6 Beautiful Stories To Embrace Damaged Women Around Us

People often say, “No change happens overnight.” Yet we go through major changes every day, though so subtly that we may not be aware of them.

• Our bodies eliminate about 200 billion red blood cells to maintain oxygen transport.
• About 500 million skin cells fall off to regenerate the body’s protective layer.
• Approximately 50 to 100 hairs fall out naturally to make way for new growth.

Besides these invisible changes, there are also changes right in front of our eyes that we may not realize. These include the beauty of the people around us whom we encounter every day—grandmothers, mothers, sisters, colleagues, and even those we meet just once and may not see again.

How can we appreciate the beauty in those “ordinary things”? Let's listen to these women's stories in the latest episode of Have Many Sips, an extended edition of the Have A Sip podcast, to find the answer.

Embrace Yourself To Discover Freedom - Uyên Tóc Xoăn

My mom is a person who loves natural beauty. For her, wrinkles and age spots, usually seen as imperfections, are a part of the natural journey through life.

But I didn't learn that from her early on.

From middle school onward, I became obsessed with taming my "wild hair," the curly waves that look like no other.

For nearly a decade, I fought them with everything I had. Mornings became battles, each one starting with a flat iron that pressed into curls over and over, only to have my hair defy me before midday. I know my curls are rebellious, but I just wanted to keep them under control for a little bit longer.

It wasn’t until three years ago that the obsession ended, as I reached a breaking point. I was tired of the endless cycle of straightening, cutting, and forcing my hair into submission.

When cutting away the straightened ends and leaving only the natural ones, I felt like I was unlocking something in me that had been waiting far too long. Finally, I let it be; this also means accepting myself.

Not only did I accept it, I also started caring for my hair to have the best curls and even shared my journey on social media. Surprisingly, I received messages from friends who’d felt the same struggles, “Thanks to you, I fell in love with my curly hair, too ❤.️” My new hairstyle not only brings happiness to me, but also to others.

And who knows - one day, I might dye my hair orange like Princess Merida from Brave!

Love Is The Catalyst That Makes Me Feel More Beautiful - Thiên Trúc

In school, I was often called an "octopus" because of my unruly curly hair. When I grew older, my hair relaxed and was no longer an octopus. As I began working as a tour guide, my hair took quite a hit from the sun and wind, which got me a new nickname "sun-dried squid."

Before my current job, I worked as a waitress, joined film crews, organized events, and even sang in a tea room. For each role, my hair changed constantly from red to green and all kinds of colors. When it was at its grayest (partly from all the dyeing and partly from natural graying), I was undergoing one of the hardest times of my life. At 25, I was juggling so many identities, unsure if I was on the right path.

I still remember the first time I dyed my hair. When I got home, my grandmother gently patted my head and asked, "How much did it cost, 150 thousand dong?" I just smiled, afraid to tell her the real price. She said, "Why dye it? When you’re my age, your whole head will be gray after all."

My grandmother is nearly 80 now. When she was younger, she and my grandpa used to travel as much as possible. Now, she rather finds joy in life’s little rituals—painting her nails, watching Bao Zheng with my grandpa every night, and enjoying the breakfast he brings her each morning.

Maybe it was my grandparents who inspired me to take on a job that lets me travel so much at a young age. One day, when I can no longer work as a tour guide, I’ll know I pursued this path fully and without regret.

Like my damaged hair waiting to be cut away, I’m gradually discovering my truest identity: a person who can recognize love around her. I feel beautiful when I enjoy diving, skydiving, training in martial arts, working, or simply observing the people I love.

Confidence Is The Most Radiant Form Of Beauty - Linh Vũ

My mother is retired, yet somehow, she’s busier than when she was working.

She constantly posts new photos, goes to the gym, or heads out cycling. Just recently, she finished a full 16 kilometers of biking from Hai Phong to Do Son. Whenever traveling with my dad, she wears a bikini and even strikes a forearm headstand on the beach. She doesn’t care what others think, as if she weren’t almost 60!

Though my mother and I argue sometimes, I can’t help but want to show her off to the world.

She always has the answer to all of my problems.

