Alicia Keys' self-worth isn't based on other people's opinions.
The singer's choice to go makeup free has been met with quite a reaction, and during her Friday morning appearance on Today she took the time to explain that, positive or negative responses aside, she's just being herself.
Refuting the notion that her actions stem from an aversion to cosmetics, she said ahead of her performance, "Look, I love makeup too. It's about how you feel. It's about who you are. It's about just being who you are and not letting anyone tell you who you should be. Even this conversation shows our obsession of the standard we hold women."
The Grammy-winning mother of two then gave anchors Tamron Hall, Billy Bush and Al Roker the confidence to remove their own makeup on national TV. And that's no easy feat for the morning show broadcasters who appear in front of an audience of thousands each day.
Keys expanded on the topic in her conversation with Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie, admitting to the co-anchors that her ability to step out sans makeup didn't happen overnight. Instead, it took years of of growing as an artist for her to get to a place where she was content in her own skin.
"The biggest difference is my knowing of myself and the ability to really be comfortable exactly as I am, who I am," the 35-year-old said, continuing, "It's hard to get to that place. I think that's something we battle with through our whole lives."
For now, Alicia wants others to know, "We each have something that no one else has and it'd be so amazing to just embrace each other how we are."
She added, "I think the most important thing is that you do what feels good for you. It's not about anything else." Food for thought, indeed.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)