Irish ‘Cake Faces’ girls plaster on makeup
By: Gaelic Girl Alisa | Published Friday, December 21, 2012, 8:22 PM | Updated Friday, December 21, 2012, 8:22 PM
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| Alisa Pierini |
Alisa Pierini is my name, from California, studying in Cork and my red hair causes much confusion.
True red hair, even in a city like Cork, never ceases to amaze and bewilder men (and women for that matter). It is, even in a country that is known for the rare, recessive gene, a novelty. And, a source of many levels of curiosity.
This is my second visit to Ireland. During my first trip I attributed the lack of ginger sightings to the extreme cold of that particular January. But now on my second venture here during these late months of summer, I find myself just as rare and just as much an object of wonder, as ever. Tourists stealthily snap photos of me whispering things like, “Such a classic Irish girl,” and men and women alike (but mostly men) ponder at its immense solar glow.
But then, I am in general unusual among my fellow red-heads, possessing a tremendous halo of deep amber curls with brown eyes to match the same tone (though one would never call my hair brown and my eyes red) and, thanks to the classic mix found in so many individuals of Irish American heritage, a bronze skin-tone acquired from a genetic hodge-podge including Mexican and Italian. Which, is unlike the tan-in-a-can one finds on so many of the “Cake Faces” of Cork.
And then perhaps it is that I am NOT like the women of Cork who, I was warned before arriving, value a look known as the “Cake Face.” This, I came to understand as a reference to an unusual amount of make-up applied to the face, appearing to have been caked on. As well as dressing glamorously for a weeknight out (outfits, just for going to a grungy pub included no less than four-inch heels, SHORT-shorts, glitter galore…) I largely laughed and shrugged at this.
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READ MORE:Visit the Gaelic Girls homepageMollie - The only women Irish men buy drinks for are prostitutesPHOTOS - Gaelic Girls - Alisa, Hannah, Mollie and Tess from University College Cork slideshow ----------------------
Having grown up in California I was sure I had seen this before, if not to a more extreme level. After all, Cork is a city. It is permissible in cities, expected, almost desired for the population to carry a particular look. It is the urban nature. I was sure that California’s propensity for aesthetic obsession had ruined me.
But despite growing up with plastic boobs and bleach-bottle blondes around every corner, I was not ready for the Cork “Cake Face”. They came as a shock. The shock came as a shock. I’m from California! I should be used to these kinds of things! I wondered what this obsession could be, to take oneself (a naturally beautiful thing on its own) and turn it into the face of a powdery, plasticine manikin. I found my answer sitting down in one of my first classes at the University College Cork. A young “Cake Face” asked where I was from (yes, even an afternoon college classroom is setting enough to pile on the make-up). Upon hearing I was from California she gasped with envy, “How glamorous!”
“Not really,” I replied “they just make it look that way.” But that is the way it is, isn’t it?
Expectations of some other exotic world are created for us and we vie after it. All of us looking for something different and out of the way from what is the norm. I came here, looking for tradition and to enjoy a culture that may or may turn out to be what I expected. The “Cake Faces” of Cork look to bring California “glamour” here (albeit in a bottle of orange, self-tan lotion). We are all looking for something. And in the end we find ourselves in a global cultural hodgepodge, straddling the lines between expectation and reality.
Yet, even still, I am surprised to find myself made into, what seems, such a caricature, so set apart, almost more so than in my own California hometown.
But it is a lesson I already had learned in my global encounters and studies of culture; that stereotypes are based on the novel, the “different”, the “exotic”. This ideal seems to have become a reality not only to the people of Irish-America but even to the Irish people themselves, declaring, invariably, with surprise and rapture, “Look at that Irish red hair!!”
Check back on Monday, Oct 10th for the next installment from the Gaelic Girls ----------------------
READ MORE:Visit the Gaelic Girls homepageMollie - The only women Irish men buy drinks for are prostitutesPHOTOS - Gaelic Girls - Alisa, Hannah, Mollie and Tess from University College Cork slideshow
21 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.dublin16 | Aug 29, 2012, 09:15 AM EDT
I was born and raised in Dublin and have visited Cork many times and could not agree more with Alisa. As Irish people we need to hear how others observe us without degrading ourselves by being vulgar and defensive. We are an amazing race but their is a confidence lacking in our young girls because they walk around with these plastic faces. I have traveled to many countries and almost every state in the US and I have never seen any other young women cake on the make-up like young Irish women. My own very beautiful nieces do it and it horrifies me. My three teenaged daughters who are American and love their cousins and Ireland very much think it is disgusting. My niece just went to her Debs and looked like a mannequin. It was shocking and sad that she had to hide her beautiful face behind all that gunk. So Alisa I don't believe you were being rude, just honest, and our beautiful young Irish girls could do well by listening...
