You know, I get told a lot that I am a beautiful woman. That I am “stunning” and that I have a beautiful body. I’m not dumb about the looks I get from my from my male friends and my female friends’ husbands and boyfriends. But you know what? I don’t want to be “that girl”, the one who uses her looks to manipulate men and her way through life. It’s why I’ve chosen to be (obnoxiously) intelligent (at times). Because when most of you look at me, you don’t see ME at all. Just whatever you project on me. And that’s either that I’m a s** object or, when it comes to women, a threat. I am a person with a heart and a mind and a soul and dreams and wishes and desires like anyone else. I’ve learned some folks don’t like the idea of an intelligent woman. They really don’t. But if you deal with me, I’m not going to twirl my hair and pretend to be stupid. And that’s so you’ll remember to look me in the eye and see a person instead of an object. I’m not going to be “that girl”. I’ve got a brain and I’m going to use it. If you can’t reconcile a woman having brains AND beauty, then I pray for the daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers and nieces in your life.