It’s always the small, trivial things: I met one of my friends because of her nails. The minute she was introduced to me, I saw them. They were pink, with hello kitty stickers and bows on them, a lot of glitter, long and sharp, the whole thing- so I couldn’t help but tell her1/7

they were the cutest nails I had ever seen. We soon became friends and I learned that was her trademark. Every month shed get her nails done and they were the tackiest, cutest thing you’ve ever seen. That was until she got her dream job. Whilst the field was predominantly 2/7

populated by females, she often got criticised for her girly nails (cough class and femininity and internalised misogyny and gender performativity should be discussed here). So she toned them down, cut them, no more glitter or bows and no more hello kitty.3/7

The rest of our friend group was very upset-after all she loved her nails. This week she sent us a photo of her nails and I was glad to find out they are again bright pink, sharp, full of glitter and stickers and weird fonts. 4/7

I asked her how come she went back to this nail shape/form. ‘This quarantine made me realise I might die anytime. And f what they think. Before I die, I want to live the way I want’. 5/7