Capturing The True Essence Of Beauty

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Capturing the True Essence of Beauty The familiar proverb “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” consciously states that there is no set definition for what is considered beautiful. If, for example, one were to examine what was noted as “beautiful” over time, the majority of people –both male and female- would be thoroughly astonished. In a country where a full one-third of the population is Black, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latina, the serious underrepresentation of women of color in media is disturbing. To think this doesn’t have a negative effect on females who rarely see images of their own races depicted in a positive manner is insane. So what does it mean to be beautiful? Since there is no one absolute definition, comprehending the concept of beauty lies in understanding that it is far more than physical appearance. Furthermore, the definition of beauty should be redefined to be more all-encompassing of characteristics and personality. Although many people think that they can look at a person and determine if they are “beautiful” or not, beauty is far from skin deep. Beauty is less of what the person looks like and more of the characteristics that they bear. Confidence is one component of beauty that goes beyond the dictionary definition. The word confidence is often misconstrued and is viewed as arrogance. However, it can be a beautiful thing; it is a quality that not everyone has the power to possess. A confident person can easily overcome the hurdles of life to influence others with their positive attitude and impressive personality. They believe in theirself, do what they feel is right and are never afraid of failure. Beauty is confidence. It allows self-esteem to heighten, and grants the person more positive thinking in their view of life. Confidence in oneself is needed to reveal the true beauty in every person. Kahlil Gibran once said that “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”. One’s personality can enhance or negatively impact what other people think about them. Personality is the combination of characteristics that form an individual’s distinctive character; it is an important contribution that assists in further defining one’s beauty. One that isn’t physically attractive -but carries a positive attitude and self-confidence- is much more beautiful than a breath-taking beauty with a bad attitude and low self-esteem. It allows others the opportunity to connect to and be motivated through a person. Those with embracing personalities have the unique ability to bond and communicate with all types of crowds. Since beauty is "in the eye of the beholder" that subjective eye of physical attraction can (and is) easily influenced by personality. What is displayed from the inside is usually a deciding factor of how beautiful someone looks on the outside. When a typical young dark-skinned girl watches TV she will not see many people that look like her. She will, every so often, be reminded that she is beautiful and will grow up to hate herself and her skin color. Even in music there is a certain perception of beauty that doesn’t necessarily reflect reality. The restricted definition of beauty often causes this self-hatred in young girls because in order to be “beautiful” in American society one has to look a certain way. Standards of beauty have changed over time, based on changing cultural values. Historically, paintings show a wide range of different standards for beauty. However, humans who are relatively young, with smooth skin, well-proportioned bodies, and regular features, have traditionally been considered the most beautiful throughout history. How fair is it to tell a girl that she isn’t beautiful simply because she doesn’t necessarily look like what she sees on TV? That is why it is important to broaden the definition of beauty. Outer beauty seems to have quite a strong influence on the first impression an
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