I could become a successful photographer
Mimmi Ahonen
Translation of version 20.3.2025
from original Finnish to English 29.5.2025
Characters
CHARACTER A
BEAUTIFUL DRUNKEN YOUNG WOMAN
CHILD 1
CHILD 2
Toilets at a nightclub, night. Character A is waiting for their friend from the stall, standing in front of the sinks and the mirrors. A beautiful drunken young woman is washing her hands. She looks at A through the mirror.
BEAUTIFUL DRUNKEN YOUNG WOMAN
hey you
never ever let anyone tell you that you are not beautiful
The woman dries her hands and leaves. Or maybe A’s friend comes out of the stall.
Party time.
Character A is alone at home. Music on. Aerobic exercise, pilates or yoga according to the latest, most effective trend. Music off so they can hear if someone comes in. Water bottle is emptied, water bottle is filled. In the shower, scrub, exfoliate, wash, rinse, condition, rinse, repeat, again, wash, rinse, condition, rinse. Dry, moisturize, let absorb, dry. Heat protection, styling product, blow dry, brush. Pluck facial hair. Facial oil and gua sha facial massage. Gently press lymph nodes for lymphatic drainage, press on armpits, collarbones, sinuses, forehead. Gently pull the gua sha tool up the neck towards the jaw, along the jawline, move up, attempt to smooth the nasolabial folds by gently pulling the gua sha tool from the center of the face to the temples, under the eyes, over the eyelids, from the forehead towards the hairline, down the sides, from the chin down the neck to the décolletage. Wash the face, pat it dry lightly with a towel. Facial serum, let it absorb, toner, let it absorb, second layer of toner, let it absorb, serum that promises filler-like effects to wrinkles, let it absorb, face cream, let it absorb, SPF, let it absorb, absorb. Water bottle is emptied, water bottle is filled. Music on. Primer spray for makeup, primer, let it set. Lightly dampen the makeup sponge, squeeze it dry. Foundation, let it set, concealer, let it set. Eyeshadow, second eyeshadow, eyeliner, third and fourth eyeshadow, lash curler, mascara. Blush, sunscreen. Lip liner, sharpen the lip pencil, fix the liner, lipstick, second lipstick, lip gloss. Setting spray. Shaping underwear. Put on a pre-chosen outfit. Checking it in the mirror, dissatisfaction. Change outfit for another. Rings on fingers, earrings on ears, necklace on neck. Yet another outfit. Take pictures, or maybe not. Benzodiazepines or a can of hard seltzer from the fridge, or both. Music off. Music on. Discomfort. Boring outfit, loose outfit, comfortable outfit. Rings off swollen fingers. Lie in bed. Look at pictures. Cry. Answer a text from a friend. Fix makeup. It’s getting late. Cry. Music off. Get under the covers. Find distraction from the phone. Fall asleep from the benzodiazepines. Makeup off. No party time.
Character A.
SOMETIMES WHEN I LISTEN TO MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS AND THEIR TROUBLES I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK THAT DESPITE ALL YOUR TROUBLES YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACE TO CLEANSE BEAUTIFUL MAKEUP OFF OF IF SUCH HAS EVEN BEEN NEEDED OR WANTED TO PUT ON AND BECAUSE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND LOVE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE VARIOUS CANDIDATES FOR A LOVER SEVERAL TO CHOOSE FROM AND THESE LOVERS WILL HELP YOU LOVE YOURSELF IF NEED BE BUT ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE THAT ALL MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND WE ALL HAVE OUR INSECURITIES AND DISCOMFORTS BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW NASTY IT IS WHEN MEN HARASS YOU AT THE BAR I NOD EVEN THOUGH MEN DON’T EVEN SHOW INTEREST IN ME I AM SO UNATTRACTIVE THAT I DON’T EVEN GET HARASSED AND THOSE FEW TIMES WHEN A MAN HAS APPROACHED ME AND MADE A COMMENT ABOUT THE WAY I LOOK OR IT’S NOT EVEN THAT THEY HAVE MADE A COMMENT BUT A MAN HAS COME CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ME TO FEEL HIS BREATH ON MY SKIN AND THEN HE HAS EXPRESSED SOMETHING THOSE FEW TIMES I HAVE BEEN MILDLY FLATTERED EVEN THOUGH SIMULTANEOUSLY THE ALCOHOL IN HIS BREATH SMELLS OF DESPERATION TO AN ALARMING DEGREE YOU ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THIS CARRIAGE THE MAN SAYS TO ME ON THE TRAIN AND IN THE CARRIAGE THERE IS ONLY ONE ELDER MALE EMPLOYEE IN ADDITION TO ME.
EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS AND THEIR TROUBLES I THINK THAT AT THE END OF IT YOU ARE STILL BEAUTIFUL. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE LOVED YOU WILL ALWAYS BE DESIRED. I COULD BECOME A SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHER OR MAYBE A PRESIDENT BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND IT EASY TO TAKE SELFIES POSE FOR PHOTOS LIE IN SOMEONE’S ARMS BE FUNNY AND HOT AND THAT’S WHY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN ME AND HAPPIER THAN ME.
Life left unlived, silence.
Park, day. Character A stops to tie their shoe laces. Next to them, two children are playing until they notice A.
CHILD 1
are you aadaliina from tiktok
A
ah um no
CHILD 1
ok you look just like her
CHILD 2
you’re really pretty
The children continue their play. Character A stays to watch the children or carries on their way.