Last week, the #nomakeupselfie campaign swept across social media and so far has raised over £2 million.
The ‘no make up selfie’ involves women posting photos of themselves with no make up on before making a donation to Cancer Research UK and nominating their online friends to do the same.
Women all over the country were posting photos of themselves without make up on in order to raise money for the charity.
Despite the campaign gaining a vast amount of public support, it has also beencriticised.
When the selfies first appeared it was unclear what the purpose was of filling a Facebook news feed with bare faced women saying we should beat cancer.
It soon became apparent that it was a fundraising act although, no one really knows how it started.
It is thought the campaign could have been inspired by author Laura Lipman’s barefaced photograph she posted of herself on Twitter a fortnight ago. She hit out after actress Kim Novak was criticised for her appearance at the Oscars.
I was sceptical at first because I wasn’t aware people were actually donating alongside their no make up selfies. My initial thoughts were that it was very easy to post a photo of yourself on Facebook but donating money is a step further for a site that endorses socialising with friends online rather than meeting up in person.
However, the campaign has received massive backing and has raised a great deal of money for a worthy cause.
It can be argued that it was a rather shallow and materialistic act to post a photo without make up on, some would go as far as to say that it trivialised the cause.
But I’m glad that the new trend of nominating your online friends has been utilised to raise money after the controversy surrounding the Neck Nominate drinking game which flooded Facebook back in February.
Counter posts have appeared on social media in retaliation to the no make up selfies,criticising the work of cancer research charities.
I completely agree that the charities that provide support for families affected by cancer are worthwhile and deserving of all the money that is raised for them and more. But I wouldn’t boycott a charity that could find a cure to prevent a family member needing that care at some point in the future.
Taking a photo of yourself without make up on may not be the most challenging thing you can do for charity but the point is doing it for charity.
No one was asking for sponsorship in return for making use of a make up wipe.
The campaign served as a reminder that we can all do our bit by donating some money and prompting our friends to do the same.
It’s the same principal as the telethons that promote causes such as Children in Need and Comic/ Sport Relief.
No make up selfies may be unconventional and a sign of our convenience culture, and it is only the start of raising awareness of cancer but it is a start.
After all, they do say charity begins at home…or on Facebook.