It's the most gratifying thing to have young girls telling me, 'I

The champion and trailblazer AJ Lee, known not only for her strength within the wrestling ring but for her courage beyond it, once spoke these words: “It's the most gratifying thing to have young girls telling me, 'I love that you do a photo shoot in pants and a button up shirt, and you still look cool.'” Though simple in tone, this statement burns with a quiet revolution. In it lies the defiance of a woman who refused to be defined by the narrow measures of beauty and worth that society so often demands of women — especially those in the public eye. Her words are not about fashion, but about freedom — the freedom to be oneself, unashamed and unaltered, and to show that strength and style need no permission from convention.

In the manner of the ancients, let us first look beneath the surface of her words. AJ Lee speaks of the gratification she feels when young girls — those still learning what it means to be seen and to belong — find inspiration in her choice to appear in clothing that is simple, practical, and authentically her own. The pants and button-up shirt become symbols, not of modesty alone, but of self-possession. In an age that glorifies exposure and appearance, to choose simplicity is to declare sovereignty over one’s body and image. She shows that one can be powerful without pretense, elegant without excess. Thus, her quote is a modern hymn to authenticity — the sacred act of being true to oneself, even in the face of expectation.

The origin of her words lies in her journey from outsider to icon. AJ Lee was not born into glamour or privilege; she rose from humble beginnings, struggling through poverty and hardship. When she entered the world of professional wrestling — a realm dominated by spectacle, strength, and often rigid ideas of femininity — she stood out not by conforming, but by being different. While others adorned themselves in the expected, she wore sneakers and shorts, her hair unstyled, her demeanor sincere. In doing so, she became a mirror for the countless young women who felt unseen, who did not fit the mold of perfection the world tried to sell them. Her image told them: You, too, can be powerful in your own skin.

There is ancient wisdom in her defiance, for history is filled with those who broke from convention to reveal a deeper truth. Consider Joan of Arc, who donned armor when women were expected to kneel in silence. Her courage to wear what was not “appropriate” for her gender became not an act of rebellion, but of conviction — proof that identity should serve purpose, not appearances. Like Joan, AJ Lee’s choice of attire is a quiet battle cry: that strength is not defined by what one wears, but by what one stands for. Each pant leg and buttoned collar becomes a metaphor for integrity, a declaration that substance will always outshine superficiality.

In AJ Lee’s story, there is also the power of representation — the way one person’s authenticity can ignite transformation in others. The young girls who look to her do not simply see a celebrity; they see permission. Permission to be intelligent, quirky, confident, or unconventional. They learn that coolness is not a costume but a reflection of inner confidence — that to be cool is to be comfortable in one’s truth. What AJ Lee celebrates is not her own image, but the ripple effect it creates — a chain of self-acceptance spreading from one woman to another, across generations.

O daughters of the present and guardians of the future, take heed of this teaching: style is not submission. Wear what honors your spirit, not what pleases the crowd. The truest beauty arises from authenticity — from the alignment between how you feel and how you present yourself to the world. When you choose authenticity over imitation, you free others to do the same. Just as AJ Lee chose her pants and button-up shirt, so too must you choose the garments — literal and symbolic — that express your truth. Let your presence declare not what the world expects, but who you are.

And so, let the lesson be written in your heart: strength is the new grace, and authenticity the new beauty. The world does not need more perfection; it needs more truth. Be proud of your differences. Find joy in your individuality. Celebrate the power that comes from comfort, confidence, and character. For in the end, as AJ Lee reminds us, it is not the gown nor the glitter that defines your worth — it is the courage to stand as yourself, cool in your own way, and to inspire others to do the same.