Ciara always appeared like the super cool homegirl who always made me wonder how she moved like that. While reading The Beauty Bean, I got to know Ciara better as she shared her intimate thoughts on beauty, the pressure to stay in shape and her top beauty role model.
Ciara joins a long list of celebrities who have dished in the Real Beauty series including Brooklyn Decker, Serena Williams, Jessica Szohr, Denise Richards, Kathy Griffin and more! All can be found online by clicking here and reading below.

The Beauty Bean sat down with Ciara and asked her to weigh in on Real Beauty…

What do you think makes someone beautiful?
Of course the classic line is what’s on the inside. You know, it really does start with you and your own confidence. You know what I mean? That’s what makes you beautiful. And then, of course, your own style is what makes you beautiful.

How do you deal with the pressure for body perfection in our culture?
Oh my gosh. Let me tell you. That body thing sometimes can drive me insane, honestly. But I just try to do my best to know that I’m being the best that I can be. And that’s good enough. You know, sometimes people can make you feel like you have to be perfect and you have to be this and it’s kinda like, look: I’m human, and we’re all human, we’re not perfect at all, we’ll never be perfect. But we can have our own kind of perfect. So, for me, I just like to embrace what I have and just not worry. It’s too much.

If you could give your younger self advice about beauty, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to drink all the water you can drink. And I would really tell myself that the beauty really comes from within. You know, we’re all made differently, and sometimes we can look at other people and say, “oh my gosh, I want ot be like her, I want a body like hers,” and we beat ourselves up because it’s not like that and you have to understand that your unique design and build is really your own unique design. And you got to embrace that. And I would just say that.

What is your one, can’t-live-without-it beauty product?
Water! I drink lots of water! I also wash my face two times a day, use Vitamin C serum on my face and I also use a sunscreen/face moisturizer. I love Skinceuticals products.

Who is your beauty role model?
Halle Berry!