The desire to be beautiful is a ubiquitous cultural phenomenon. But what does it mean to be beautiful and what does it look like? Beauty isn’t just about looks, it is about having a sense of self-esteem and confidence. These traits radiate outwards and can help you find success in business, love and even in life.
One of the most common definitions of beauty is the symmetry of the face, eyes and hair. This may seem arbitrary to some people but it is a key criterion for determining the overall beauty of a person. It is also important to note that this does not apply to everyone. In fact, most people don’t have perfect symmetry. For example, a woman with a perfect symmetry of the eyes and lips is probably not as attractive as someone with asymmetrical faces.
Other factors that go into determining beauty include race, gender, age, culture, body type and popular culture. For instance, the 1990s trend was to have a skinny figure. Similarly, the 1980s craze was to have big hair. Although these trends are not as current as they were, they were still noteworthy.
Another way to measure beauty is through the sense of taste. A woman’s ability to smell a good scent, say, or her sensitivity to perfumes, are often referred to as a “sense of taste” by others. However, this definition may not be applicable to all women. Some women, especially those who are less attractive, may be unable to identify the scent they wish to smell.
Getting more women to look good is not a simple feat. Many women are under a lot of pressure to look beautiful and this can be toxic. As a result, many women lack the confidence necessary to achieve their goals.
In addition to the pressure to look good, society also holds us to a high standard of beauty. There is a clear correlation between beauty standards and class. If a woman is rich or well-off, then she will be perceived as more beautiful than her less affluent peers. And, in turn, she will be treated better.
Despite the hype, a new survey shows that only 4% of the world’s women consider themselves beautiful. Attempts to remedy this glaring inequality have had mixed results. On the one hand, experts tend to agree that beauty is a subjective matter. On the other hand, many individuals will go to extraordinary lengths to find ways to fit into the beauty zeitgeist.
Perhaps the most significant change in the beauty industry over the last decade was the number of Black brands. According to a report by the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), the number of Black-owned beauty companies increased by a whopping twofold in the last decade. Not only does this open the door to more opportunities for Black entrepreneurs, but it provides Black consumers with a range of choices.
The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. Currently, Black consumers make up 11 percent of the entire beauty market. They spent $6.6 billion on beauty products in 2021. That is a substantial portion of the total US beauty market.