Nationwide — Calynn Chapman, a 25-year-old African American woman from Nashville, chose to go makeup-free on her wedding day, embracing her natural beauty. Her decision sparked a viral reaction on TikTok, with over 35 million views and thousands of comments.Chapman never grew up around makeup and had no struggles with acne or blemishes. Still, she debated wearing makeup for her wedding. After researching bridal makeup artists, she decided to skip it. She believed she looked her best when she felt comfortable in her own skin.
“I believe that God made me perfect just the way I am, blemishes and all,” Chapman said in an interview with People. “And I wanted to embrace that. I also didn’t want to risk spending a lot of money on a makeup artist and potentially not liking the way I looked on the big day.”
She told her mom and bridesmaids about her decision. Since they knew she never wore makeup, they fully supported her. On her wedding day, January 27, 2024, she kept it simple with her usual face wash, moisturizer, and clear lip gloss before walking down the aisle in her dress.
While browsing TikTok for wedding inspiration, Chapman saw bridal makeup tutorials and unconventional choices, but none about going makeup-free. She decided to share her own story and posted her video.
Her video went viral fast. Some commenters were critical, warning her she’d regret it. But most praised her confidence and natural look. Many women even messaged her saying they’re now thinking about going makeup-free for their own weddings or proms.
Looking back, Chapman has no regrets, saying she feels more beautiful than ever without makeup. “No amount of makeup could have changed that,” she says.
“This experience has made me want to encourage even more girls to be comfortable in their own skin, even on the biggest days of their life,” she adds. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with makeup and wanting to enhance features. But it should not be required for anyone, regardless of the event.”