The Origins of Beauty Standards

Have you ever wondered why some features are considered more "beautiful" than others? Let's start by asking where it originated.

Well, the truth is, there has never been one universal definition of beauty. It varies by culture. Beauty standards are created by society and change over time. While many countries may naturally piece together things like clear skin, healthy hair, and physical fitness with health and prosperity, most of what we think is "beautiful" comes from something else: culture, history, and media.

Take a look at history. During the Renaissance, fuller bodies were considered beautiful because they symbolized wealth and health, signifying access to food. Pale skin once represented status because it showed someone didn't have to work outside. Beauty was, and for the most part, is a measure of wealth and an evaluator of your societal worth. Now, in many places, tanning is fashionable. And even eyebrows go in and out of style. Thin brows were everywhere in the 90s. Thick brows took over in the 2010s. The main idea is that the "definition of beauty" changes. It's not set in stone.

Beauty standards also look different depending on where you are. East Asian beauty standards often emphasize being thin and having clear skin. Western norms have shifted over time, but today they often focus on tan skin curves. If beauty were truly objective, these standards wouldn't constantly change.

So where does media fit in?

Media has played an instrumental role through its algorithm, repeating the same beauty ideals over and over again. Eventually, those ideals stop feeling unrealistic and start feeling normal. We stop questioning them.

Fashion brands, advertisements, movies, magazines, television, and now social media all decide which faces and body types get the most attention. Over time, those appearances become the standard people compare themselves to.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram make this even harder. Filters, editing apps, and carefully chosen photos create unrealistic expectations that look completely normal on our screens. That constant exposure can lead to unhealthy comparisons, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders.

At the same time, social media has also helped spread body positivity and challenge traditional beauty standards. It isn't all bad. It depends on what we choose to consume.

The Takeaway

Beauty standards are constantly changing.

Body is not a trend.

The "ideal" body has changed dozens of times throughout history, and it will continue to change long after today's trends disappear. Who knows what'll be considered "beautiful" in the future? So before trying to change yourself to fit the latest standard, ask yourself a simple question: who decided this was beautiful in the first place?