How is the fashion industry twisting our perception of beauty?

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What really is beauty? Is it the shape of a face, is it eyelashes or a body size? Is it a skin colour, eye colour, pointed nose or long legs?

The word “beauty” is the most overused, misunderstood and poorly defined word in the English language. Beauty is subjective. What is beautiful to one may not be to another. We all have different tastes, likes and dislikes, and this affects our definition and perception of beauty.

> Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~ Confucius

Who sets the standards?

Unfortunately, we rely on beauty authorities like fashion designers and style experts to define beauty for us.

Beauty measured by unrealistic societal ideals of attractiveness. This is further complicated by fashion models and celebrities whose photographs have been carefully screen filtered, airbrushed, Photoshopped and drastically altered. Meanwhile, in reality, these people do not look like their photos!

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These standards put young people into undue pressure. The pressure to acquire a perfect body shape, fit into a particular size or look in a particular way. This pressure has unfortunately has driven many girls to develop eating disorders in order to fit in. Some go as far as getting a surgery to enhance their looks. Others have developed inner fears and insecurities because of how they feel the world perceives them. Others wouldn't step out of their room without wearing a make up. So if a young girl, still growing into her own body, looks at herself in the mirror and doesn’t see that, she thinks that she isn't beautiful.

The world Is growing in trends, fashion is not left out. Everyone wants to become classy and look polished up. The struggle to fit into a perfect curve has driven many into getting shape enhancers. Others are driven to the gym. Many have become uncomfortable in their own skins and as such have graduated from a little skin toning to complete bleaching of the skin.

I think it's about time we corrected this misconceptions about beauty. Its time to let people, especially our young teenagers know the truth.

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Beauty should be defined not by looks but by humanity. By how much people are willing to care, by how far they are willing to forgive, by how much they are willing to help another. Not by the unattainable standards and physical goals fashion industries and the media places on people, women most especially.