Sra'aem Beauty

|| gentle reminder 🫶🏾🌼✨

|| I have one too many stories of my personal experience with colorism. But this one story continues to stick with me & has been my motivation to continue to break barriers as a brown Khmer woman.

I recall getting my nails done at a nail salon over 10 years ago, by a Vietnamese American girl. She was a few years older than me. She asked where I was from, and what I did for a living. I told her I'm from San Francisco and that I was attending San Francisco State University (at the time).

She then asked, "I'm curious, what nationality are you?" I told her I'm Cambodian. Her eyes were deer in the headlights, not even kidding. I started to feel a bit uneasy. She was like, "OMG, no way?!". I'm like, "Uhm, yea... Why?". She then goes on to say, "You can't be!!! You're hella pretty & you're not hella dark like the Cambos I know!" 😤

At this point, I was at a loss for words. She then goes on to say, "No Cambodian I know ever goes to college, let alone graduate high school!". Then goes, you must come from a rich family since you're from SF. I told her hell no, I grew up in poverty, in a low income neighborhood like many others. I was taken aback & super uncomfortable. Meanwhile, she was still in disbelief. I literally couldn't wait to get out of there bc I was ready to throw some hands at that point. Looking back, I had wished I said more to her, but I didn't have the confidence that I do now.

I hope + pray to my daughter & every little Khmer girl out there, please know you ARE enough & that you don't have to prove yourself or explain yourself to ANYONE. Hold your head up high because this world will continue to laugh at us & silence us, but always remember ; BEAUTY & INTELLIGENCE HAS NEVER BEEN DEFINED BY OUR SKIN COLOR 🤎👑

***To all my Khmer gals & guys, let's flood social media with our beautiful photos + positivity! We come in all shapes, sizes, & skin colors. Let's collectively celebrate who WE ARE & EACH OTHER! 🤎✨

|| Choosing our words with empathy and respect helps create communities where everyone, regardless of our skin color, body type, and/or ethnic heritage, is celebrated, seen & valued 🤎

⚜️ Let's Welcome Our New Year Angel, Princess Reakyaksa Devi at 8:48 PM PST ⚜️

🪷 3rd daughter of Kabil Moha Prum 👑
🪷 Represents Year of the Horse 🐎
🪷 Appears in elegant black clothing 🖤
🪷 Wears a lotus flower behind her ear 🪷
🪷 Carries a bow & trident 🔱🏹
🪷 Preferred offering is blood 🩸

Families prepare by placing offerings of incense, candles, food, desserts, fruits, flowers, makeup, clothing, decorations, fragrance/perfume to greet her. Let's have a wonderful celebration & Happy New Year សួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មី!!!

FUN FACT: a 5.5 earthquake just occurred in Northern California/Nevada! a sign that Princess Reakyaksa Devi is ready to descend from the heavens to bless & protect us ☁️✨ (praying for those affected by the earthquake)