Beauty Shouldn't Hurt: Embrace Authenticity Over Agony
[DISCLAIMER: These are my raw, unfiltered thoughts. Not researched facts. Not societal consensus. Just honest reflection from one human navigating the mess of modern culture. I’m not here to attack anyone or sound holier-than-thou. I’m not mad—just observant, and maybe a little fed up. If this resonates, cool. If not, that’s okay too. Either way, I write it how I feel it.] I was watching an episode of America's Next Top Model—not really my style—and in my honest opinion, that show was diabolical through and through.
They say that beauty—or the desire to be beautiful—is pain. It comes with pain. But here’s my two cents: if beauty is painful and uncomfortable, then it’s not beauty at all. It’s a societal hierarchy bullying you into submission, making you believe that being naturally you is somehow less or downright unattractive. If you have to torture yourself to be "beautiful," or if you have to bend your morals or abandon your principles just to fit a mold, then you’re reflecting the wrong image of what beauty truly is. Magazines and TV shows tell young women and young men that they need to look or dress a certain way. They say that being naturally you means you're poor, or worse, regressive. I’ve never been one for makeup or those uncomfortable clothes that they call fashion nowadays. Young women are often told that revealing more skin—whether it's through super short skirts, low-cut tops, or showing off more than you're comfortable with—is what makes you attractive. But here's the truth: true attraction doesn’t come from how much skin you show. It comes from how you carry yourself, how confident and comfortable you feel in your own skin. Modesty isn't about hiding; it's about honoring yourself and choosing what's right for you, not what the world tells you is trendy. It’s your choice how you dress, of course, but if you ever dream of a relationship built on deep respect and lasting connection, remember that the way you present yourself can speak volumes about how you value yourself. There’s nothing wrong with feeling beautiful and confident without having to sacrifice your comfort or self-respect.
Similarly, young men are often led to believe that baggy pants or wearing barely anything is what makes them “cool” or desirable. But here’s the thing: true respect for yourself doesn’t come from conforming to a style that's not really yours just to fit in. Sometimes, that fashion only attracts the wrong attention—the kind that isn't about valuing who you really are. Dressing in a way that reflects your true self—your strength, your dignity—speaks louder than any trend ever could. It’s about embracing your individuality without compromising your worth. I know this is a touchy subject, but many need to understand that what you wear does mean something. And let’s be crystal clear: this isn’t about blaming people who are assaulted in any way. That responsibility lies solely with the assailant. Evil is evil—let’s not sugarcoat it. Now, back to the topic at hand. Many young people opt for certain styles simply because they think it looks cool or it's the hot new thing—even if it makes them uncomfortable. But beauty does not equal torture or pain. Pain is pain. Torture is torture. It isn’t that complex.
Beauty should feel like peace. Like comfort in your own skin. It should be the way your eyes light up when you’re passionate, the way your laughter carries across a room, the way your confidence walks in before you do. True beauty is rooted in authenticity, not trends or temporary standards.
The irony is, we chase after these superficial ideals thinking they’ll earn us love or admiration, when in reality, people are drawn to realness. To kindness. To strength. No one falls in love with a contour line or a designer label—they fall in love with presence, with energy, with soul.
And let’s stop pretending that only one type of body, one skin tone, one hairstyle, or one fashion sense holds the monopoly on beauty. It doesn’t. The world is too vast, too rich in culture, to be boxed into one narrow image of what’s “in” or “acceptable.” That’s not style, that’s oppression.
You don’t need to suffer to be seen. You don’t need to starve to be desired. And you sure as hell don’t need to play dress-up for a society that profits off your insecurity. Reclaim your image. Rewrite your reflection. Because when beauty is genuine, it doesn’t need to be explained—it just is.
