Beauty Is Not a Box

By Tracy Goonetilleke
Art by Theone Tiu

Slim waist, big butt and chest, today’s beauty standards are jaw dropping for the average woman. For many years, the size 0 body measurements and hourglass figure were things the general public expected “beautiful” women to have. Along with these came the love for a button nose and glass clear skin.

As the years go by, society’s beauty standards increasingly become an unrealistic quota for women to meet. From a young age up until the prime of their life, women are criticized for having things that aren’t seen as beautiful by the general public. In some cases it can be things that are completely natural, but bring shame to women. Body hair, stretch marks, hip dips, and acne, these are things we shouldn’t be embarrassed of.

Not only are women affected, but men too. Men are encouraged to have jacked arms, six pack abs and to appear as masculine as possible. Beauty standards is a box that we are all expected to fit in. But only a handful of people can.

Seven billion people in the world, and every single person is unique. Not everyone is born with the coke bottle shape, or a muscular build. Every single person has their own little quirks on their appearance and they should not be shamed for it. It is because we are unique that we are beautiful. Beauty is subjective. It comes in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Slim waist, big butt and chest, or wide hips and a tummy, no matter what you have, you will always be beautiful.