80 Comments
Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Thanks for such an honest and heartfelt message to us readers. :)

I was so happy to discover your newsletter this year because it synthesizes so many ideas that I was thinking and feeling yet hadn’t ever seen so eloquently and honestly explored. I like how boldly you write. In this system, we need people like you so much. Thank you for telling it like it is and empowering us with truth.

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Dec 27, 2022·edited Dec 27, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

First things first -- it's not co dependent to be wrecked by your mother's cancer coming back. It's called loving someone and I'm so sorry your family is going through this. It's normal to not be able to write a book under these circumstances (only toxic capitalism would tell you otherwise--but i don't need to tell you that.) The book will be written when it's written and you should not put any added pressure on yourself there.

I just discovered The Unpublishable and have lost DAYS from clicking on links and going down rabbit holes. You have confirmed things I have suspected for awhile but didn't know how to articulate. I had already been scaling back on my beauty industry consumption and your newsletter has inspired me to do more. I've already made changes because of articles you wrote.

I work in TV news and the pressure there to never age is insane. People (men and women) constantly explode at me in anger on social media for what is essentially the fact that over 20 years I've aged ("what happened to you? you used to be pretty" is the nicest version of this)

Thank you for what you do here and i'm telling everyone i know about your newsletter! It's an amazing accomplishment.

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Jessica, I'm so grateful for your work, and that it allows you to live a life that doesn't have to prioritize labor. Glorious! Truly, that is the dream, and despite the challenges and set backs, your work is reaching and connecting with people in meaningful ways. I'm proud of you, and excited to continue being here on your (our) journey towards a healthier relationship with ourselves, each other, and beauty culture.

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Dec 27, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Jessica I must say your paid newsletter is my best “investment” in 2022 because it actually stops me from trying to spend thousands more dollars on med spas and overpriced skincare products. I can’t say I have completely escaped from beauty culture, but I do feel myself learning to appreciate my age and my own face features more. I’m learning to focus on other parts of my life but not always be hypercritical towards my skin and my body shape. Your newsletter acts as a tool to help me analyze my own feelings towards my appearance and my relationship with beauty culture. Thank you! Wish you and this newsletter all the best in 2023!

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

As a recent paid subscriber, I really appreciated this wrap up (and now I have plenty to read during my vacation lol). Your writing has given me intelligent, thoughtful frameworks for so many things I used to rage incoherently about. And reading your work has changed how I think about beauty, my body, and so many other things, so thank you! I hope 2023 is a bit easier for you 💖

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Finding you has truly changed my life for the better. I feel so much more aligned with myself now that I’m not paying corporate overlords to make me feel bad about my own normal natural body. My only paid subscription on Substack and worth it every day! I’m so grateful for you and all you do 💜

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Dec 27, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

You write thoughtfully and with so much passion - plus the immense research you do, all of this is why I chose a paid subscription. Wish you much success.

I pray that your mom recovers and you also receive care and love while giving that to your mom (I do not see it as codependence but love, feeling the same about my parents whom I'm blessed to still have; the last few years have seen my family band together and one of the strongest pillars, my older sister has faced cancer thrice in this time, is fighting it and we're praying for the best. So wishing your family much love and support in material terms)

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Dec 27, 2022·edited Dec 27, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Dear Jessica, your prioritizing your Mum and her wellbeing is testimony to your big heart and emotional alignment - don’t ever let “the system” tell you differently. Meanwhile, you are now queen of a growing empire of independent, smart women… We love you!

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Sorry to hear it has been such a challenging year, thank you for continuing this newsletter and all the work you do amidst it all!

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This is disguised as a nurturing helping hand. And you Jessica slapped that hand, turned it over and let all the falsehood of what beauty really is, just fall out, fall down and out. There is so much power to regain by letting all this go and trust nature again, our very skin, our very glow. Thank you!

Super healing powers for your Mom 🙏. L

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Dec 27, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

Thank you for a year of eye-opening, literally life-changing (as in it has changed how I conduct parts of my life) reporting. I hope the tough parts of your life start to ease and pivot for the better in 2023.

I really loved your articles "I Want You To Lick Me" and "You Have Fossil Fuels on Your Face." You have a powerful voice and I look forward to continuing to read your work!

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Jess, hasn't anyone ever told you you're supposed to blow your deadlines at least four times? I'm thrilled by your success here and by the attendant support you're getting for your terrific work. xo

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

I've spent like 45 minutes trying to write this comment because words just cannot express how much The Unpublishable means to me. Jessica, your work has changed my life. Everything you write pushes me, challenges me, amazes me. My Unpublishable subscription is always the best $7 I spend every month. I'm so so happy that your work continues to reach more and more people every day and that you have been able to make a sustainable living as a writer through The Unpublishable. You deserve the freedom to write fearlessly, the time and space to produce thoughtful and meaningful work, and the ability to fully live without prioritizing labor. I'm so, so proud of you and everything you've created with this platform. I'm so grateful you exist—I don't know who or where I would be without having done the work that your writing pushes me to do every single day. Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything. I'm send you and your mom so much love <3

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

I’m so sorry about your mom. May 2023 be better for you both. Thank you for your honesty and hard work.

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Dec 26, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

I am SO proud of you! You are my biggest inspiration ❤️

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Dec 28, 2022Liked by Jessica DeFino

The Unpublishable is true medicine; when I feel the clawing of that 'lack' I dive in to an article and I feel better, nourished and full of energy to stand strong in the world again. I hope it is as valuable a medicine to write, as it is for all of us to read. Thank you for doing the work. Love to you and your family x

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