Beauty In Family: Redefining Beauty
Featuring Laquanta Porch
There are so many ways beauty can be defined. And each month I am spending time providing women with the platform to share how they have been defining beauty and what beauty means to them. This month, Laquanta shares about how her family life has impacted and influenced how she defines beauty. Sit back and enjoy this lovely read on beauty.
Take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers
Laquanta “Gift of God”. Mother of one daughter. Only daughter to the most supportive mother. Sister to two amazing brothers and one amazing sister. Loving aunt to six. Beach loving, sunflower loving, sunrise, and sunset loving Queen. Aggie Alumna. New author. Soccer mom/soccer coach. I wear many hats.
How do you define beauty? And how has that definition changed or evolved throughout your life?
I define beauty as embracing and accepting yourself for who you are. We are made up of our own set of genetics and especially our own life experiences. That definition has not changed or evolved much throughout my life. Have I followed that definition? Not so much. I remember hating my gap as a kid because it was something I was teased about. Many may notice I very rarely smile showing my teeth, especially in pictures. A little over a year ago, my daughter told me “Mommy, you never smile showing your teeth. Why?” I realized I wasn’t embracing my own individual beauty that so many of my family members have and even my daughter has. I wasn’t teaching her how to embrace and accept her gap, which is part of her genetic beauty.
“I realized I wasn’t embracing my own individual beauty that so many of my family members have and even my daughter has.”
-Laquanta
You seem to be a very family-oriented woman. Does your love for family impact your views on beauty? If so, how?
Yes, I am very family-oriented. My love for family definitely impacts my views on beauty. For me, beauty is rooted deep into how my family loves each other unconditionally and how supportive we are of each other. I find so much beauty in our connection because you can’t find It everywhere. There are so many broken families and it is truly a beautiful blessing in how much we love, care for, and support each other through the good and bad times.
You have a daughter and quite a few nieces. What lessons have you begun teaching or showing them about beauty?
Lessons I’ve begun teaching my daughter and nieces are that true beauty lies within. You must have a beautiful soul to go with the glam. There is nothing great about having a beautiful face and body, but your inside is ugly. It’s very important to take care of the inside. Take care of your heart. Be authentic in all your relationships. Treat people with fairness and kindness. Embrace and accept yourself and the flaws you possess. You are who you are and no one can take that away from YOU.
When I was younger, I remember being taught that simple was enough. My mom made sure we got our hair done every two weeks faithfully and as far as makeup she would usually wear lipstick only.
What were you taught about beauty when you were younger?
When I was younger, I remember being taught that simple was enough. My mom made sure we got our hair done every two weeks faithfully and as far as makeup she would usually wear lipstick only. My grandmother, who was another big influence on beauty, also was all about keeping her hair done. Use good hygiene practices, don’t use too many different products on your face or hair, and keep it simple.
You are a new author. While writing your first children’s book, did you learn any new life lessons any related to beauty?
I think the biggest life lesson I learned was about patience. Some days things would go so smoothly with the book and then the next week, I would have to wait for someone to complete a task that was detrimental to completing the process. Funny thing is I wrote the book two years ago and now that things were in motion, I wanted it to happen immediately and when I wanted it to happen. I needed it to happen now. **laughs** One day, I was freaking out about the smallest thing and I had to tell myself “calm down, why the rush now? I had to teach myself to have patience with those assisting with the book. Without them it would not have been happening, so yeah patience. I wanted the release of my book to happen on September 1st for World Alzheimer’s Month and it happened, so all the anxiety and pressure I felt from being impatient was all for nothing.
What is your current beauty routine? You can include all things beauty like makeup, skincare, self-care, etc.
My current beauty routine, which I will say is not completely consistent includes cleansing with Hairizion’s charcoal soap, followed up by Hairizon’s face toner, Ceravae eye cream, Ceravae vitamin C serum, and followed by Hairizion’s morning or night face cream. I don’t have a current self-care routine but I plan on implementing one in the very near future and staying consistent with it.
As always, I like to ask my features to give some advice to our readers. What life advice would you like to share?
The life advice I would like to share is write it down, plan it, and pray on it. Last year a day or so before my 33rd birthday, I wrote a letter to my 32-year-old self. Maybe a day or so after, I wrote a letter to myself for year 33. In that letter, I was very specific about wanting to accomplish several different goals. Two of those goals, I achieved–and they were not small goals. I’m watching a few of the other goals unfold as well. So in biblical saying, “AND THE LORD ANSWERED ME, AND SAID, WRITE THE VISION, AND MAKE IT PLAIN UPON TABLES, THAT HE MAY RUN THAT READETH IT “Habakkuk 2:2”. Write the vision and make it plain and if it’s for you, believe me, it will happen.
Lastly, please share any business ventures you have.
My current ventures include the recent release of my first children’s book “MaMa’s Empty Chair” so I’m promoting that currently. You may purchase your very own copy at https://laquantaporch.com . I’m also currently organizing a Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 10th, 2020 –so just a few weeks away and a fundraiser kickball event for The Longest Day in June 2021 which is an event also associated with Alzheimer’s. There are a few other things I’m working on and one is very big and very special, I can’t wait to share all the different ideas and dreams I pray that will come true. Writing the vision.
