puts it, “We can’t really control how people react to us, but we can control how we react to them. It can get frustrating to see misjudgments about yourself, but I just try to stay grounded to who I am and what my principles are.”
How do we know if we have character or if we’re just being stubborn? The balance between accepting constructive criticism and having the confidence to make decisions based purely on your own sense of right and wrong is a difficult one to get right. With the added difficulty of having every move and every pose scrutinized by an invisible crowd, it may even seem impossible.
There will always be noise, and the struggle between the choice to accept it or ignore it. Sometimes accepting this reality can help us move forward with what we want to do. Taking this a step further, Bethany advises us to trust our instincts and loved ones, “As long as you truly know yourself and you’re surrounded by people who support you fully, it gets easier to navigate the negativity around this type of career.”
OPENNESS AND CHANGE
You can never please everybody. As the saying goes: Haters gon’ hate. And learning to be at peace with this fact will dramatically increase your mental health. However, even people who are far along on their healing journeys probably stop to think: Wouldn’t it be easier if everyone just learned to accept each other for who they are and just minded their own business? Yes. Absolutely. And this generation has taken a few hopeful steps in this direction.
One piece by @ellasunga, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
“I think every generation tries to do a better job than the previous one by fixing problematic norms and practices. I believe that Gen Z has done an amazing job at this especially with advocating for inclusivity,” Bethany marvels as she contemplates the progress that Generation Now has made. “Especially in this age of the internet, Gen Z has been using social media to create powerful messages and advocate for things they believe in.”
High slit dress by @famii_edison, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
But the struggle isn’t over. In fact, as times change, people will. Their concerns, their values, their behaviors, are all subject to change. This means, to an extent, the fight will never truly be over. But that’s okay. Bethany maintains her optimism in the face of this never-ending path, “I think Gen Z is very open to changes and criticisms, and they will keep on finding ways to better improve themselves and society.”
High slit dress by @famii_edison, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
More than just finding ways forward for society, Bethany also has words of wisdom to impart for those finding ways forward for themselves: “Learn to be comfortable around these uncertainties and doubts, and know that life will forever be a journey of self-discovery.” Change is inevitable. While we can approach this fact with a sense of dread, life is perhaps more interesting if we choose to look at it with a sense of excitement for all the different versions of us that we have yet to create.
One piece by @ellasunga, Open toe heels by Nine West @ssilifeph
Photography PAOLO PINEDA
Creative and Fashion Direction ANDRE CHANG
Art Direction GELO QUIJENCIO
Styling ANDRE CHANG
Assisted by KURT ABONAL, MARIA PAZ GAMUS
Multimedia Artists KYLA AMADORA, ABBY CHUA
Makeup Artist THAZZIA FALEK
Hair Stylist ARTURO TOLENTINO
Production Design SOFIA TAN
Shoot Coordination JASMIN DASIGAN
Shot at STUDIO BLANC
Editor-In-Chief MAGGIE BATACAN
Managing Editor RAFAEL BAUTISTA
Brand Associate BIANCA LAO
Marketing Services Manager MARVIN MANCERA
Ad & Promo Supervisor SOPHIA SAMALA
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