A Cuban woman, who goes by @laflaki1304 on TikTok, took to her account to address the backlash she faced after auditioning for the beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina. In a video that quickly went viral, she shared her feelings about the negative remarks concerning her appearance and her decision to participate in the competition.
With determination, she stated in the video, “Stop with the negative comments and remarks. I went to the auditions because I wanted to, because it was my lifelong dream.” She acknowledged that while she didn't fit the traditional beauty standards, she chose to pursue her dream regardless: “I knew I couldn't, because I'm not perfect, I'm not that natural beauty everyone expects you to be, but I decided to do it anyway.”
She also urged her critics to halt their derogatory comments: “If I had the courage to do it, without caring about your criticism, why do you have to be on top of me? Leave me alone.”
In the heartfelt video, she mentioned that she wasn't accepted into the competition: “I wasn't even given a chance to enter,” she said, her sadness evident.
The young woman's message has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, ranging from support to further criticism, fueling the ongoing debate about beauty standards and the significance of chasing one's dreams despite external opinions.