After working for 10 years, I have switched between four industries and seven companies, just as much as I’ve changed my hairstyles. To many people, it was so carefree. But in fact, sometimes I changed not for myself, but to meet others' expectations.

Looking at my mother, I realized the core values I want to pursue: I may have many choices, but whatever I choose, do I make the decision that I truly believe in?

“Why Must We Limit Ourselves To One Role When We Can Be Many?” - Lâm Gia Hân

I used to be pretty low-maintenance, but somehow, I threw myself into the beauty industry.

After working in this field for a while, I realized that beauty isn’t limited to just one or two styles, as there are many beautiful and talented women beyond the norms.

This made me wonder—why should I settle for one role when I can wear many hats?

Currently, I work as an officer, a TikToker, and an English teacher for working adults. I even teach at charity centers.

When I was little, I couldn’t swallow pills, so I had to chew them and gradually get used to the bitter taste. Maybe that experience made me someone who loves pushing myself to the limit. Whatever the reason, I have achieved many goals with this stubbornness.

For example, I was selected for a highly competitive program for young leaders under 30 in Canada. With a packed schedule, I utilized AI to craft my proposal to save time, and I didn’t hesitate to tell the company about it.

To me, there’s no shame in being honest about my needs. If we want to achieve something, we have to challenge old prejudices.

Making Friends With The Night, Waiting For “The Morning” - Sầm Linh

I knew I enjoyed mixing drinks back in high school, but it wasn’t until after university graduation that I began pursuing a full-time job as a bartender.

Many people get into mixology because of its stylish appeal or simply out of a love for alcohol. But for me, the most attractive part is the experience of standing behind the bar, observing and listening to the stories from all walks of life.

I always remember a chat with a cheerful female customer. After a few drinks, her cheerfulness died out as she started opening up about her life. Despite spending a lot of money and effort, she was unable to get pregnant.

“If I’ve tried everything and it still doesn’t happen, I’ll accept it.” That sentence was brief, but it might have carried the weight of her countless tears.

Until now, one of my greatest joys is seeing a customer return for another cocktail or knowing that they trust me enough to confide in me. Together, we make friends at night and wait for “the morning.”

You Shine When You Choose To Confront Your Damage - Phương Pipou

I have depression, but now I feel much better.

Before realizing my depression, I used to feel as if I were stuck in an endless black hole. It was so lonely. Once, I looked at my mother and wondered, “Why am I so different from her? How could she shine like that? If I confide my thoughts to her, she might not understand.”

With these thoughts, I silently lived with depression through my years studying abroad.

When I was around 21 or 22, I returned to Vietnam and live with my mother for a year. During that time, we talked more, and for the first time, I dared to tell her:

“I've had depression for a long time.”

I expected her to brush it off with something like: Just exercise, go out more.

But instead, she said, “I understand.” I was speechless when she told me about her postpartum depression - nights spent lying awake, tangled in her own thoughts. Without her friends’ support, she wouldn’t be here now.

Then she told me about the past. She used to witness her mother being abused, and that pain still follows her to this day. When my father didn’t appreciate her sacrifices for dedicating herself at home, calling her “undereducated,” she enrolled in university even during pregnancy. A few years later, she continued to earn another degree.

Listening to her story, I realized that I had always seen my mother simply as my mom but had forgotten she was a woman with her own life and struggles.

From then on, I felt more open to sharing my emotions with her. Things that I used to feel annoying, like her nagging, are just a way of saying she loves me.

Recently, as I was idly standing around, my mother looked at my hand and said, “Why are your hands so veiny?” It seemed she was searching for something to critique, but there wasn’t anything. I looked at her and said, “I love you too.”

Now, I’m in a resting phase after finishing my first animated film. For my 30th birthday, I had a friend dye my hair for the first time, and we had a great afternoon together!

A heartfelt thank you to Dove for partnering with Vietcetera in this podcast series honoring Vietnamese women.

Damage is a part of everyone’s beautiful journey; it helps us grow and become who we are today. There’s a unique beauty in damage—each scar tells a story.

To all women—don’t fear damage. Embrace the challenges and let Dove take care of the recovery.

Discover more about Dove Vietnam on Facebook and TikTok today!

Translated by Thuý An