REGARDING Phumla Matjila's column "Women need to learn to say 'no' to fashion torture and those killer heels" on March 7.

Nice topic. So who sets the standard of beauty and determines what's right or wrong ? What is beautiful to me might not even grab your attention.

Here is a list of the selected beauty blunders in Matjila's opinion. I ask:

Hair - who determines which hairstyles are acceptable? Do we keep natural (dreadlocks or Afro), extensions, shave, relax or a bit of all?

Ears - Pierce or not? If I do, do I wear long, round or how many earrings per ear?

Eyelashes - do I extend, use mascara or stay natural?

Eyebrows - Do I tweeze to shape or remove them completely?

Nails - do I keep them short, paint or keep them natural? Artificial (gel or acrylic)? Length and colours?

Stretch marks - why are we made to feel ashamed for what we cannot prevent? Who decided that stretch marks should be hidden?

Teeth - who came up with gold teeth and what purpose do they serve? Who put us under pressure for perfect teeth and braces?

No one has the right to tell us women what we should adopt or reject. These are just opinions and people trying to sell their product.

Who or what you support is a personal choice. One has to be comfortable with oneself. Do not succumb to pressure from anyone.

No one has all the answers. You will have to look at many factors - religious, social and economic, which are not the same to all of us.

Nonhlanhla Mojapelo, by e-mail