This Is How Ballet Dancer Harper Watters Cultivates Confidence & Nurtures Self-Love

As a soloist with the Houston Ballet, I put a lot of time and dedication into my routines. I begin every day in the studio with a ballet class. The second the music starts for the first combination, I'm focused on warming up my body and preparing myself for either a day of rehearsals or performances. However, my dance training isn't the only important routine I follow. Over the years, I've honed my own supportive practices to nurture my confidence and growth, just like my ballet class does.

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and adopted at two weeks old. Growing up in New Hampshire as an African American in a Caucasian family, being "different" was something I faced at an early age. My parents placed me in dance classes because I was a constant mover (looking back, I'm certain they just couldn't bear to watch my one-man version of the Nutcracker any longer), and I took to dance immediately. Beyond the incredible feeling that movement gave me, I loved the people and the instant sense of community. The studio became a safe place for me, where I was able to be myself.

At 18, I joined the Houston Ballet in 2011 as an apprentice. My first years in the company were an extreme wake-up call. I struggled with self-doubt and got lost in thinking I had to emulate the dancers at the top. I became fixated on the differences in physical characteristics, technical capabilities, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.

One of my biggest personal struggles was learning to love and embrace my skin. I stood out in auditions, and it made me feel like I didn't belong. That changed the first time I saw the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform. I started educating myself on dancers like Lauren Anderson, Craig Hall, Albert Evans, and Arthur Mitchell—dancers of color succeeding at the highest level of their profession. This was huge motivation for me to embrace my own skin and individuality.

One of the things I've come to believe is that there is no final or definitive version of who I am. I'm ever-evolving and never confined by social constructs like gender or sexuality. That's why I love using Non Gender Specific's Everything Serum to keep my skin healthy, clear, and radiant. It's a simple step I've introduced at night before I go to sleep. I wake up feeling restored, and for me that's so important for self-love.

When it came time choose makeup for performances, I made sure to see what kinds of messages (or lack thereof) companies were sending about diversity. I love the range of shades from Alima Pure, an all-natural mineral makeup brand. Beyond the incredible quality and pigment, I'm just obsessed with how it makes me feel knowing that the brand helps so many others feel amazing and seen. Their eye shadows work for deeper tones and are so fun to play around with for more dramatic looks. It gives me pride and confidence knowing that I'm doing what I love wearing makeup from a company that understands the importance of different undertones (and that one to two options for deeper skin complexions is unacceptable).

Social media ended up playing a huge part in helping me feel confident with who I am and what I have to offer. I've created a unique following of dancers and artists, but through my videos and obsession with pop culture, my community also consists of people who discovered me not even knowing I'm a ballet dancer. Regardless of how they found me, now that I have their attention, I'm determined to keep them watching and listening. It's been invigorating to share all aspects of myself through my posts and see the response. Social media is a way for me to express every facet of who I am, and I've extended that to the studio and my dancing.