Opinion | I Will Never Be Pretty Enough

“I will never be pretty enough” are the words I’ve often told myself while staring in the mirror. I live in a world that defines the beauty of a woman based upon the unrealistic images that media portrays. Have you ever noticed that, most times, the prettiest girls on television have a light complexion, thin body, and long hair? I thought beauty was a combination of qualities rather than just one color or shape. Media implies that in order to be beautiful, you must look a certain way. I don’t see too many plus-sized, dark skinned women in the spotlight as the new eye candy. Instead, I see average and plus-sized women, like myself, working extremely hard to lose weight in order to be at least half as pretty as the women on television and in magazines. Beauty standards in media have destroyed my self-confidence and caused me to feel inadequate.

Since childhood, I have wondered why images of women didn’t match the standards that I possessed. I am an average-sized, dark skinned young lady; I have never been the perfect size, according to the media. Often times, I have heard little girls saying, “I want to look like her,” while pointing at the television screen. I have even wondered what my life would be like if I had a lighter complexion and smaller frame like some of the women in magazines. But why should girls have to want to look like someone else in order to feel beautiful rather than embracing their own beauty?

Beauty is reflected by women like Beyoncé, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Lopez, all of whom are very fit with a bright skin tone. However, although very talented, women like Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) and Monique are hardly ever placed in the “Top 10 Most Beautiful Women” articles. Media has created the idea that dark skinned, curvy women are not as beautiful as light-skinned, fit women. As a result, I have been forced to believe that my beauty isn’t beautiful enough.

Media’s beauty standards have prevented women from fully loving themselves. Instead of giving beauty a certain shape, form or complexion, media should embrace diversity and uniqueness and help teach girls that they are beautiful, regardless of their size or skin color.