America's True Beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder in the sense that everyone finds beauty in different things. There is beauty in almost everyone and everything. It doesn’t necessarily have to be physical, but what’s on the inside of a person and how they treat others. America’s physical beauty has been regarded as a highly valued attribute, but some believe that beauty can be a deceptive mask covering up what’s “real” beauty. Does everyone with a model like figure and a pretty Barbie doll face have to be the definition of beauty? Advertisements are selling products by hope of either making oneself more beautiful or maintaining one’s beauty. We are bombarded everyday with beauty contests like Miss Universe and shows like Extreme Makeover, as well as
People Magazine, featuring the most beautiful people in the world. The media is hung up on the physical aspects of beauty, making people think they need to look a certain way in order to be considered beautiful, but that’s not at all true. “We long to be not only works of nature but works of art” (Etcoff). Everybody wants to be beautiful and feel beautiful, not from their looks but by the impression they want to have on others. Some feel that beauty is all about plastic surgery, tanning to look their best, and being the skinniest you can be.
More and more people are getting cosmetic surgery each and everyday. The popularity of beauty can be dangerous to people who are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve beauty to the fullest. Plastic surgery has not only become a want or need to some people, but an addiction. They will go above and beyond to do whatever it takes to find the best surgeon in the United States. “It is a troubling case study of how American culture grapples with techniques designed for therapy that can be used to fulfill our personal desire” (Rosen). Cosmetic surgery is also in denial of aging because women tend to “lift” their face with botox to make wrinkles and blemishes
disappear. The whole world is working it’s best to make women beautiful by selling the best of the best make-up products. Also, revealing commercials such as, men staring at a beautiful woman as she walks by. Some women tend to think that guys only look at what’s on the outside, but what they don’t know is men really look on the inside. Men learn to appreciate the art and beauty of a women with or without make-up on. “The notion of a male gaze captures the idea that any viewer learns to adopt this position in order to appreciate art or beauty according to accepted norms” (Koggel). People in some other countries such as Greenland, find beauty as to paint women’s faces blue, and some yellow.
In Asia they squeeze the heads of children between boards to make them square, others prefer the shape of a “sugar-loaf” which is the highest form of beauty to them. In these various countries the opinion to respect their beauty should be highly fair, you should never judge a different type of beauty based on their culture and how they see beauty. Some Americans that look at other types of beauty around the world, figure none can compare to the way America defines beauty. For example, “Neither the buona roba of the Italians, nor the linda if the Spaniards, nor the embonpoint of the French, can fully reach the mystical standard of beauty to the eye of American taste”
(Montez). Americas standard beauty is blonde hair, blue eyes, and has perfect skin. In reality not everyone is pretty, they put make-up on to make them that way. Yes, every girl in the world wishes she could be born with “natural” beauty. No matter what, I believe you should be proud of yourself the way you look, naturally or not. It’s an important thing to always feel good about yourself on the inside and out. Physical beauty is not forever. If people are successful, its not because they are physically beautiful. It’s just of their intelligence, the way they understand, their own understandings, their knowledge and their positive attitudes. Therefore, beauty is a gift from God to you, embrace it and don’t be afraid to flaunt what you have, because they way you look, is YOU, never let anyone tell you differently. Be who you are because you want to, not because your trying to make an impression on someone else based on your looks. It would be wonderful if our society could fully embrace the idea that beauty is not just about the external trappings but also the inside. No matter what always remember, “It’s beauty that captures your attention; personality captures your heart” (Unknown).