Shay Mitchell Did Everything & Anything To Try & Fit In When She Was Younger

Shay Mitchell just became the new brand ambassador for Buxom Cosmetics, and in a new interview, is opening up about all the past mistakes she made with her beauty – which includes trying to become someone she’s not.

“Trying to conform myself to being something I wasn’t,” the former PLL star told Refinery29 about her biggest beauty mistake. “All my friends in high school had blonde hair and blue eyes, and I wanted so badly to fit in.”

Her solution? “I dyed my hair blonde; I wore [colored] contacts; I straightened my hair because it’s naturally wavy; I stayed out of the sun as much as possible to not get tanned.”

Shay adds that she “was trying so hard to be everything that I wasn’t. I wish I could’ve just told my younger self to enhance what you have.”

Now, she’s advising her fans and anyone else who is reading this to embrace your uniqueness.

“In high school you’re comparing yourself to other people, you’re growing up at a rapid pace, and everything is kind of new,” Shay says. “My advice now is to celebrate your unique look, whatever that is.”

“Celebrate that, make it yours. For me, makeup isn’t about hiding anything — it’s about accentuating your natural beauty.”