Bulgarian women

Bulgarians think that Bulgarian women are BEAUTIFUL. The physical beauty of our women is a matter of national pride and joy that we like to bring up whenever the opportunity presents itself.

I have never been able to understand why.

I mean, sure, there are beautiful women on the streets. And, of course, I've got the pleasure and privilege to be surrounded by women who take care not only of their physical appearance but also of their spirit. In general, however, I find Bulgarian women ... visually underwhelming.

- Like many Europeans, Bulgarian women do not wash their hair often because they believe that's bad. The result is weakly pony-tails on non-shampoo days and total discomfort for both said pony-tail's owner and their company.

- They match: their bag to their shoes, their belt to their socks, their earrings to their necklaces, their wedding dress to the color of the table cloth. Boring and predictable...yawn, yawn, yawn.

- They often do not understand the idea of appropriate. By which, I do not mean demure or modest. I simply mean appropriate for the occasion. They are dressed too flashy during the day, the skirts are too short, the shirts are too tight, the cleavage is impossible to miss, they wear too much make-up to work...Need I say more?

- They are obsessed with trends and wear what's in. They do not care if they look good in it. Or dare express a little bit of personal taste. If it's in one of the major women's magazines this month, it's gotta be good.

- They mistake skinny for beautiful. The thing is...skinniness is often achieved by over-dieting and/on chain-smoking. Yes, they are skinny but also they are their skin is grey and dry and they mostly look hungry and bitter and miserable.

I care so much about this not because I think of myself as an expert on fashion. Nor am I the fucking fashion police. I care about this because I think it is symptomatic of things deeper and graver that have to do with the way people think and behave. Obsessed with appearances and fake, superficial perfection of no substance whatsoever and such a sad inability to think for themselves...It seriously brings tears to my eyes.