Fashion

Kjerstin Gruys Swears off Mirrors

Bride-to-be and blogger, Kjerstin Gruys, is swearing off mirrors for an entire year to promote awareness about positive body image. Gruys began her journey because she didn't want to be one of those brides who constantly worry about losing the last 10 pounds to squeeze into her wedding dress; although, she picked her wedding dress out (complete with mirrors) well before her mission began.

Her daily routine consists of the bare minimum amount of make-up, applied with a skill hand, her sense of touch, and no mirror. Her decision really took root when Gruys read a passage from the book “The Birth of Venus” by Sarah Dunant. The passage describes how nuns would swear off the sight of human flesh, especially of their own bodies, to become more enlightened and in touch with the world around them.

Gruys hopes that her year without mirrors will heighten her sense of self-worth while building her self-image and esteem. She confesses to having struggled with poor body image in the past, as most women have, and describes her wedding planning thus far as "the intensified feeling to be perfect."

While research has shown that looking in a mirror excessively over the course of a day can lower self-esteem, Gruys has received negative comments from the blogging world about her decision. She plans to carry on with her mission, despite the negativity, because she thinks it will better the view of her inner self.