Last week the Mansfield High School Student Council put out a “White T-Shirt Challenge,” encouraging MHS girls to wear white t-shirts with jeans or sweats, put their hair in ponytails, and ditch the makeup for one week. The challenge was meant to show girls the importance of inner beauty and that what you look like does not define who you are.
Junior class Stuco officer Karli Owens hopes that after the “T-Shirt Challenge” week girls will not feel so self conscious about their looks, and understand that looks are not as important as personality.
“We wanted girls to realize that they don’t have to wear makeup and dress up every day and that there is such thing as inner beauty,” Owens said.
Stuco is always looking for ways to get the student body involved, and many students have accepted the challenge. Owens was impressed by the amount of student participation in the program.
“I was surprised because I didn’t think anyone was going to do it, but I see a bunch of girls doing it, and I think it’s cool,” Owens said.
Junior Madison Mobley participated the entire week. She felt that the event allowed her freedom and was surprised that not many people noticed her change in appearance.
“It’s nice to know I have friends that will still talk to me even if I don’t wear makeup.” Mobley said.
Mobley says that she will go back to wearing makeup, but after this week, she will probably worry less about how she looks, and have some casual dress days for school.
“Makeup can be a good thing,” Mobley said, “but when it becomes a mask girls hide behind it becomes a crutch.
Hopefully, the challenge inspired MHS girls to be who they are and understand that what is on the inside is more important than the outside.