August 2026

3 days ago
7 min read

Sophia Ha

Beauty of the Month

Sophia is a light to our world and a genuine soul I immediately connected with after she asked me to be a guest on her podcast, The Mirror. Her approach to physical appearance is introspective and organic, she helps people see their beauty, not just physically but emotionally. Through childhood experiences, triumphs, deep self-realizations at a young age, Sophia has created a community rooted in authenticity. If you appreciate the reflections I share, I have no doubt that you will connect with Sophia’s wisdom and story. I am so grateful to share Sophia with you.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SOPHIA HA, GABBY MORTON JONES / interviewed by Beyond Beauty Project

“Beauty is a constant evolution of who you are.”

I 'm Sophia Ha, founder of The Holistic Facelift Method™ and host of The Mirror Podcast.

I created the Holistic Facelift Method™ almost a decade ago with a mission to free women from the insecurities surrounding beauty and aging. Last year I launched The Mirror Podcast with the intention of having deeper conversations about dismantling our conditioning, traumas, self-deception, self-ownership, and providing insights on bridging the body-brain connection.

My work was initially instigated by my own body dysmorphia and deep self-disgust. When I spotted my first wrinkles at 28, and flew into a flurry of fear about aging, is when things really took off and landed me where I am today.

My feelings of self-hate started early. Growing up, my mother was very emotionally and physically abusive. My father was mostly absent, and when he was around he'd criticize my appearance, telling me to remove my freckles and moles, constantly comment on my weight and rate my looks in comparison to Marilyn Monroe.

From the age of 12, I ended up in foster care, constantly being moved from one home to another.

The summer before high school I decided I was going to change my appearance. I became anorexic and bulimic, lost a ton of weight, dyed my hair and started wearing loads of heavy MAC makeup. That September, for the first time, I became instantly popular at my high school. Boys started to like me, and the girls either wanted to be my friend, or bullied me.

Still I hated my appearance. I would cry every night as I wiped the makeup off my face thinking I was hideous without it.

At 16/17 I moved out on my own.

Being a pretty introspective and deep-thinking kid, I was acutely aware of my relationship with external validation. I knew it was a major problem, and that my appearance wasn’t actually important. Still it took up most of my mind's space. Around this time a therapist told me this obsession was actually body dysmorphia and was rooted in my trauma.

Fast forward to today, through a lot of self work, therapy, holistic face care, and time, I'm finally able to like my reflection — on most days anyway! I still struggle in moments, but for the most part I am free from being consumed by these insecurities. My greatest passion is having conversations that help us think more critically about our relationship with self, and guiding people (especially women) to break free of these illusory ideas of identity.

By stepping inward to care for ourselves first- physically, mentally, and emotionally, we can finally see the beautiful beings we are—beyond, and including, the way we look.

JOIN THE BBP COMMUNITY

The Beyond Beauty Project is for every body.

How did you discover the Beyond Beauty Project, and what initially drew you to it?

Sophia Ha: I found Bridgett on IG. I immediately fell in love with her and her content because her message mirrors so much of what I talk about and believe in. It was obvious she was sincere and speaking her truth, not just trying to gain followers. In today’s world of social media, many people grab onto themes that have gained traction, but they do it for superficial reasons instead of actually caring about the well-being of people. Her message around body appreciation and ownership is something we need more of in this world - especially women.

At some point, many of us realize that living by societal expectations doesn’t feel like our truth.

Did you experience a turning point when you decided to define your own path? What was that moment like for you?

