More Than a Beautiful Face

When did you need it?

From Vietnam to North Carolina, many of you responded to the "Lub Ntsej Muag Zoo Nkauj (Live Performance)" video. You resonated with the truth that we as women are more than beautiful faces. And you also said you need this song. So I wonder...

When did you need it?
The moment you saw my performance?
Or for most of your life?

In this photo, I see 13-year-old Pagnia, an avid traditional Hmong dancer striving to be flexible with her hands. She was super silly and loved making her beautiful team of Hmong girls laugh during practice. She looked up to them so much and unconsciously admired their ability to date, flirt, and engage with boys.

After the dance team took a professional photo together, I remember one of the girls had shown the picture to some male classmates. She pinpointed that boys were asking about us, even me. I was shocked, and even a bit flattered because I knew of these boys, but they had never noticed me.

Wow—at last, I was valuable.

This bittersweet memory has stayed with me all these years. Quite honestly, I think it's because the belief that my worth is connected to my ability to attract boys or men has not yet entirely changed. Indirectly and directly, this is a message that many girls receive and struggle with into their adulthood. It’s one that we must unlearn over and over again through the many different chapters of our lives.

So I genuinely hope "Lub Ntsej Muag Zoo Nkauj" reaches girls and women of all ages, over and over again. 'Cause I know, we needed it when we were 13, and we still need it today.

Photo Credit: Pa Chia Xiong