This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cierra Desmaratti, a 27-year-old actuarial analyst based in Miami. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
As an actuarial analyst, I’ve felt a lot of pressure to be viewed as competent. I’m a very feminine person, and I’ve grappled with how to express my feminine sense of style without undermining how seriously people take me.
When I was working at Deloitte in Chicago, I wore neutral colors and pants every day, trying to find acceptance through conformity.
Moving to a place as colorful and expressive as Miami has inspired me to embrace my femininity and find ways to show up at work confidently and authentically. I spend my days in dresses and heels, and even spend $800 every three months to get my hair done.
Some people might say it’s extra, but beauty matters in the corporate world in the sense that we’re judged first by our appearance. It’s important to look clean and professional, but it’s also important for me to feel like myself.
I love wearing dresses and getting my makeup professionally done for events
I’m a girly girl. I like to spend money on my looks, buy new dresses, and get my hair done. Miami’s environment has given me the courage to express my professional identity, to allow myself to be seen, and to hopefully attract people who resonate with me.
The majority of my budget goes towards hair, dresses, and makeup. I actually took a makeup class to learn how to enhance my natural everyday makeup look, and I also enjoy and invest in getting my makeup professionally done before my networking events.
On average, I spend $150 to $400 a month for clothes, makeup, and accessories.
I host professional networking events for my group, The Rising Visionaries, once a month, which means the cost of maintaining my beauty and personal brand image is higher than when I started at Deloitte.
I think the way I dress now makes me more relatable
My current analyst job is remote, so my calls are online, but for the networking events I host, I dress much differently than I used to at my previous job in Chicago. These days, I like to wear nice dresses and heels, whereas I used to wear a white sweater and some pants.
I haven’t felt any negativity since dressing this way. As a matter of fact, I think I’ve become more relatable. I want people to see me for who I am, and to attract aligned people and opportunities.
I’m sure there are some traditional analysts who see my LinkedIn posts about fashion and are confused about why and how I’m so into fashion and actuarial science, but I want to show that you can be a woman who embraces beauty, authenticity, and femininity and still be competent.
My hair used to impact my confidence at work
Growing up, I always wanted long, beautiful hair, but I didn’t always take the best care of my natural 4C, coily hair texture. I also didn’t have the finances to.
When I was working at Deloitte, I found it hard to balance caring for my naturally high-maintenance hair with work, and I ended up with a lot of breakage. That affected my confidence at work.
Now that I’m finally in a position to achieve the look I want, I go all in. Every two to three months, I jump on a plane home and catch up with my hairdresser for my three-and-a-half-hour appointment.
I get a sew-in, which requires her to wash and blow out my hair, braid it, sew in the extensions, put a closure on it, and style it. If I want to add color, she colors the extensions beforehand.
As a Black woman, my hair is a big part of my identity
My hair is my crown. It’s a big part of my identity. I feel powerful and confident when I show my face in rooms or online now. My long hair makes me feel feminine, regal, and like a power boss.
Whether we love it or not, the first thing people see about us is our appearance, and for me, my hair is such a big part of what frames my face.
Even though my extensions are expensive, I want high-quality human hair that feels like it’s coming from my own head. I’ve never felt more like me at work and in life, and it’s so worth it.
Do you have a story to share about how you’ve invested in your appearance for the workplace? If so, please reach out to the reporter at [email protected].
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