Texan Creator Dani Jacobie is All for the End of Conventional Beauty Standards
"I feel like my look has almost taken on a life of its own, carrying this sort of persona that definitely feels rebellious, that feels powerful, and I love it!"
We ask five creators who have mastered the art of unconventional beauty to share their thoughts on movements that celebrate what were once considered “flaws” and the impact of social media on the progressive beauty scene.
Known for her glam and loud sense of style, unique cat-like eyes, and makeup content on both TikTok and Instagram, Dani Jacobie is more than your average student. Besides pursuing a degree in psychology and her hobbies in makeup and photography, the Texan creator and aspiring model considers herself a niche social media influencer with a belief in the power of self-expression.
In September last year, the creator went viral on TikTok for a video of herself lipsyncing to Doja Cat with faux freckles and cat-like eyeliner drawn on. The video got a total of 3.5 million views and 775.9k likes, with users praising Jacobie for her facial features, calling her “unreal” and “ethereal”.
Though the creator tends to get a lot more positive comments about her looks in her videos, there are still a few stragglers who hold a more traditional perception of beauty. “My look tends to give people a sort of visceral reaction,” explains Jacobie. “On social media, I get these intense comments with a few thousand likes, and then a couple of scrolls down, I have strangers who think I'm ugly. Like I said, they go pretty intense both ways.”
Now, many of Jacobie’s followers look forward to her creative content and self-shoots on both platforms where she delivers head-turning looks on a regular. One can only describe her beauty as being comparable to the late Amy Winehouse’s or a power woman of the ’80s.
Have you always been this confident?
As a child, it was more blind delusion. I lived in my own little world away from everyone because kids could sometimes be cruel. Fortunately, as I got older, through trials and tribulations, I was able to discover myself and what pieces of my personality I wanted to physically embody.
Your creations are currently more avant-garde and editorial-inspired. Have you always appreciated this or was it a recent move away from typical beauty trends?
My look is constantly evolving as I grow into myself as a woman. I wake up and wear what makes me feel the most beautiful and what makes me feel empowered. I wholeheartedly feel like that attitude should be adopted by everyone. I'm not sure if I ever considered my style to fit into any specific category at any point in time.
When I was younger, I would get so frustrated because I felt like the harder I tried to conform to typical beauty standards, the farther I was straying from them. As bad as I wanted to replicate, It felt physically impossible, so I stopped trying.
Would you say your creativity rebels against what is traditionally “ beautiful” in society’s eyes?
My style is a lot. It's striking, I know it is, I get it. It's different, but it gives people something to talk about and admire. Really, at this point, I feel like my look has almost taken on a life of its own, carrying this sort of persona that definitely feels rebellious, that feels powerful, and I love it!
When praising unconventional beauty features, compliments can sometimes come across as backhanded. Have you ever personally experienced this?
Absolutely! But I find it best to take the opinions of strangers with a grain of salt because people's perception of you, especially online, can change on a whim. Even though one is better received, positive comments and backhanded comments carry the same weight at the end of the day. And for the sake of one's mental health, they should never be taken to heart.
What are your thoughts on inclusive beauty movements?
I love it. When companies make a genuine effort towards a more inclusive society, I feel hopeful for the future. I think about the effects it might have on the next generation and the sense of pride they might feel seeing somebody that looks like them on TV or in a magazine being celebrated.
Do you think social media played a role in society’s progressive appreciation of unconventional beauty?
I definitely do feel like social media has had a major part to play; the way that this generation consumes social media is like no other. Being constantly fed different people from different walks of life or something never seen before in your tiny Texas town, you realise you really like it. It's different.
Some people want to emulate that and tweak it, or transform their own look, pushing that sort of rebellion onto others. Just like a domino effect, we see this happening slowly. We're this new generation taking conventional beauty standards and burning them as we sit back and admire each other's uniqueness.
