If you aren’t aware, this week is Her Campus’ Beauty Week, a general awareness week for everybody to appreciate all that is beautiful in the world, not just limited to people, but nature, art, and much more. While the theme is more tied into personal qualities and traits, I believe this can also be applied in a number of ways; don’t limit yourself to just how people look! Try to find, experience, and respect the variations of beauty the world has to offer! Now as a guy, I might not have much expertise or know-how when it comes to being beautiful, but what I do know is how to admire and value the many faces of beauty that people have to offer. With that said, I’d like to talk some about what I find to be beautiful, and to try and help people to take on a new perspective when it comes to beauty.
Our world today is very much tied to how people look, which can be both positive and negative. While it is nice to admire those who are beautiful, it can be easy to both devalue anyone who does not measure up to society’s standards and to dehumanize those who are beautiful into models and props. There is the stereotype that promotes the idea that pretty people usually are ugly on the inside, while people who aren’t as pretty have the best hearts, which I have mixed opinions on. Personally, beauty is who you are and how you choose to express yourself; knowing who you are as an individual and taking confidence in that knowledge can be one of the most beautiful things anyone can do. These days, anyone can plastic surgery themselves into looking good, but being good is a much harder prospect.
Now since this is Her Campus and Beauty Week is more aimed at girls, I’ll just give some personal opinions and insights from the opposite sex. Ladies, no matter who you are or what you look like, there is always going to be something beautiful about you. Whether it is looks or personality or intelligence or passion for what you do, there is something worth appreciating and respecting in each and every one of you. Don’t let society dictate how you should look or dress in order to be beautiful; have the confidence to express your beauty in whatever way you can! It shouldn’t be a race to become as sexy or pretty as possible. Be who you are, and trust me, that will go much further for your beauty than how you look or dress!
One final word from the male side: never trade your ideas, your talents, your experiences, and most importantly, yourselves for some socially accepted idea of beauty. I know there are standards to maintain, but don’t let that compromise who you are as a person. I know there are a lot of guys out there that only value a woman for her looks, but not all guys are the same, and not all guys appreciate women solely for how they look. Just be yourself and let whatever beauty you have shine!
I hope you’ve found the male output on Beauty Week to be helpful and enlightening. Remember, this week at the CSC Her Campus will have a photo booth letting people write down what makes them beautiful, so come on down and let your beauty show!