Create Your Own Standard for Beauty

Courtesy of Cristina

Recently, I came across this reality TV program on VH1. Believe me when I say this, but I’m not one of those girls who loves to watch reality TV (OK, I lied… I do like some of them, but not all).  However, I came across Jessica Simpson’s “The Price of Beauty”.  As soon as I turned it on, and started watching the first couple of minutes, I knew this exact episode would strike an emotional internal cord with me.

I’m in recovery from anorexia.  Sure, it’s been a journey… one hell of a journey. However, this episode that I somehow got sucked into was discussing what Paris, France considers beautiful.  Of course, there are so many models, a lot of them who are too skinny, parading the fashion shows and and selling the “look” of the designer.  One of the models that Jessica, her celebrity hairstylist, and best friend were talking with confessed that if you’re a model over 115 pounds, you’re considered fat and may lose your job.

I mean, really?!  It just really makes you think of what beautiful means in a country besides the United States.  It makes me sad that something so superficial (and no offense to models) is being predetermined by someone else’s standards.  Additionally, an Italian model was featured in the program who had anorexia.  It was just difficult to look at.  Because she knew she wanted to model as a young girl, all these designers were telling her (when she’s REALLY thin to begin with) that she needed to lose weight.  Of course, she did to keep her modeling job, but what really erupted within her was a nasty eating disorder.  I can definitely relate to this.  However, I’m glad this young woman saw the light at the end of the tunnel and told the designers that she wasn’t going to lose anymore weight.

I feel so strongly about just writing this entry.  Because I, for so long, let others determine what is considered beautiful for myself.  I felt a lot of pressure to fit into their ideals, but I never felt pretty myself. I wasn’t able to positively believe “I am beautiful” because there was always something telling me that I needed to lose more weight, and the list goes on and on.  There is so much pressure for women to change their image/bodies just to fit into what others consider beautiful.  It’s quite sad.  Recently I decided that I was not going to let someone else, such as the common magazines I read (“Glamour” especially) try and tell me what is beautiful.  Maybe the “trend” of the moment is some diet and how that diet will make me feel so beautiful and happy, but really… I know that the only key to pure happiness is in YOUR control not someone else’s, and beauty shouldn’t be determined by someone else’s opinion.

Instead of trying to cover up our imperfections and flaws, why not let your inner sexy shine?  Everyone has their imperfections.  It’s about time we celebrate our own differences instead of trying to copycat ourselves to what is considered beautiful and trendy by someone else’s standards.  What makes you unique is yourself, and don’t ever let someone else’s standards determine your own inner happiness.