Underneath The Makeup

BOOK REVIEW

UNDERNEATH THE MAKEUP A Journey from Despair to Hope

Lynn Terez Davis-Nixon, acclaimed Bahamian actress and theatrical producer, bravely steps onto the writing stage and leaves herself vulnerable to a glaring public spotlight.

Her debut memoir, “Underneath the Makeup”, is intimate and reminiscent of a powerful monologue—done with precision and awareness. It’s the kind of work that first elicits emotion then self-reflection.

Terez opens with a childhood memory that shaped her perspective on life and then takes readers through her adolescence and young adulthood. Each chapter reveals emotional hurdles— depression, insecurity, rejection, betrayal—that she overcomes. At each stage, the author’s use of figurative language and imagery makes the storytelling easily relatable.

Terez is taking us on her “journey from despair to hope”, but we can’t be inactive passengers along for the gossip. Throughout the memoir, she pauses to challenge readers to examine perspectives on several topics like beauty standards and holiness. I can appreciate books that force me to do work.

And I appreciate authors who are unafraid and unashamed to show their flaws. Often, memoirs are like social media posts that reveal only the author’s good virtues or spin embarrassing moments in ways that make them attractive. Terez takes a risk in that “Underneath the Makeup” is so candid. For example, she reveals her pride in a new relationship, a moment of anger, and naivety in love. I believe that such openness makes her more endearing and her memoir even more authentic.

The imprint that this 106-page memoir has left on me is evident in the number of checkmarks made to acknowledge truths worth adopting and affirmations written in the margin to cosign the author’s faith.

"Underneath the Makeup" book cover