What Are The Beauty Standards In America

So, I was at the mall the other day, you know, just browsing, trying on some lipsticks because, hey, a girl's gotta have options. I walked past the makeup counters, and I swear, every single salesperson was pushing the latest 'must-have' foundation. "It's got this amazing coverage," they'd say, "you won't see a single pore or blemish!" I mean, really? Since when did having a few freckles or a natural texture become a crime?

That got me thinking, you know? What are these beauty standards we're all supposed to live up to? And why do they seem to change faster than my mind does when I'm trying to decide between pizza or tacos for dinner? So, let's dive in, shall we?

Size Matters (But Not How You Think)

Let's start with the big one - body size. Now, I'm not talking about being healthy, because that's a whole other conversation. I'm talking about the fact that for years, we've been told that 'skinny' is the only way to go. But here's the thing, folks, skinny is not a size. It's not a dress size, it's not a jeans size, and it's certainly not a human size. Yet, we've got models strutting down runways looking like they're made of sticks, and we're supposed to aspire to that?

But wait, there's a twist! Suddenly, the 'thigh gap' is out, and the 'belfie' (that's a butt selfie for the uninitiated) is in. We're celebrating curves now, and that's great! But why can't we just celebrate health? Why do we have to swing from one extreme to another?

Face Value

Now, let's talk about faces. I mean, we've all seen those memes about the 'ideal' face shape, right? The ones that tell us we should have a certain chin-to-forehead ratio to be considered 'beautiful'? I'm sorry, but when did we start measuring beauty in centimeters and millimeters?

What Is The American Beauty Standard | Detroit Chinatown

And don't even get me started on skin color. We've made progress, I'll give you that. But we're still seeing more fair-skinned models than women of color. And don't tell me it's because 'that's just the way the industry is'. That's like saying the sky is green because 'that's just the way it is'. We can change the industry, and we should.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Remember when long, straight hair was the epitome of beauty? You know, like Rapunzel, but without the tower and the prince. Then, suddenly, it was all about the 'lob' - the long bob. Now, we're embracing curls, braids, and even shaved heads. It's like we're playing a game of beauty whack-a-mole, and I'm getting whiplash.

And let's not forget about hair color. Blonde, brunette, redhead - we've been through them all. We've bleached, we've dyed, we've fried. But why? Why can't we just embrace our natural hair color? Why do we feel the need to change it just because someone, somewhere, decided it wasn't 'in' this season?

American Beauty Standards for Women by Alec Miller on Prezi

So, What's a Girl (or Guy) to Do?

Here's the thing, folks. Beauty standards are like fashion trends. They come, they go, they come back again. But you are not a trend. You are not a dress that can be taken in or let out. You are a person, with your own unique beauty, and you deserve to be celebrated for that.

So, the next time you find yourself feeling down because you don't fit some arbitrary standard, remember this: those standards are made to be broken. They're made to be challenged. They're made to be changed. And you, my friend, are the one to do it.

Let's start a new trend, shall we? Let's trend towards acceptance, towards diversity, towards inclusivity. Let's trend towards a world where everyone feels beautiful, just as they are. Because, you know what? You are beautiful. Just the way you are.