What Is Beauty According To You? Is There One Definition?

Every day, when we look at ourselves in the mirror, do we like ourselves? Or do we try to hide those dark circles, and  use several beauty products to hide that pimple that came up last night? Do we try to mercilessly try and scrub off those blackheads before we step out of the house?

What is beauty?

How come girls are generally more concerned with how they look? And as a society we have normalised it, however, if a guy admits to wearing a lot of make up, he is looked down upon. Why do we feel pressurised to look beautiful?

The question that needs to be asked is what is beauty? Is beauty the complete symmetry of the face or your lip structure? Is it your skin colour or even your body shape?

Is looking pretty dressing up as per the societal expectations or is beauty genuinely being kind and compassionate? People say that true beauty comes from inside, despite knowing that, people judge you on how you look. Does looking beautiful come naturally or being beautiful means applying layers of harmful make up on your face? Can't beauty be in smiling or being with friends?

I feel, it is time to redefine the parameters of beauty and start being proud of who we really are.

Is it important to look pretty?

I myself spend a long time every morning, looking at myself and perfecting my looks. I personally never get ready to show others my beauty, but looking pretty enhances your own self-confidence and esteem. However, if a man is caught looking at himself in the mirror, or putting on make up, he is instantaneously judged and teased, but such behaviour is acceptable of  women.

My idea of beauty would be completely different from yours, but that does not mean that either of our perceptions is wrong.

Beauty is perceptive!

Looking at flawless bodies in advertisements, beauty pageants and movies, often makes people insecure about their own bodies. Who said that mix skin complexions are not beautiful? Who said that wearing clothing typically meant for the other gender does not look beautiful? So who decides what beauty is?

The answer is no one. Beauty is completely up to one's perception. My idea of beauty would be completely different from yours, but that does not mean that either of our perceptions is wrong.

Beauty comes from within.

As per a report in Buzzfeed, an experiment was conducted in 2014, hoping to bring to light how standards of beauty differ across various cultures. A journalist sent her photos to Photoshop aficionados in 25 countries. Those people were asked to edit the photo according to them. Every country had edited the picture differently, thus showing that there is no standard for beauty.

I believe that true beauty is being happy and helpful. Being confident and outgoing. Being nonjudgmental and open to ideas.

And as they say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Read also: Must We Burden Little Girls With Our Beauty Standards?

Kavya Shah is an intern at SheThePeople.Tv. The views expressed are the author's own.