Angel pie | Aug 24, 2012, 03:40 PM EDT
Even if Alisa is a bit over the top about her own magnetism she is right on about the cake face phenomenon. I have only lived in Dublin for the last four months but have already wished numerous times I could pass out flyers to young girls about the virtues of mineral makeup. The makeup is so caked on in the wrong colour it begs understanding. These girls would be so much more attractive without all that gunk. So whatever you might think about her own vanity she is right about the cake face Irish.
bob40wil | Oct 13, 2011, 12:08 PM EDT
Me thinks the posters here protest too much.
mamaginnty | Oct 11, 2011, 03:53 PM EDT
This redhead is so bloody full of herself, send her home before she gets some "cake smack in the face" from our irish girls.
ARosePierini | Oct 10, 2011, 06:27 PM EDT
NiGhabhainn: please understand I never used the term 'prostitutes' nor have I disallowed these women their right to express themselves. On the contrary, I simply am expressing an experience of surprise. Having been to Ireland before I am aware of the broad spectrum of people living in this beautiful country that I value highly. This however is my first experience with the young women of Cork and I have been asked by Irish Central to discuss these aspects of Culture in Cork.
NiGhabhainn | Oct 10, 2011, 02:19 PM EDT
You know, from reading the recent posts written by the (one tenth Gaelic) ~ girls in Cork; I'm beginning to think of how small minded you are becoming. Traveling from a big Island just to study us cake faced prostitutes on the small rock! I live in Cork, a non makeup wearing natural red head and very proud of my heritage. I socialise in small music venues/bars, in and around the city where the women and men dress well and gather in good spirits. Like all countries there are those who have their own style that may not suit the likes of you. I lived in Cali and recall certain ladies there with brown lip and white eyebrow liner as the done thing and California being California "Everyone to their own" was the motto. So I'm taken aback by your judgements you are forcing upon some ladies who like to wear lots of makeup. Get a hold of yourself and realise there are many Irish reading these pages who are still in Ireland. You may find that you are most unwelcome due to such rude and small minded views.
ARosePierini | Oct 10, 2011, 08:37 AM EDT
Thanks for the input everyone! I have enjoyed reading the comments! To clarify though, I think the women of Cork (as all women) are beautiful and should feel comfortable showing it off without all the glitz. The term "Cake Face" I learned from a young man in Dublin and I have heard it in use in several other parts in the country. I didn't coin the term. I am in fact a bit Irish as most Americans are (40 million was the last count that claimed Irish American heritage, including Barrack Obama). As well as Italian as my surname suggests and of course Irish, I am German, Scottish, English, Welsh, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Native American and Mexican... a right-out mut and most certainly proud of it! The red-hair comes from this hodge-podge as both my parents are brunette and two recessive genes are required to produce a red. It could come from any number of cultural combinations in my background. Thanks again! And hope to hear more from you all in the future.
Towngate | Oct 10, 2011, 06:37 AM EDT
Alisa: It liiks like my word of caution was not a moment too soon! ~ Cakeface Alleybabey is after you! Obviously the Cakeface tenticles stretch a long way from CA. Judging by some comments, they don't like having a mirror held up to them.It clashes with what thet imagine they see when they hold theirs up, maybe. You have started off the 'edgiest' of the quartet, so keep it up!
allybabey85 | Oct 09, 2011, 08:23 PM EDT
i loved all the other blog entry's..this one on the other hand was just plain rude..i am an Irish girl living in California,and this girl needs to get over herself..was a horrible read...post more entry's from the other girls!! they were so entertaining and had me laughing out loud and reflecting on fun times back home and the kinds of people the wrote about where just like people i knew back home,where as this story was nothing to do with Ireland more about how this red headed self lover doesn't need to wear make up and how Irish girls wear so much...Really? hopefully get to read more entertaining blog entry's from the other girls again soon...:)
katekate | Oct 09, 2011, 12:50 PM EDT
I live in the U.S. and had never even heard the term Cake Face til this article. I enjoy that you ladies are writing about daily occurrences and life in Ireland, rather than the "sight seeing" that most travelers blogs are full of. Some very witty blog responses, too!
lonejourney1 | Oct 09, 2011, 10:24 AM EDT
PLEASE!!! Look for something more interesting to write about, maybe visit a museum or historical site in Ireland and write about that! I am American born of Irish parents. Cake face is FRIGHTENINGLY common in the US also please don't give the readers the incorrect impression that it only occurs in Ireland. There are just as many citizens in the US (California included) who wear layers and layers of makeup to go to the supermarket or walk the dog. This is the most foolish article I have ever read Irish women and Cake Face. As an American woman I am embarrased by the ignorance of this article!
