Meredith Duxbury has become a prominent figure in the beauty and fashion world, known for her unique makeup application techniques and her message of self-acceptance. While her initial claim to fame was her unconventional foundation routine, her journey is about more than just makeup. It's a story of overcoming insecurities, embracing individuality, and inspiring others to do the same.
The Foundation Challenge: A Viral Sensation
Duxbury's signature makeup routine involves applying a generous amount of foundation, often mixing two different formulas, all over her face using her hands. She typically accompanies these videos with upbeat, empowering songs, creating an engaging and entertaining experience for her viewers. The initial application appears wet and shiny, completely covering her lips, but the final result is a full-coverage, glamorous look after blending.
This unusual method quickly gained traction online, with the hashtag #thefoundationchallenge amassing over 615 million views. Even celebrities like Selena Gomez gave Duxbury's routine a try, further amplifying her reach and influence.
Duxbury explains that she started using this technique to cover up her freckles. "I use a little bit more foundations than somebody that doesn’t have freckles," she tells TODAY.com. "People loved it because it wasn’t something that I’d seen before."
Handling the Hate: Turning Negativity into Empowerment
Duxbury's rise to fame wasn't without its challenges. Her unconventional approach attracted a significant amount of online criticism, with some accusing her of exaggerating her routine for views. "It was kind of shocking that there were so many people that had opinions on what I was doing," she says. “No one’s ever exposed to that in their life until something like this happens.”
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However, Duxbury has learned to navigate the negativity with grace and humor. She often duets snarky comments, using them as an opportunity to create more makeup tutorials and reinforce her message of self-love. "I was so affected by what people thought of me and what people said, but now that I’m so happy with what I’m doing, and happy with myself, and content with myself, that’s most important," she says.
She emphasizes the importance of self-confidence, especially for young people. "And that’s what I always try to tell my followers, too, because I know I have a lot of young girls who follow me, and boys too. I just think at that age, it’s so crucial to have the confidence and to not let other people’s opinions shape who you are."
Overcoming Past Insecurities: A Lesson in Resilience
Duxbury's journey to self-acceptance wasn't always easy. She recalls a time when she stopped posting makeup videos online after an older boy at her school discovered her YouTube channel. She describes the incident as "the most embarrassing day of my life."
Drawing on her past experiences, Duxbury encourages her followers to pursue their passions regardless of what others may think. "Don’t let other people’s opinions affect who you are, and what you want to do, and what you love," she says. "It’s not fair for them to not get the chance to follow through with their passion and their art and creation because of somebody else’s opinion, when they don’t even matter to them."
Honesty and Transparency: Embracing Authenticity
Duxbury emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency, particularly when it comes to aesthetic enhancements. She is open about her lip fillers, believing it's crucial to be upfront with her followers.
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"If you’re a young girl, and you’re on Instagram scrolling and you’re like, 'Why don’t my lips like look like that?' I just don’t think it’s good to to lie about it," she says. "If I’m getting filler, I’m happy to take you along with the journey and show you. "most ppl are like oh I'm perfect they totally don't know that i have things done.""
Duxbury's commitment to authenticity resonates with her audience, fostering a sense of trust and connection. "I want everyone to feel confident with whatever they do with their body! I love being real and honest with all of you guys," Duxbury responded to the comment.
Beyond Makeup: A Budding Fashion Career
Since her initial rise to fame, Duxbury has expanded her reach into the fashion world. Her face has been featured on billboards in Manhattan to promote her makeup collection with Morphe, and she has attended runway shows in Paris. Her next aspiration is to walk in a runway show, further solidifying her presence in the fashion industry.
Duxbury's journey demonstrates the power of self-belief and the importance of staying true to oneself. She finds creative inspiration through her work on social media. "I wouldn’t say when I was younger that I said, 'I want to be an influencer, I want to be famous,'" she says. "It was more like, 'I love art, and I love creating.'"
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