“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” this phrase was written by Margaret Wolff Hungerford in 1878, 147 years ago, yet its relevance today holds the same importance as it did back then. From Barbie dolls to diet culture the strive for perfection is installed in almost every person’s mind whether conscious or unconscious. Billboards, magazines, social media, almost everything around us alters the perception of beauty. The concept of being beautiful shifts with different cultures and trends at very a rapid speed. It leaves you to wonder if the word “Pretty” means anything at all. 

Timeline

Throughout history being beautiful has always brought its advantages no matter how much the world has altered. The term “Pretty Privilege” refers to someone receiving special treatment due to obtaining certain features the majority of society deems as “good looking”. We do this unintentionally because our brains make us believe certain features are associated as being good. Little things, such as popular cartoons depicting protagonists with eurocentric features and antagonists with quite the opposite contribute to the stigma of what is considered beautiful at a young age. 

In more recent years the popularization of social media has made its mark in deciding “beauty trends”. During the early 2010s the app “Tumblr” popularized things like thigh gaps, doe eyes, and straight hair. However, towards the end of the 2010s the complete opposite was in style, Instagram models made things like curvy bodies with full lips all the rage. Beauty standards not only change with time but also with location. In South Asia being pale is seen as angelic while in the United States people fawn over others for keeping a summer tan all year long, having it all is impossible yet it’s something that almost everyone wants. 

Beauty Sickness

Wanting to be beautiful should not be villainized, feeling confident leads to a happier mindset and overall better quality of life. Although, if the want turns into a need that is when “beauty sickness” occurs. Beauty sickness refers to the chronic focus and prioritization to be beautiful. In present times there is a surge of young girls with a fondness for anti-aging skincare products, an abundance of young adults receiving botox, and so many people treating their bodies like trends. 

Personal Thoughts

At the end of the day Beauty cannot be defined. It is a subjective marketing tool that is created by observers and onlookers. From the beginning of time to the end of time beauty trends will continue to constantly alter. However, perfection does not exist, the strive to be perfect will only be satisfied if the mindset is.