Alicia Keys, a stalwart in the music industry for over 15 years, gracefully handled the online backlash from her #nomakeup movement. On Tuesday (Jan. 17), Allure featured Keys, who had previously written a personal essay for Lenny Letter announcing her choice to go makeup-free. This decision sparked widespread criticism, including body shaming and co𝚗spiracy theories. However, Keys remained unbothered by the negativity.

“I’m not a slаve to makeup. I’m not a slаve to not wearing makeup either,” Keys told Allure, discussing her choice to reject the oppressive beauty standards in the public eye. Her cover shoot with Allure marks her first time wearing makeup since a spring 2016 editorial photo shoot.

Beyond her recent album “Here” and her philanthropic efforts through the We Are Here Movement, which addresses bigotry in the Trump era, Keys explored the philosophical aspects of beauty and style. “There’s definitely something powerful about the way your inner feels that reflects on the outer, on your skin,” she explained. “That, to me, is real beauty.”