Sophia: I’ve experienced many turning points, but my earliest memory and one of my most poignant was when I was 16 or 17. I had been wearing loads of MAC makeup to cover my freckles and moles, and I’d been dyeing my hair with blonde highlights in order to keep up with “staying pretty”. My friend Liz, who I spent a lot of time with, was a typically pretty girl. She rarely wore makeup, mostly wore jogging pants, and was the most confident person I’d ever met. I remember feeling envious of her natural beauty, and the attention she got. I desperately wanted to feel the way she seemed to feel - at ease in her own skin. I knew nothing I did to change my appearance was going to change how I actually felt about myself. So I started with attempting to dye my hair back to its natural colour and eventually, sometime within that year, I decided that I was going to stop wearing makeup too. The first few days were frightening, but within a few weeks I felt more liberated - and attractive - than I’d ever felt. I stepped into a confidence, or a self-acceptance I’d never had. I was still insecure, but far less than when I had to put makeup on just to leave the house. I wasn’t willing to be a fake version of myself just to maintain an idea of beauty that was never me. I felt like I’d taken off the mask I’d been hiding behind - and I was showing myself to the world for the first time.

“I wasn’t willing to be a fake version of myself just to maintain an idea of beauty that was never me.”

Looking back often brings clarity and compassion.

If you could speak to your younger self, what would you say about perfectionism and comparing yourself to others?

Sophia: I’d tell her:

Your ideas of perfection stem from comparison. And these ideas are your perception, not reality. Striving to be perfect keeps you trapped in the feeling that you’re not good enough, and stops you from showing up.

What makes someone beautiful, talented, or smart does not take away from your beauty, intelligence, or ability. If you can use comparison for inspiration, to learn about yourself, it becomes a tool for growth. But comparison to validate your insecurities keeps you in a loop of self-hate and self-destruction. Be mindful of how you're using comparison. Is it stopping you from doing something (or halting your growth), or inspiring you to be your best self? Never forget, perception is everything. You have choice in how you see yourself and the world.

It’s easy to feel like we’re “behind” in life or not moving fast enough.

How do you remind yourself that your pace is the right pace for you? Or is this something you’re still learning to navigate?

Sophia: I still struggle with feeling behind in life sometimes. I wasted a lot of time hiding, living in fear and self-hate. But for the most part, I see that era as a great teacher because it’s inspired so much of who I am today. I also recognize that “being behind” is just another conditioned idea—particularly in the Western world. It keeps us in the loop of comparison, perpetuating the idea that we haven’t done enough, or that we should be in a different place in life. Ultimately, I don’t believe there’s such a thing as being behind. We can acknowledge regret and navigate from where we are. It’s never too late until we’re not here.

Our understanding of beauty shifts as we grow. How has your perception of beauty changed over the years?

Sophia: I used to see beauty as something that people were blessed with or weren’t. However, I also used to see how my perception of someone's beauty changed as I got to know them, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. What has become clear is that beauty is a constant evolution of who you are, not what you’re born with. Who someone is through their life, their behaviour towards themselves and others, and how they take care of themselves is reflected in their appearance. We either become more or less beautiful with time and essence.

Authenticity can be a daily practice.

What helps you stay true to yourself in a world full of expectations?

Sophia: Remembering how much time I spent not creating due to my insecurities, is enough to keep me authentic to myself. It’s not even a conscious thought at this point. It’s become a way of being.

“If you can use comparison for inspiration, to learn about yourself, it becomes a tool for growth.”

Self-love looks different for everyone.

How do you practice self-love in your daily life?

Sophia: Self-love looks different each day depending on how I’m feeling. Sometimes it’s journaling in bed, or taking walks in nature. Other days it’s allowing myself to have a good cry and having a lot of honest self-talk.

Caring for the body is both physical and emotional.

What are some ways you honor your body—physically, mentally, or emotionally?

Sophia: On a typical day, my morning starts with a quiet meditative walk to help me feel grounded before I see my clients. In the evening, before bed, I stretch and practice some kind of face care—whether it be lymphatic drainage, face yoga, or fascia work. This helps me release tension and gets me to bed feeling calm and relaxed.

Is there a story, lesson, or mantra that has guided you along the way that you’d like to share with others?

Sophia: Taking care of your body and your mind is the greatest act of radical self-love and ownership you will ever take. It will serve you for as long as you live.

Sophia's Socials:

IG: @theholisticfacelift

Facebook: The Holistic Facelift

Listen to Sophia and I's conversation on her Podcast, 'The Mirror'