Towngate | Oct 09, 2011, 09:34 AM EDT
Alisa: A word of warning: Go easy on the "Cake Face" bit! Although I go into fitz every time I read it; watch out for the mad young biddies who read this article and will wait patiently until you are sitting all alone on some park bench, strumming upon your virginals,to jump you and give you a 'Corkonian Cake-Face' to remember! Just saying,like!
nanny2sorli | Oct 08, 2011, 08:00 PM EDT
On a trip to Mexico I went on a bus tour, and the guide looked like what everyone imagines an Irish man to look like - he had bright red hair and blue eyes, but he was Mexican. It was so funny hearing him speak Spanish (he didn't speak English) when I expected him to speak with an Irish accent.
jimmybb | Oct 08, 2011, 05:31 PM EDT
the irish built in inferior ity complex raises its ugly head once again gotta stop being pawn s in a euro societych be yourselves girls ye watch too much of what everyone else is doing media wise irish redheads r gorgeous with snow white skin
Lucia826 | Oct 08, 2011, 01:37 PM EDT
I am a woman of Italian and Scots-Irish heritage. I read Alisa's comments. I truly think she was mostly over the top. She is fairly on target in speaking of California, however. Alisa waxes on about herself with a lot of prideful arrogance. I hope she didn't learn THAT in Cork. In any case, on this page there is a link to "Visit the Gaelic Girls." Alisa is not a Gaelic girl...she's an American studying in Cork. From the sound of her name she's of Italian descent. My own cousins in northern Italy are redheads, too. Slainte!
manhattan | Oct 08, 2011, 01:34 PM EDT
Antoman, thanks again for the laughs you are a genius. Don't let it go to your head just keep writing. Irish girls are so pretty with lovely fair skin. Why do they have to ruin it by that horrible makeup? Example is Lindsey Lohan who is of Irish decent turning her beautiful red hair a brassy blonde and her face is orange. Oh well this to will pass ( I hope.)
antoman | Oct 08, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT
@EllenfromCork-Not really but the article did inspire me to fill the bath just now and put a squirt of washing up liquid in the water. I grand and clean and tis all thanks to this fiery looking woman from California. Slainte.
colkelley | Oct 08, 2011, 09:54 AM EDT
No, California is not "glamorous." I have lived there 13 times since the early 1950s and never failed to look forward to the day when I could LEAVE California! Even after the South cast aside segregation and racism it was alive and well in California. In the South my 1971 marriage to a Filipina-American did not raise a single eyebrow, but when we reached the Border Inspection in California a California Highway Patrolman took the effort to saunter over to our car and welcome us with a cheery, "Welcome to California n****r lover." Thanks, but no thanks to The People's Republic of Kalifornia.
ellenfromcork | Oct 08, 2011, 09:44 AM EDT
God Almighty, Antoman's heart has has been pierced by the arrow of Cupid!
mcdolan | Oct 08, 2011, 09:44 AM EDT
I live here, I have a teenage daughter. No amount of chiding, suggesting or cajoling the young women of Ireland that orange skin is awful, 'less is more' for makeup, and 'more is sexier' for dress, works. Enjoying the Gaelic Girls musings.
antoman | Oct 08, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT
We have a winner. I'm looking at the photo and I don't know whether to call the Gardai or my mother. We had yer wan in the leaves poised to bite passing dogs and their owners but this photo beats that by a Cork mile. Fierce is the word that comes to mind. Red hair and an expression that will make any television license inspector think twice before knocking at the door. Legs that look more than adequate for pushing a pram up Patricks Hill, with twins in it. Arms that look like they could wield that guitar like a claymore sword should the need arise. Skin like the driven snow and prone to burning under a street light like the rest of us. And to top it all little red shoes like what Dorothy wore in the Wizard of OZ. Probably could click them and be back to California before yer man might ask for a beer in return. I don't know what the rose thing in your hair is but I imagine its one of them new fangled American helmet cams. I can see you staying here and settling down with a West Cork muck savage. A farm of land around you. :) Hope you have a great stay in Cork love. That goes for all four of ye. Slainte.