Amanda Hofmeister is a successful woman. She has earned both a bachelor’s degree in business management and a cosmetology license. She aspires to one day own and operate her own salon. To be honest, Amanda is a good friend of mine. Personally, I feel that she is a very beautiful person. Additionally, I feel like Amanda has an interesting take on what is “true beauty,” considering the fact that she went to what many refer to as “beauty school.” She specializes in the business of making men and women “beautiful.” I interviewed Amanda this past weekend to better understand her take on true beauty.
Amanda defines female beauty as confidence and personality. Furthermore, she said, “I think a woman who is confident in herself and what she looks like is beautiful.” Amanda has worked with many models and attractive individuals. She says that outer beauty really does not define what they are truly like. Of this she said, “I’ve met people that are really pretty, but not genuine.”
She continued to explain that life experiences such as doing hair and going to hair school have shaped her understanding of beauty. Amanda explained, “Doing hair, I met a lot of women. Those women…some people are nice, but others really are not at all.”
Both Amanda and I agreed on the conclusion that our perspectives of true beauty in women have evolved and changed over time. Amanda expanded on this point, “When you’re a teen or younger you think only outside appearance matters, but then you get to know people and go to college. You meet more people, and you eventually realize there is more to someone than just outside beauty. Character and personality says a lot. Living life and continually having experiences makes you learn more about what people are really like.”
Amanda and I spoke about the role of physical beauty in the overall definition of “beauty.” As a cosmetologist, obviously she cares about looking and feeling good. She said on the topic, “As much as I think it is to be all-natural, I don’t think getting all dolled up once in a while is a bad thing. It can really boost your confidence and help you feel pretty. Some use too much make up or too big of hair to hide insecurities. But I love giving makeovers and giving clients changes that they needed. A little bit is always good.”
Honestly, I have to say I agree. I feel most beautiful inside and out when I at least have mascara on. We all have our little things that we turn to that boost our confidence, and I don’t think that it necessarily needs to be make-up. Perhaps, it is a favorite dress. I know that I’d feel beautiful in any of Shabby Apple’s clothing.
Amanda made sure that I understood that physical beauty is not the only thing that makes a woman beautiful or even sexy. She said, “My B.A. helped me realize that being smart, educated, and having the desire to be educated and accomplished is beautiful thing. It is sexy. Hair school…it is more of a superficial beauty. You can make anybody feel beautiful by doing their hair. Education stays.” Long story short, no matter what anyone tells you, being smart is beautiful.
When asked who were some of the beautiful women in her life, she replied that her mother and sister-in-laws. Her reasoning? She explained, “They are all so accomplished. They are moms, and they’re selfless. They do so much.” She felt that the most beautiful thing about herself is the fact that she is willing to “bend over backwards to help people,” something that I can testify of about Amanda. Physically, Amanda told me that she loves her olive skin and blue eyes, which only proves that there is nothing wrong with loving what you physically look like.
Want to know a little bit more about Amanda? Amanda currently works at Klim, a sports performance company located in Rigby, Idaho and at Form, one of the best salons in Southeastern Idaho (in my humble opinion). She has been married for a couple years to her husband, Stefan. She grew up in the great state of Texas (Go Cowboys!) and is in her mid-twenties.
C'est La Evi 