Shira Nudler

Beauty is something that, growing up, was the first thing people considered. When I would go home to visit my extended family, I would be told how beautiful I’ve become or how I shouldn’t wear makeup because it hides my natural beauty.

I noticed as I got older, that they didn’t talk like this to my male cousins or brothers. I was known as the beautiful one, I was only considered on a physical level and I was considered because I was female. When I realised this I was about 12.

Because of the pressure from my family and online to be feminine I wanted to be the exact opposite - I pretended to hate everything pink or frilly or eye-catching, I played sports and ignored compliments and tried to seem as ‘manly’ as possible.

Being a woman isn’t a bad thing, being friendly or feminine or caring or beautiful isn’t a bad thing, I wish someone had told me that sooner.

Second-hand clothes have been a huge part of my life. I love to experiment with different styles and shopping second-hand helps me be able to do that inexpensively and sustainably. It also lets me get creative - a pair of jeans will always fit, if you sew it correctly; a shirt will always be flattering, if you accessorise it well. Shopping at secondhand stores made me much more comfortable with enjoying fashion and celebrating my love for it.